Headaches and migraines are some of the most common complaints seen in acupuncture clinics. They can result from a number of factors such as tension, muscle contraction, vascular problems, withdrawal from drugs and trauma.
There are three main types of headaches;
Tension-type headaches feel mild to moderate pain on both sides of the head. The pain is usually described as tight, stiff or constricting.
Migraine headache is the cause of 20 per cent of all headaches. This type of headache occurs when blood vessels of the head and neck constrict, resulting in a decrease in blood flow to the vessels. They are shorter in duration but their symptoms are more severe.
Cervicogenic headaches are musculo-skeletal in nature; they may be caused by pain in the neck or spine which is transferred to the head.
Treatment for headaches is generally over the counter pain relieving drugs such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen. These drugs can be quite effective in relieving the symptoms of headaches. For migraines the drugs are usually stronger. However frequent use and high levels of these drugs can cause daily headaches!
Generally speaking headaches and migraines are symptoms of an underlying cause. Acupuncture treatment works by asking a series of questions to understand why the headaches are occuring. Once this is understood then a treatment can be given to address the underlying root cause of the problem and relief from the painful symptoms. Modern western medical treatments use drugs that have no effect on the root cause.
Acupuncture has been proven to be an effective treatment for headaches and migraines.