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Acupuncture for headache and migrane
How acupuncture for migraine and headaches can help
Anyone who has had a splitting headache knows the misery it can cause. For migraine sufferers, the pain is multiplied several times, so it’s good to know that acupuncture for migraine and headaches can significantly reduce and even completely eradicate symptoms and episodes.
Acupuncture’s remedial effects can be achieved without causing the unpleasant side effects of some non-prescription medicines, such as tingling, sleepiness, flushing and tightness in the chest and throat.
Used either on its own as a single treatment process or as part of a suite of complementary treatments, acupuncture for migraine and headaches represents a holistic approach to managing and treating both the presenting condition (the headache or migraine) and the underlying causes.
How your acupuncturist tackles your specific condition will depend entirely on the symptoms you’re displaying, which can vary from person to person.
Contact Acuyu Clinic for a no-obligation, confidential chat if you're struggling with headaches and migraines.
Seven reasons why acupuncture is good for migraine:
It provides pain relief
Pain relief is provided by stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, acupuncture leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord.
It reduces inflammation
Increasingly there is evidence that inflammation is associated with migraine. Acupuncture promotes the release of vascular and immunomodulatofactor that can counter this.
One review article presented the evidence that the anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture are mediated via the reflexive central inhibition of the innate immune system. Both laboratory and clinical evidence have recently shown the existence of a negative feedback loop between the autonomic nervous system and the innate immunity.
It reduces the degree of cortical spreading depression
This is an electrical wave in the brain associated with migraine.
It reduces plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P
These are pain-signalling neuropeptides that may be implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine.
It modulates extracranial and intracranial blood flow
Changes in cranial blood flow don’t necessarily initiate migraine pain but may contribute to it.
It affects serotonin levels in the brain
Serotonin may be linked both to the initiation of migraines and to the relief of acute attacks (through triptans, drugs that promote serotonin levels).