A migraine is a neurological condition that can cause intense, debilitating headaches with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, numbness and sensitivity to light and sound.
According to the NHS, they usually begin in early adulthood and affect around 1 in every 5 women and around 1 in every 15 men.
Treatment is typically focused on easing symptoms, rather than curing migraines altogether. This includes painkillers, anti-sickness drugs, and other types of medication you can get over-the-counter or through your GP.
If medicines are unsuitable for you or do not help to prevent migraines, you can also try acupuncture, which is increasingly being used as a migraine prevention treatment today.
Treatment of Migraines with Acupuncture
According to Cochrane, who have reviewed several studies and reports by researchers in the field of acupuncture, suggest that it is indeed a viable treatment option for those willing to use it.
Studies have proven that it can be at least similarly effective to prophylactic drugs, and, when combined with usual care or treatment methods, can significantly reduce the frequency of headaches when compared to people only given normal care. This has led to a drop of over 50% of headache occurrences for some people.
How Does It Work?
Acupuncture, a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine, uses fine needles that are inserted at certain areas in the body for therapeutic or preventive purposes. It involves the stimulation of sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles.
The effect is that natural substances are released into the body, such as pain-relieving endorphins. These naturally released substances are likely responsible for the beneficial effects experienced with acupuncture.
However, many others believe the more traditional theories behind acupuncture, which suggest that it helps to support the movement of energy or “Qi” that flows through the body in channels called meridians.
How Long Does It Take?
A course of acupuncture usually creates longer-lasting pain relief than when a single treatment is used. Evidence suggests a course of several sessions carried out regularly over multiple weeks is more beneficial than single sessions carried out in isolation or intermittently.
Depending on your unique condition, you may require more or less total sessions to achieve the results you want. This should be planned with a professional practitioner who can build a program for you based on your needs.
Arranging Acupuncture Treatment for Your Migraine
If you’re suffering from a migraine, come in and let us know at our Acubody bodyworks centre in central London, or contact us via phone. We’ll happily advise you on the kind of Migraine acupuncture treatment plans in London or elsewhere we can offer and how you can arrange the best program for your needs.
For those who simply want to learn more about the potential of acupuncture, we can also outline some of the fundamental principles of the method, or direct you to our online resources covering the history of acupuncture and its usage in modern-day healthcare.
