Acupuncture for Migraine and Headache
If you suffer from painful migraine headaches, you know how disruptive to your life they can be. Migraine affects over 8 million people in the UK and can significantly impact our quality of life.
While medication is often used to treat migraines, many people I see are looking for safe, effective alternative therapies so they can reduce the meds they take, some of which have serious side effects.
An increasing number of studies show that acupuncture can be effective for preventing and treating migraines. Here’s what the research says:
Acupuncture Reduces Migraine Frequency
Multiple clinical trials have found that patients receiving acupuncture treatments experience significantly fewer migraine attacks compared to control groups.
For example, a 2012 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Headache and Pain looked at 22 studies with over 4,000 migraine patients. They found that patients receiving real acupuncture treatments had fewer migraine attacks compared to sham acupuncture or medication alone.
Likewise, a 2016 systematic review in Pain analysed 12 randomised controlled trials. They concluded that existing evidence supports acupuncture as an effective preventative treatment for reducing migraine frequency. Many of my migraine patients are prescribed beta blockers and anti-depressants or anti-convulsives as preventatives and find that they aren’t effective, or that they were but no longer are.
Acupuncture Decreases Migraine Intensity
In addition to reducing frequency, research shows acupuncture can decrease the intensity and duration of migraine headaches when they occur. For many people this is the real game-changer, meaning that they feel they can live their life without being stuck in bed or taking time off work.
A randomized trial in the journal Cephalalgia compared real and sham acupuncture in migraines. The real acupuncture group experienced a significantly greater decrease in migraine intensity scores following treatment.
Other studies have found similar reductions in pain levels, days with migraines, and need for migraine medication in the real acupuncture groups. This indicates it can minimize the burden of migraines when they happen.
Acupuncture can lead to fewer migraine symptoms
Beyond pain levels, acupuncture may improve other migraine symptoms like sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.
A 2013 clinical trial in the British Medical Journal found acupuncture significantly reduced the severity of migraine aura symptoms like visual disturbances. Patients also had fewer headache days and used less medication.
I’m interested in the science – what is acupuncture actually doing to my body?
Acupuncture has measurable physiological mechanisms for preventing and relieving migraines.
Proposed mechanisms include:
Boosting endorphins: Endorphins are natural opioid chemicals that relieve pain. Studies show acupuncture increases endorphin levels in patients.
Regulating serotonin: Acupuncture is thought to regulate serotonin levels in the body. serotonin dysregulation is implicated in migraines.
Increasing blood Flow: Acupuncture increases cerebral blood flow to the brain. Migraines are associated with alterations in cranial blood flow.
Reducing inflammation: Acupuncture releases compounds that reduce inflammatory agents like CGRP which are involved in migraines.
Relaxing muscles: Acupuncture points on the neck and shoulders may relax contracted muscles that contribute to migraine development.
Overall, acupuncture can intervene in multiple biological pathways involved in migraines to prevent and stop headache attacks.
Is Acupuncture Safe for Migraines?
Acupuncture is considered very safe when performed by a licensed, experienced practitioner. Side effects are rare and usually minor, like occasional bruising or soreness at the needle site.
A key advantage of acupuncture is the lack of adverse effects often seen with migraine medications like nausea, drowsiness, and dependence. Acupuncture provides a safe way to reduce your reliance on pain-killers for migraine relief.
How to Find a Qualified Acupuncturist
It’s important to see an experienced acupuncturist trained to degree level in order to achieve maximum therapeutic benefits. The British Acupuncture Council has a directory to find qualified acupuncturists throughout the UK.
Choose an acupuncturist who has specific training in treating headaches and migraines. Ask about their experience, techniques, and typical treatment protocol.
I can combine needling with other therapies like moxibustion, cupping, or electrical stimulation to get the best results for you..
