The discomfort that headache and migraine sufferers endure can have an effect on every aspect of their lives. Acupuncture can offer dynamic relief without the complications that prescription and over the counter drugs may cause. Acupuncture and Chinese Natural Medication have been utilized to relieve headaches and headaches, as well as their underlying causes, for millenia and is a widely accepted sort of treatment for headaches in our society. There are acupuncturists specializing in the treatment of headaches and migraines and can help you manage your agony with acupuncture and Chinese herbs alone, or as part of a comprehensive treatment program.

Diagnosis with Conventional Chinese Medication

Conventional Chinese Medicine does not recognize headaches and reoccurring headaches as one particular syndrome. As an alternative it aims to treat the categorical symptoms that are 100% unique to each individual using a range of strategies like acupuncture, Chinese herbs, tui-na massage, and energetic exercises to revive disequilibria found in the body. Therefore , your diagnosis and treatment will rely on a considerable number of variables: Is the headache behind your eyes and temples, or is it located more about the top of your head? When do your headaches occur (i.e. Night, morning, after eating)? Do you find that a cold compress or a dark room can alleviate some of the pain? Do you describe the discomfort as dreary and throbbing, or sharpened and piercing? Does the agony begin after a stressful or emotional situation?

How Acupuncture Works

These exact questions will assist in creating a clear picture on which your practitioners can make a diagnosis and treatment plan specially for you. The basic foundation for Chinese medication is that there is a life energy flowing thru the body, which is termed Qi (announced chee). This energy flows through the body on channels known as meridians that connect all our important organs. According to this theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes imbalanced. Acupuncture is the stimulation of express points located near or on the surface of the skin, which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions to achieve the required effect. When dealing with a headache, acupuncture works by signaling the brain to release potent painkilling chemicals. If the headache is hormonally related, acupuncture will bring the hormones into balance.

The Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture points toward treat headaches are located all over the body. In the acupuncture treatment, little needles will be placed along your legs, arms, shoulders, and even your large toe! Thin, sterile, stainless-steel needles will be inserted into assorted points on the body. Most people feel nothing or doubtless a slight pinch as the needle is placed in. Once all the needles are in, most people experience deep relaxation, and will even go to sleep.

The length, number and frequency of treatments will change. Common treatments last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times per week. Some symptoms are relieved after the 1st treatment, while more severe or lingering ailments often need multiple treatments.

Studies on Acupuncture and Headaches

As far back as the early seventies, studies around the planet have recommended that acupuncture is a good treatment for headaches and headaches. Contemporary studies show extremely positive results:

In an actual example, revealed in the June 2003 Issue of Medical Acupuncture, doctors found that acupuncture resulted in the resolution or decrease in the frequency and severity of cluster headaches, and a decrease or discontinuation of medications. It was concluded that Acupuncture may be employed to provide sustained solace from cluster headaches and to excite adrenal cortisol to help in discontinuing corticosteroids.

A clinical observation, released in a 2002 copy of the Book of Traditional Chinese Medicine, of 50 patients presenting with various sorts of headaches were treated with scalp acupuncture. The results of this study proved that 98% of patients treated with scalp acupuncture experienced no headaches or only occasional, mild headaches in the six months following care.

In a study revealed in the November 1999 issue of Cephalalgia, scientists evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of migraines and recurrent headaches by methodically reviewing 22 randomized controlled trials. A total of 1,042 patients were examined. It was discovered that headache and migraine sufferers experienced significantly more alleviation from acupuncture than patients who were administered “sham” acupuncture.

The latest study printed in the March,. 2008 book, Headache, affirms that acupuncture noticeably decreases migraines and works better that drugs alone. Dr. Facco, the analyst in control of the study, theorizes that acupuncture inhibits migraines by altering nerve signals or influencing neurotransmitters released in the central nervous system. The results are promising, according to Dr. Facco, and since the treatment carries tiny likelihood of side effects, it could be worth a try for headache sufferers who are not adequately helped by standard treatment.

Monika Sarrempt is a freelance writer, health teacher, relationship advice expert and individual expansion guru.