Migraine Relief with Acupuncture: How Does it Work?
Are you losing productivity or feeling professional stigma due to severe migraines?
In this case, we would suggest that you get migraine relief with acupuncture. Clinical data from NCBI shows that acupuncture cuts headache frequency in half for up to 59% of patients.
Continue reading this comprehensive guide to understand how acupuncture can help with migraine.
Does Migraine Relief with Acupuncture?
Yes, migraine gets relief with acupuncture.
According to NCBI, 100s of people use acupuncture as a preventive treatment for migraine. Acupuncture reduces migraine attack frequency, duration, and intensity significantly.
Several randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews show that acupuncture is effective for migraine prophylaxis.
Acupuncture offers the following benefits to those who have migraine,
Reduces migraine duration by several hours per attack
Lowers the number of attacks per month
Decreases the total number of migraine days over 4 weeks
Improves daily activity restriction
Acupuncture is listed as one of the effective options by major migraine organizations for people who prefer non-drug approaches.
What are the Side Effects of Acupuncture for Migraines?
The side effects of acupuncture for migraine are bruising, minor bleeding, soreness at the needle insertion areas, etc.
Note: Side effects are short-lived and mild.
You are unlikely to experience serious complications if treatment is performed by professionals at Balance Houston.
Common Short-lived Side Effects
Soreness in the area where the needle is inserted
Bruising or minor bleeding in the skin in the needle insertion areas
Dizziness or a mild headache during or after the treatment
Fainting while lying down
Fatigue or a feeling of tiredness following the acupuncture session
Nausea or temporary increase of headache
Rare Risks
Infections that mostly happen in the insertion area of the needles if they are unsterilized.
Pneumothorax from the accidental deep insertion of the needle in the acupuncture points
Damage to organs if the needles are incorrectly placed by an unprofessional practitioner.
Precautions
No injury or damage will occur for migraine relief with acupuncture if you follow the precautions mentioned below,
If you have bleeding disorders, avoid taking acupuncture.
Pregnant women must consult with an acupuncturist before taking acupuncture for migraine.
Avoid taking electro-acupuncture if you have pacemakers.
What are the Migraine Acupuncture Points?
Common acupuncture points for migraines include GB20 (Fengchi) at the base of the skull, LI4 (Hegu) on the hand, and Taiyang (EX-HN5) at the temples.
Other points, such as GV20 (Baihui), LR3 (Taichong), and specific scalp or neck points, also be used depending on the headache pattern.
Acupuncturists choose specific points based on the location of the headache, related symptoms, and traditional meridian patterns.
Commonly used points are,
GB20 (Fengchi): Found in the hollows below the occipital bone, between the neck muscles. GB20 is commonly used for migraines, especially headaches affecting the back of the head, temples, or one side.
LI4 (Hegu): Located on the back of the hand between the thumb and index finger. Hegu point is often used for pain relief and may be combined with GB20 to manage headache discomfort.
Taiyang (EX-HN5): Located in the small depression around the temples, behind the outer eyebrow. Practitioners commonly use this point for temporal migraines and eye strain.
GV20 (Baihui): Located on the crown of the head. It may be selected for pain around the top of the head and to promote a calmer state.
LR3 (Taichong): Found on the foot between the first and second toes. LR3 is often used when stress-related factors are associated with migraines according to traditional diagnosis.
GB8 (Shuaigu): Located on the side of the head. Practitioners may add this or other scalp and temporal points when pain affects the side of the head.
Practitioners also use extra points such as Yin Tang, located between the eyebrows, for frontal headaches and anxiety. Distal points on the arms or legs may also be selected to support overall balance.
Point selection depends on each person's symptoms. For example, GB20 with Taiyang is used for one-sided temporal migraines, while GB20 with LI4 is a commonly used combination for general headaches.
Needles usually remain in place for around 20–30 minutes. Some acupuncture protocols may also include electro-acupuncture, which uses mild electrical stimulation during treatment.
Is Acupuncture Good for Migraine?
Yes, acupuncture is a good, effective, and evidence-proven treatment for migraine. The word “good” means the treatment is useful and worth considering alongside or instead of medications.
Here are the key reasons why acupuncture is good for migraine,
Reduces Migraine Frequency & Severity
NCBI found in a study that migraine frequency has been cut by a minimum of 3-6 months in those who used acupuncture as the migraine treatment.
They experienced a lower number of migraine frequency and a decrease in the pain severity significantly. The best thing is, acupuncture works best for episodic and chronic migraine.
Works Better Compared to Preventive Drugs
Acupuncture gives better relief against migraine compared to common preventive drugs and reduces attack frequency. More importantly, acupuncture works better even with fewer sessions, which is a major advantage.
Safe & Tolerable
Most side effects like small bruises, dizziness, etc. of acupuncture are rare and tolerable. Moreover, you will hardly experience adverse events. Overall, acupuncture has a lighter risk profile, making it “good” for people who are sensitive to medicine.
Improves Quality of Life, Mood & Sleep
Migraine makes life intolerable and creates problems with relationships and mental health. Thanks to acupuncture that improves the quality of life, mood and sleep. At the same time, you will have a more active life since your daily activity limitations will decrease when you undergo acupuncture sessions for migraine.
Can Acupuncture Make Migraines Worse?
No, acupuncture doesn’t make migraines worse. However, the majority of patients report that they have increased headaches after the treatment, and the pain goes away completely within 24 hours of the session.
What is Next?
Acupuncture has been a key component for migraine treatment in Eastern medicine for thousands of years. The treatment is gaining acceptance among Western physicians as well. Safe, effective, and painless, migraine relief with acupuncture is approved by both the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and the WHO (World Health Organization) for many applications.
Balance Houston offers safe acupuncture sessions based on your needs. We create an individualized acupuncture treatment plan for migraine issues.