MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE

Often the headache is one-sided or behind the eyes, but not always.

Any headaches are distressing if the origin is not understood, and if the headache does not respond rapidly to whatever mild medication or therapy one might give oneself – such as drinking plenty of water, relaxing, or taking one dose of a moderate strength painkiller. Those who suffer from chronic, daily headache find that these measures are ineffective and that, day after day, they have to tolerate a headache which can range in severity from a mild, muzzy, heavy-headedness to a sense of having the head wrapped in a tight, pounding band. People who suffer from chronic daily headaches sometimes have episodes of migraine as well, and many migraine sufferers have headaches in between migraines.

How does acupuncture approach the problem of migraines or tension-type headaches?

As an acupuncturist, Dwara Young assesses each patient individually, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine. From this perspective, headaches and migraines have different origins in different people, such as a connection with stress, or triggers such as chocolate, red wine or cheese. Sometimes episodes predictably occur at weekends or holiday times.

Some patients have neck problems which are giving rise to headaches. Sometimes there are related digestive problems or correlations between feeling extra tired and the onset of a headache or migraine. Women may see a relation between episodes of headache or migraine and their menstrual cycle, or menopausal changes.

What does acupuncture treatment involve?

Because the origins of each person’s headache or migraine is different, acupuncture varies for each patient, and Dwara will take a careful history for each person before proceeding with treatment. In line with all Chinese medicine, her treatment endeavours to deal with the underlying problem, rather than just treating superficial symptoms.

Part of her initial assessment includes taking the pulse at both wrists, and looking carefully at the patient’s tongue. She may also ask questions about diet and lifestyle, and palpate the patient’s neck, checking for tightness, or structural problems. All these examinations will inform her Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment plan.

The treatment will involve the insertion of very fine needles at appropriate points, and may include dietary advice or lifestyle suggestions. In most cases, patients will need weekly acupuncture treatment for perhaps 6 to 12 weeks. Some improvements should be noticed after four or five treatments, sooner in some cases. Where the problem is linked to the menstrual cycle, it may be a little longer before a patient can be confident of an improvement, as treatment will vary according to the stage of the cycle. Some patients may need monthly or six-weekly treatment over a longer period, especially if there are trigger factors which cannot be changed.

Where do you put the needles?

Because each person’s diagnosis and treatment is different, the acupoints will be individually selected for each patient and may vary from one session to another as treatment progresses. Needles may be put in your back, neck, wrists, hands, legs, feet or abdomen. Dwara will always explain what she is doing and check that you are comfortable about the position of the needles.

Does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture treatment has been given for these problems over thousands of years. In recent years, more and more research has been conducted to test the efficacy of acupuncture in a modern age. The British Acupuncture council has published a fact sheet on Acupuncture and Migraines.

The Acupuncture Research and Resource Centre has also published a briefing paper on migraine and acupuncture, giving a summary of research to 1998 and a Cochrane systematic review has been undertaken into acupuncture for tension-type headache [Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 PubMed Result].

And the Acupuncture Research and Resource Centre has published a fact sheet on acupuncture for headache and migraine, summarising research up to 2004.

Your acupuncturist

Dwara Young MSc DipAc MBAcC.

Dwara is an experienced, professionally trained acupuncturist and a member of the British Acupuncture Council. She has been in practice since 1992.

If you would like to have a chat with her before making an appointment, do phone the practice nearest you and ask Dwara to get in touch with you, or email dwara@acupuncture-bristol.co.uk, putting "Enquiry from website" as your subject heading.

Clifton Physiotherapy
111 Pembroke Road
Clifton
Bristol BS8 3EU
0117 970 6390
Link on Google Maps

Trinity Osteopathic Practice
42 Bell Street
Shaftesbury
Dorset SP7 8AE
01747 851 726
Link on Google Maps

Professional Regulatory Body  |  Research & Evidence