Acupuncture for headaches

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer an alternative approach to addressing chronic and severe headaches, aiming to address the root cause rather than simply masking the symptoms with pain medications. Headaches are a common issue, including tension-type headaches and migraines.

Acupuncture has become a popular treatment option for headaches in clinics today, as it provides relief without the potential side effects associated with prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

When using acupuncture to treat headaches, they are often classified based on their location, which helps guide the treatment strategy. Different meridians and patterns may affect each area of the head, such as the liver meridian for the top of the head, gall-bladder meridian for the sides and temples, stomach meridian for the forehead, and kidney-essence deficiency or external wind for the whole head. Proper diagnosis and individualized treatment are essential, considering factors like triggers, location, frequency, intensity, pain quality, timing, and aggravating or relieving factors.

There are four primary types of headaches: tension, cluster, sinus, and migraine.

These headaches can have various triggers, including stress, food, hormones, dehydration, and weather. Fortunately, it is possible to identify and eliminate triggers while also finding natural ways to prevent and manage headaches.

Tension headaches are the most common type, characterized by muscle tightness and contraction that impairs blood flow. They typically cause mild to moderate pain in areas such as the forehead, behind the eyes, neck, and top of the shoulders. Stress, fatigue, cold, poor posture, skipping meals, and dehydration are common causes of tension headaches.

Cluster headaches, on the other hand, are the most severe and commonly affect younger men. These headaches are usually one-sided and accompanied by symptoms like watery eyes, a red face, and pain along the path of the trigeminal nerve. Cluster headaches can last for days, weeks, or even months, occurring at the same time every day, multiple times per day. The hypothalamus is believed to be involved in these intense headaches, and triggers can include alcohol and smoking.

Sinus headaches occur due to sinus infections and typically present as painful pressure around the eyes, cheeks, forehead, and teeth. Additional symptoms may include post-nasal drip, congestion with green mucus, or fever. The trapped mucus in the sinuses leads to inflammation and the resulting painful pressure.

Migraines are another severe type of headache and can be distinguished from tension headaches by accompanying symptoms such as visual disturbances, auras prior to onset, increased sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, and throbbing pain on one side of the head. Migraine triggers can include hormonal changes, food sensitivity, weather changes, iron deficiency, or thyroid issues.

In TCM, the focus is on addressing the root cause of the headache rather than solely treating symptoms. TCM practitioners diagnose and develop treatment plans based on a comprehensive evaluation that includes medical history, pulse diagnosis, and tongue examination.

Headaches in TCM can be triggered by internal or external wind, cold, heat, or damp conditions. Each type of headache may have specific characteristics, such as moving, heavy, or piercing sensations. Blood deficiency or stagnation can also contribute to headaches. Acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary advice, and acupressure self-care techniques are commonly used in TCM to improve blood flow and alleviate pain.

Systematic reviews, consolidating the results of multiple scientific trials, have shown that acupuncture is effective in preventing and relieving both tension-type headaches and migraines.

It's important to consult with a qualified TCM practitioner who can evaluate your condition, provide an accurate diagnosis, and create an individualized treatment plan for your specific needs.

Take care of yourself!

Violaine

References:

Linde K, Streng A, Jürgens S, et al. Acupuncture for Patients with Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2005;293(17):2118–2125 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/200822

Melchart D, Streng A, Hoppe A, Brinkhaus B, Witt C, Wagenpfeil S et al. Acupuncture in patients with tension-type headache: randomised controlled trial BMJ 2005 https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7513/376