MIGRAINE
Dr. Laurel’s Acupuncture treatments provide effective migraine headache relief. While best on a continuing basis for correcting the imbalances that allow migraines to happen, timely acupuncture treatments can arrest or significantly mitigate an active migraine headache.
TIRED OF DEALING WITH THE PAIN? TRY ACUPUNCTURE FOR MIGRAINE TREATMENT LOS ANGELES
Tension and migraine headache pain can be debilitating afflictions. Over the counter and prescription medication used to treat these types of headaches could result in negative side affects which can further sufferer’s frustration and feelings of hopelessness. There is a more homeopathic approach using ancient Chinese medicinal practices that provides relief for those suffering from tension and migraine headaches.
Using acupuncture to treat migraines and their symptoms began over 2,000 years ago. These headaches can cause nausea, vomiting, ocular auras, and sensitivity to light and sound. These symptoms can be severe and disabling to those afflicted.
Treating migraines in the U.S. has become very popular since studies conducted by Dr. Brian Berman, MD released results from a study involving over 2,317 migraine patients. Dr. Burman’s findings suggest that those who actively participate in acupuncture treatment for migraines found relief from most or all of their symptoms. Over 47% of patients claimed total relief from migraines during the eight week study.
For the 36 million individuals that suffer from migraines regularly, acupuncture treatment could spell long term relief. By using the ancient Chinese medicinal procedure of acupuncture, practitioners can pinpoint pressure points in the meridians believed to trigger migraine headaches. Once these points are established, the practitioner will use tiny needles to stimulate these areas. The stimulation encourages the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer. Acupuncture also increase blood flow and oxygen levels in the blood near the afflicted area, releasing tension and allowing healing to begin. Acupuncture is often coupled with Chinese herbs, changes in diet and lifestyle, vitamin supplements, and other measures.
Acupuncture for migraines works
Those who’ve already seen the benefits don’t need empirical evidence of how much acupuncture relieves pain. But for years, there was speculation out there whether acupuncture was really providing medical help or just giving patients a placebo effect. Then along came a more elaborate study last year that showed how the pain of migraines was helped considerably by acupuncture.
Now you’re probably wondering if acupuncture can help your own migraines. Considering how challenging migraines have always been to treat, far too many people end up doing other treatments that aren’t as successful. However, when you see the details behind this new evidence, you may not hesitate to turn to acupuncture for your migraine treatment or other chronic pains.
What the Studies Say
The New York Times reported on the above study in 2012 and indicated how lengthy the research was. Financed through the National Institutes of Health, this was a six-year study utilizing detailed meta-analysis that compared acupuncture to other migraine treatments. Out of all studied, it was found that half of those patients had excellent results from their migraine pain after undergoing acupuncture. This was in comparison to taking pharmaceutical drugs and other typical treatments where side effects are common.
Based on the intense scrutiny placed on these studies, the numbers couldn’t be argued as being ambiguous as past data had been. Even more interesting is the study concluded there was something going on to cure the migraines that didn’t involve a placebo effect. The question has always been what that particular something is.
The Proper Acupuncture Treatment for Migraines
Chinese medicine has been used for thousands of years to treat headaches, and those who’ve had success with it know about the mysterious process acupuncture provides in relieving pain. To others, it isn’t so mysterious based on the belief in Qi, which is believed to be an ethereal substance in our bodies that establishes how we feel. Acupuncture helps unblock any obstructions in Qi to help establish healing.
How does the above work in the realm of relieving migraine pain? It usually means finding other points of the body that aren’t near the afflicted area. It’s believed that by stimulating blood flow in the head through massage, migraines are actually worsened due to the dilation of blood vessels. By using acupuncture needles in the lower areas of the body, it can avoid stimulating those blood vessels and return a normal balance of Qi.
It’s an example of how using acupuncture needles in another region of the body helps pain in another region. Overall, acupuncture helps remove tension in the muscles that can cause migraines in the first place.
Eliminate the frustration you’ve had with your failed migraine treatments, including side effects from pharmaceutical drugs. Contact us for an appointment and see for yourself how acupuncture is helping people cope with pain on a daily basis.
If you are suffering from migraines, contact Laurie at Santa Monica Acupuncture and Wellness , where she specializes in acupuncture for migraine treatment in Los Angeles. She can answer any questions you may have about acupuncture as well as design an acupuncture based wellness plan that can help end your symptoms.
Source: Linde K, et al. Acupuncture for tension-type headaches. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1.