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Having Migraines? Try Acupuncture!

Posted Monday, May 11th, 2015 by

migraine, headache, pain, acupuncture

Anyone who has ever experienced a migraine headache will tell you what a profoundly intense and awful experience it can be. Migraine pain can be extremely painful and debilitating, significantly affecting a person’s quality of life. The only people who can truly understand these headaches are those who have lived with them; and often, these sufferers are willing to do anything to get relief.

At Above & Beyond Acupuncture, we frequently treat migraines using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, cupping and other natural and holistic methods. Considering that migraines have become an issue for a significant portion of the population, we want to take some time to write about how acupuncture can provide relief.

What is a migraine headache?

It’s important to understand the difference between a regular headache and a migraine, as they have different symptoms and severity. Everyone experiences a headache at some point; it’s usually tolerable and passes quickly. A migraine is less common, much more intense and can last much longer.

The Mayo Clinic defines a migraine as a headache that can cause an intense throbbing or pulsing sensation in one area of the head. It can be accompanied by a feeling of nausea, vomiting, and excessive sensitivity to light, sound and/or smell. This type of headache can cause significant pain for hours to days; the duration varies from person to person. In addition to the associated symptoms, some types of migraines can be preceded by and/or accompanied by an aura, such as flashes of lights, blind spots, or tingling in the arms or legs. [Link]

How common are migraine headaches?

The Migraine Research Foundation posted some helpful information as to how many people suffer with these types of headaches. The data they shared is quite startling in the fact that migraines are more common than one would think. Here are some of the statistics posted on their website: [Link]

• Over 10% of the population–including children–suffer from migraines.
• About 18% of American women and 6% of men suffer from migraines.
• Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone suffering with a migraine.
• Migraines tend to run in families. If one parent suffers from migraines, there is a 40% chance a child will suffer. If both parents suffer, the chance rises to 90%.
• Migraines rank in the top 20 of the world’s most disabling medical illnesses.
• More than 90% of people suffering with migraines are unable to work or function normally.

Can acupuncture treat migraine headaches?

Everyone who has experienced a migraine headache will tell you that they would be willing to do anything and everything to get relief. With acupuncture becoming more popular, people are beginning to learn that this medicine has the ability to treat a wide range of ailments, including migraines. Unlike the Western medical approach that tends to group people into categories, an acupuncturist will use differential diagnosis to understand the root cause of the migraine. He will look at the patient’s tongue and take his pulse—and will then create a treatment plan based on the information he received during an intake. By combining all this information, a licensed acupuncturist will be able to address the cause of the migraine as well as resolve the symptoms it is causing.

In a previous blog post titled “The Importance of Receiving Acupuncture From A Licensed Acupuncturist”, we go into great detail as to why you should only receive treatment from a licensed acupuncturist. This is a very important topic, so we urge you to read through that blog and then seek treatment from a licensed professional who was trained in a school that teaches acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Are Chinese herbs effective for treating migraines?

Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years, being prescribed to millions of patients to treat a wide range of issues. Some licensed acupuncturists have gone through an herbal education program in school that provided them with the knowledge on how to treat patients with Chinese herbs. When the correct herbal formula is selected based on how the patient is presenting with symptoms, substantial relief can be obtained. Again, we urge you to only get treatment and receive Chinese herbs from licensed acupuncturists, as they are properly trained and understand the complexity of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

If you’ve been having migraines and are in the Tempe, Phoenix or Scottsdale areas, we recommend that you contact us to make an appointment to receive a treatment at Above & Beyond Acupuncture. There’s no need to suffer needlessly when you can get relief using acupuncture, which is natural and holistic.

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