Acupuncture Can Help With Your Chronic Migraines

03 Jul Acupuncture Can Help With Your Chronic Migraines

Acupuncture therapy has been around for centuries as a method of pain management and physical therapy. Acupuncture in the process of sticking small, sterile needles into pressure points of the body to relieve tension and pain. Migraines can be relieved through the use of acupuncture on the pressure points in your head and face. The small needles stop the tension in the pressure points causing the headache. It is extremely safe and cost-effective, leaving you with the need for less pain medication over time. This practice has become more common over time so finding an acupuncture therapist is not difficult.

What Is Acupuncture

In Eastern Chinese medicine, it is thought that disease is caused by disruptions to the flow of energy, or qi, in the body. Acupuncture can stimulate points on the body that are called acupuncture points, or acupressure points, that can release this built up energy. The energy will then travel through channels called meridian lines, easing the pain felt in those areas. Current research has shown that acupuncture can stimulate the biochemical responses in the human body through the nerves in the skin. Acupuncture doesn’t directly release the endorphins and chemicals that help with inflammation and injury, but it works to stimulate a reaction in the pituitary gland to produce the healing hormones.

What Are Chronic Migraines?

Migraines are a very common and disabling condition reported in around 12% of the population every year. Chronic migraine is defined as a headache that happens at least 15 days per month or more, for longer than three months. On at least 8 days per month, the headache also has the features of migraine headache. Chronic migraines only occur in 1% of the population. Migraine attacks can increase over time. The process of transition is divided into four states:

• No migraine
• Low-frequency episodic migraine (less than 10 headache days per month)
• High-frequency episodic migraine (10-14 headache days per month)
• Chronic migraine (15 or more headache days per month; meaning that people with chronic migraine have a migraine or headache more often than not)

They are generally treated with medications or Botox injections. There are medications for acute migraine attacks and also preventative medications to make sure they stay away.

How Can Acupuncture Help My Migraines?

Acupuncture may offer an option other than medication to treat migraines. A 2016 study showed its effectiveness against placebo treatments. Acupuncture can help relieve those tension areas in the head, allowing them to relax, which eases headaches. It can also help stop a migraine attack while it is occurring. It is also a more cost-effective method than pain medications or Botox. The muscles and skin on your head can be very thin, making massage relief difficult. Getting under the skin to the nerves can sometimes be the only way to find relief from migraines.