Migraines can be debilitating, especially when they become frequent or difficult to manage. Acupuncture can help reduce migraine pain and frequency while addressing the individual patterns that may contribute to recurring headaches.
I take both a traditional Chinese medicine and modern clinical approach to migraine treatment. Rather than treating every migraine the same way, I look at the location, quality, timing, triggers, and accompanying symptoms, along with your overall health and constitution.
Understanding migraines through Chinese medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, migraines can develop from different underlying patterns. These may include Liver Yang rising, Liver Qi stagnation, Blood deficiency, phlegm, or other imbalances.
The symptoms that accompany your migraines provide important information about the underlying pattern. For example, headaches around the temples may be approached differently from headaches associated with fatigue, dizziness, hormonal changes, digestive symptoms, or significant neck tension.
Acupuncture treatment is selected based on your individual presentation rather than simply treating the location of the pain.
When neck tension contributes to migraines
For some people, migraines are associated with significant tightness and tension in the cervical muscles. When the muscles of the neck are tight or contain trigger points that are contributing to headache pain, I may incorporate dry needling of the cervical musculature into an acupuncture treatment.
Dry needling allows me to directly address muscular tension and trigger points in the neck when they appear to be contributing to the migraine. This can be combined with acupuncture points chosen according to the individual's traditional Chinese medicine pattern.
Acupuncture for migraine pain
Acupuncture points may be used locally around the head and neck as well as on the arms, legs, and other areas of the body. Treatment is individualized based on your symptoms and the underlying pattern identified during your evaluation.
From a modern perspective, acupuncture may influence pain processing and nervous system regulation, which may help reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines for some people.
The goal is not only to address the headache when it occurs, but to work with the underlying factors that may be contributing to recurring migraines.
Common migraine symptoms
I work with people experiencing:
Recurring migraines
Headaches around the temples or behind the eyes
Hormonal or menstrual-related migraines
Migraines associated with stress or changes in sleep
Headaches accompanied by nausea
Light or sound sensitivity
Migraines associated with significant neck tension
Recurring tension-type headaches
Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional medical care. New, severe, or significantly changing headaches should always be evaluated by a medical professional.
