Acupuncture
for Headaches
Headaches
are extremely common. While everyone experiences an occasional
headache, statistics show that 1 out of 6 people suffer from chronic
headaches.
Acupuncture can effectively relieve
headaches, as well as treat their underlying causes. In fact,
headaches are one of the conditions most commonly seen in
acupuncture clinics today. It can offer powerful relief without the
side effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause.
Headaches that can be treated with acupuncture include
migraines, tension headaches, headaches occurring around the
menstrual cycle, sinus headaches and stress-related
headaches.
How Acupuncture Treats
Headaches
Many variables are looked at in order to
properly diagnose and successfully treat headaches. Each individual
is treated differently depending on their unique symptoms.
Some of the factors that will determine what acupuncture
points and other treatment techniques are used include: what
triggers the headaches; the location, frequency and intensity of the
headaches; the quality of the pain; the time of day that they occur;
what helps the headaches and what makes them worse.
Types
of Headaches
When treating with acupuncture, headaches
are often classified by their location. This is only a broad
guideline which needs to be further refined and integrated into the
treatment for each individual, but this shows meridians and patterns
that affect each area of the head.
Top of Head: Liver
Meridian (Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Yang Rising)
Sides of
Head: Gall-Bladder Meridian (Liver-Yang, Liver-Fire or
Liver-Wind Rising)
One Side Only: Gall-Bladder Meridian
(Liver-Yang or Liver-Fire Rising)
Temples: Gall-Bladder
Meridian (Liver-Yang, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind Rising)
Behind
the Eyes: Liver Meridian (Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Yang
Rising)
Forehead: Stomach Meridian (Stomach Deficiency or
Stomach-Heat)
Back of Head (Occipital): Bladder Meridian
(Kidney Deficiency or Damp-Heat in the Bladder) or External
Wind
Whole Head: Kidney-Essence Deficiency or External
Wind
Acupuncture can significantly relieve headaches
and is an important component to managing recurring headaches and
migraines. If you have any questions, please call for a
consultation.
Studies
Show that Acupuncture Stops Headaches
Two
separate systematic reviews by Cochrane Researchers show that
acupuncture is an effective treatment for prevention of headaches
and migraines.
In each study, the researchers tried to
establish whether acupuncture could reduce the occurrence of
headaches. One study focused on mild to moderate but frequent
"tension-type" headaches, whilst the other focused on more severe
but less frequent headaches usually termed migraines. Together the
two studies included 33 trials, involving a total of 6,736
patients.
Overall, following a course of at least eight
weeks, patients treated with acupuncture suffered fewer headaches
compared to those who were given only pain killers. In the migraine
study, acupuncture was superior to proven prophylactic drug
treatments.
In one specific study involving 270 patients,
acupuncture cut tension headache rates almost in half. Researchers
divided the patients who reported similarly severe tension headaches
into three groups for the study. Over the project’s eight-week
period, one group received traditional acupuncture, one received
only minimal acupuncture (needles inserted at non-acupuncture
points, and at only shallow levels), and the third group received no
treatment.
Those receiving the traditional acupuncture
reported headache rates of nearly half that of those who received no
treatments, suffering 7 fewer days of headaches. The minimal
acupuncture group suffered 6.6 fewer days, and the non-acupuncture
group suffered 1.5 fewer days. When they received acupuncture after
the main study period, the “no treatment” group also reported
significantly fewer headache days.
The improvements
continued for months after the treatments were concluded, rising
slightly as time went on.
Sources:
British
Medical Journal, July 2005
Acupuncture for tension-type
headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art.
No.: CD007587 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007587
Acupuncture for
migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,
2009, Issue 1. Art.No.: CD001218 DOI:
10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub2
7
Healthy Habits for Headache Sufferers
Diet- Eat regular meals at
regular times to avoid your blood sugar from falling too quickly.
Also, avoid foods and drinks that are known to trigger headache
attacks including processed meats, aged cheese, alcohol, and foods
and beverages that contain aspartame.
Sleep- Maintain
a regular sleeping schedule, including weekends and
vacations.
Stress- Stress is one of the most common
headache and migraine triggers. Implement stress reduction
techniques into your daily life.
Exercise- Exercise
stimulates the body to release endorphins, which are brain chemicals
that improve mood and relieve stress, which are known headache
triggers.
Headache Diary- Keep a diary of when your
headaches occur, along with any triggers, and share the information
with your healthcare provider.
See Your Healthcare
Provider- Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to
specifically discuss your headache.
Be a Partner in Your
Headache Care- Be informed, be a participant in your treatment
and be an advocate for your headache care.
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In
This Issue
- Acupuncture for Headaches
- Studies Show that Acupuncture Stops Headaches
- 7 Healthy Habits for Headache Sufferers
- 5 Ways to Relieve Headaches Naturally
5
Ways to Relieve Headaches Naturally
Want
some natural alternatives to ease your aching head?
The
Headache PointLarge Intestine 4 is such a powerful
acupuncture point for headaches that is often referred to as “the
headache point”. It is located on the padded area of your hand
between the thumb and index finger, between the first and second
metacarpal bones. Massage this point with your thumb on both hands
for approximately 30 seconds. Peppermint
OilPeppermint oil has a calming and soothing effect on the
body, and is often used to treat headaches. Rub peppermint essential
oil across your forehead and temples to relieve a tension headache
or inhale a peppermint steam treatment to treat a sinus headache.
Adding 10-15 drops of peppermint oil to a warm bath is another great
way to relax, help reduce muscle tension and relieve a
headache. Cayenne PepperResearch suggests that
capsaicin can help relieve cluster headaches. In one study, people
with cluster headaches rubbed a capsaicin preparation inside and
outside their noses on the same side of the head as the headache
pain. Within five days, 75 percent reported less pain and fewer
headaches. FeverfewFeverfew is a medicinal herb
that has been used since ancient Greece for swelling and
inflammation. Studies have shown that feverfew limits inflammation
of blood vessels in the head and can reduce headaches. Feverfew
generally takes up to four to six weeks to take effect. Sip tea or
take a feverfew supplement daily. Ginger
TeaNumerous clinical studies have shown that ginger can be
used to relieve headaches. Researchers believe it does so by
relaxing the blood vessels in the head and diminishing swelling in
the brain. It also activates natural opiates in the brain that
relieve pain, and it reduces prostaglandins, which are responsible
for causing inflammation. |
