In my experience as an acupuncturist in NYC, acupuncture is very effective for migraines.
Symptoms of Migraines
- Pulsing or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Nausea and vomiting
In some cases, there may be stiffness and or pain in the neck and shoulders.
In acupuncture, migraines are mostly related to the gallbladder channel. The gallbladder channel starts at the region lateral to the eye, traverses the sides of the head to the sides of the neck and trapezius muscle.
These regions are mostly affected during the migraine. Diagnosis by channel palpation or by measuring electrical resistance of the gallbladder channel confirms involvement. Other channels that may be involved include the urinary bladder channel, the liver channel, and or the kidney channel.
Treating the affected channel alleviates pain and tension during acute episodes and can reduce frequency of migraine episodes resulting in less medication use. In addition, knowing a patient’s health history is very important in developing a treatment plan for best results. Depending on the severity of the illness, acupuncture should be administered 1-3 times per week.
Recommendations for those with migraines
- Reduce alcohol and limit caffeine consumption. Excessive consumption of alcohol adversely affects hormones and neurotransmitters. Caffeine has been associated with increased migraine frequency. Limiting coffee and other caffeinated beverage to 1 per day is best.
- Take magnesium glycinate before bedtime 400-600 mg, research indicates that magnesium may be deficient in those with migraines.
- Have a regular sleep schedule going to bed at the same time and waking at the same time every day. Those with migraines are more likely to have issues with sleep. Insomnia is also risk factor for migraines.
