Anyone who has experienced migraines understands that they are debilitating.
The intense, throbbing pain can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. During the duration of a migraine, many individuals cannot work or complete daily activities or tasks. Therefore, people suffering from migraines will pursue a variety of treatment options until they find relief. It is estimated that up to 40% of the global population experiences some form of headache disorder that impairs their ability to function effectively on a daily basis, with 10-15% reporting migraines. Up to 21.5% of individuals suffering from migraines have also been diagnosed with PTSD.
Migraines are a unique condition that rarely have a structural or organic basis in the body. You simply cannot see it. Instead, migraines result from a sudden disruption in the body’s homeostatic, sensory systems which triggers a chain reaction causing the blood vessels of the brain to suddenly dilate. Whether it be stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, food, hormones, or weather, the key is prevention. Acupuncture has a strong counter-irritant effect on the body which tends to stabilize its internal environment.
The National Institute of Health states that, “a sound body of evidence exists supporting the use of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis.” Furthermore, a 2016 Cochrane review of 22 acupuncture trials determined that acupuncture provided positive benefits and outperformed all other treatments including sham* acupuncture, no treatment, and standard migraine pharmacological treatments. Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to be more effective than standard therapy for tension headaches.
As well as reducing the frequency of migraines by 50% or more, regular acupuncture treatments relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and release pain-relieving chemicals and endorphins into the system. These positive results can persist for more than 6 months at a time and there are little to no side effects unlike standard medications utilized for migraine treatment. For best results, the NIH and American Migraine Foundation recommend keeping a log or journal to document migraine triggers. Once these triggers have been identified, a plan can be made to manage and possibly modify behaviors or lifestyle choices that contribute to migraine triggers.
*Sham acupuncture is the term used to differentiate acupuncture that uses points specific to migraines (actual acupuncture) in clinical studies from points that are not actually migraine treatment points (sham acupuncture). The term “sham” implies that the acupuncture treatment is inactive or a placebo. “Sham” acupuncture treatments often have a positive effect in clinical studies because all acupuncture has a positive impact on the human body even when the points being utilized are not specific to the health condition being treated.
Contact Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH For More Information
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative healing treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.