Reduce Migraine and Headache Pain with Acupuncture
Are you plagued by chronic headaches? More than 45 million Americans
(one in six) suffer from chronic headaches, 20 million of whom are
women. Scientific research shows that acupuncture can be more effective
than medication in reducing the severity and frequency of chronic
headaches.
The pain that headache and migraine sufferers endure can impact every
aspect of their lives. A widely accepted form of treatment for
headaches, acupuncture can offer powerful relief without the side
effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause.
Headaches and migraines, as well as their underlying causes have been
treated successfully with acupuncture and Oriental medicine for
thousands of years. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can be used alone
in the management and treatment of headaches, or as part of a
comprehensive treatment program.
Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize migraines and chronic
headaches as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the
specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of
of techniques such as acupuncture, tui-na massage, and energetic
exercises to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, your
diagnosis and treatment will depend on a number of variables including:
- Is the headache behind your eyes and temples, or is it located more on the top of your head?
- When do your headaches occur (i.e. night, morning, after eating)?
- Do you find that a cold compress or a darkened room can alleviate some of the pain?
- Is the pain dull and throbbing, or sharp and piercing?
Your answers to these questions will help your practitioner create a
treatment plan specifically for you. The basic foundation for Oriental
medicine is that there is a life energy flowing through the body which
is termed Qi (pronounced chee). This energy flows through the body on
channels known as meridians that connect all of our major organs.
According to Oriental medical theory, illness or pain arises when the
cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced. Acupuncture
stimulates specific points located on or near the surface of the skin to
alter various biochemical and physiological conditions that cause aches
and pains or illness.
The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical
treatments last from five to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated
one or two times a week. Some headaches, migraines and related symptoms
are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic
ailments often require multiple treatments.
Do you or someone you know suffer from headaches or migraines? Call
today to find out how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you!
Headaches Dramatically Reduced by Acupuncture
Since the early seventies, studies around the globe have suggested
that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines and headaches.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center analyzed the results of
more than 30 studies on acupuncture as a pain reliever for a variety of
ailments, including chronic headaches. They found that acupuncture
decreases pain with fewer side effects and can be less expensive than
medication. Researchers found that using acupuncture as an alternative
for pain relief also reduced the need for post-operative pain
medications.
In a study published in the November 1999 issue of Cephalalgia,
scientists evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment
of migraines and recurrent headaches by systematically reviewing 22
randomized controlled trials. A total of 1,042 patients were examined.
It was found that headache and migraine sufferers experienced
significantly more relief from acupuncture than patients who were
administered "sham" acupuncture.
A clinical observation, published in a 2002 edition of the Journal of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, studied 50 patients presenting with
various types of headaches who were treated with scalp acupuncture. The
results of this study showed that 98 percent of patients treated with
scalp acupuncture experienced no headaches or only occasional, mild
headaches in the six months following care.
In a case study, published in the June 2003 Issue of Medical
Acupuncture, doctors found that acupuncture resulted in the resolution
or reduction in the frequency and severity of cluster headaches, and a
decrease or discontinuation of pain medications. It was concluded that
acupuncture can be used to provide sustained relief from cluster
headaches and to stimulate the body's natural production of adrenal
cortisol to aid in discontinuing corticosteroids.
According to the July 2005 issue of the British Medical Journal, a
randomized controlled trial in Germany found that acupuncture cut
tension headache rates almost in half. Researchers divided 270 patients
who reported similarly severe tension headaches into three groups for
the study. Over the project's eight-week period, one group received
traditional acupuncture, one received only minimal acupuncture, and the
third group received neither treatment. Those receiving the traditional
acupuncture reported headache rates of nearly half that of those who
received no treatments, suffering 7 fewer days of headaches. The minimal
acupuncture group suffered 6.6 fewer days, and the non-acupuncture
group suffered 1.5 fewer days. The improvements continued for months
after the treatments were concluded, rising slightly as time went on.
www.bluecraneacupuncture.com
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In This Issue
- Reduce Migraine and Headache Pain with Acupuncture
- Headaches Dramatically Reduced by Acupuncture
- 7 Healthy Habits of Headache Sufferers
- Staying Healthy
7 Healthy Habits of Headache Sufferers
Headache sufferers can reduce the intensity and frequency of their
headaches or migraine episodes by following a few simple steps:
Nutrition - Eat regular meals, avoid foods and drinks that are known to trigger headache attacks.
Sleep - Practice good sleep habits. Maintain a regular sleeping schedule, including weekends and vacations.
Stress - Implement stress reduction techniques into your daily life.
Education - Stay apprised of the latest treatment options and headache relief news.
Headache Diary - Keep a diary of when your headaches occur, along with any triggers, and share the information with your healthcare provider.
See Your Healthcare Provider - Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to specifically discuss your headaches.
Be a Partner in Your Headache Care - Stay informed, so you can be a participant in your treatment and an advocate for improving your own headache care.
Staying Healthy
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help prevent illness by building
up the immune system with just a few needles inserted into key points
along the body's energy pathways.
These points are known for strengthening the circulation of blood and
energy and consolidating the outer defense layers of the skin and muscle
(wei Qi) so that germs and viruses cannot enter through them.
Seasonal acupuncture treatments also server to tonify inner organ
systems and correct minor annoyances before they become serious
problems.
Call to see how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you stay healthy
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