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Acupuncture for Migraine Headache

Traditional Chinese Medicine in New York

Acupuncture beats medication in treating headaches! In a recent study done by Duke University researchers, acupuncture was found to be more effective than medication in treating migraine headaches. Acupuncture was found to be more effective than medication in reducing the frequency of headaches, reducing the intensity of headaches, and improving physical function during a headache.

Science has confirmed that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines. An acupuncture treatment will eliminate a headache while it is occurring and a course of acupuncture can keep them from returning. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, migraine headaches are said to be due to Liver Yang Rising and the goal of treatment is to subdue Liver Yang.

Acupuncture for migraines involves the insertion of very fine sterile needles into specific points on the body. An acupuncturist uses these needles to influence the flow of vital energy, known as qi, throughout your body and to restore balance to the flow of energy and improve health. Acupuncture works by regulating a patient’s qi, supplementing it if the qi is deficient and dispersing it if qi has become stagnant.

A typical session of acupuncture for migraine headache lasts 45 minutes and it is usually recommended to have one session per week in the beginning of treatment. Patients generally feel very relaxed during and after an acupuncture session. The needles used in acupuncture are much smaller than the needles used to take blood or give shots and therefore do not cause pain when inserted.

When undergoing an acupuncture for migraines, it is not unusual for acupuncture needles to be placed in points at different parts of the body. A typical treatment may include points on the ears, feet, hands or head.

There are no side effects to treatment with acupuncture for migraine headaches.