Acupuncture for headaches and migraines
Headaches are a common condition that can have a large knock on impact to a person’s overall wellbeing. Tension headaches are the most common type, they feel like a constant ache and while unpleasant, aren’t usually severe enough to stop the sufferer from continuing with daily activities. Cluster headaches are rarer and are excruciatingly painful, they occur in clusters for weeks or months and might happen several times a day. The pain lasts between 15 minutes to a few hours and is usually sharp, and on one side of the head around the eye.
A migraine is characterised by recurrent attacks of typically moderate to severe headaches that usually last between 4–72 hours and may be preceded by other symptoms such as yawning, changes in mood, needing to urinate more, feeling dizzy, trouble with sight, or numbness and tingling.
​
The pain caused by a migraine can be severe and last for several days. It is usually one sided and pulsing, can be accompanied by tiredness and nausea and might get worse with physical activity, lights, sounds or smells. People are often unable to continue with their daily lives and may need to spend time in bed until they have recovered.
​
According to the NHS, around 10 million people aged 15-69 in the UK suffer from migraines, which are classified as a disabling illness, while headaches are amongst the most common neurological reasons for attending A&E. Despite these figures, treatment options are limited and offer a way to reduce symptoms rather than a cure. Many people find pain killers to be ineffective and are understandably reluctant to take anti-depressants or try more invasive procedures such as Botox injections.
Is acupuncture effective for migraines?
There is a good body of research into acupuncture for headaches and migraines, and it is recommended by the NHS as a viable treatment option. Acupuncture has few side effects and is safe and gentle option for sufferers.
​
The British Medical journal also published an article stating that acupuncture should be recommended as an effective alternative to drugs, following positive findings from a team of researchers who set out to compare the effectiveness of manual (real) acupuncture with sham (placebo) acupuncture or usual care. The results show that treatment with manual acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture or usual care, “resulted in a significantly higher reduction in the frequency of migraine days and migraine attacks”.
​
How does acupuncture for headaches work?
​
Acupuncture has been shown to activate a number of the body’s own opioids as well as improving the brain’s sensitivity to them. A number of other biochemicals involved in pain reduction have been found to be released or regulated by acupuncture treatment, including ATP and adenosine, GABA and substance P.
Acupuncture for headaches—what to expect
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment and the initial consultation involves taking a detailed case history looking at all elements of your physical and emotional health. Rather than looking at seemingly unrelated symptoms in isolation, they are seen as inter-connected, and can help to form a detailed diagnosis.