Those who suffer from chronic migraines know how much it can affect your personal and work life. Many people have a usual routine they practice when you feel a migraine coming on and then continue the next steps to try and lessen the pain after it has hit. What people don’t realize or are afraid of, is how beneficial acupuncture can be for migraines and the prevention of migraines.
Acupuncture has been used to treat headaches, migraines and other types of chronic pain for thousands of years. Instead of using pain medication and synthetic drugs, acupuncture can effectively treat and reduce migraines a more natural way.
How It Works
When you think of a migraine and acupuncture, you may assume that the needles would be inserted into the head and neck area to relieve pressure. However, while migraines are associated with dilation of the blood vessels in the head, needles may be inserted into other areas of the body to improve the blood flow to the head.
Instead, our acupuncturist uses a different technique to minimize activity of the blood vessels in this area. By strategically selecting acupuncture points in the arms and legs, we can alleviate pain without unnecessary stimulation of the vessels in the head.
Unlike the usual lying position, migraines are treated with the patient in an upright sitting position. Why? Because the blood vessels are under greater control in the sitting position, which minimizes the chance of vessel dilation following acupuncture treatment.
Will It Hurt?
Lots of people have have encountered hypodermic needles and sewing needles before and it’s important to know that both are huge compared to the ones we use in acupuncture. In fact, five acupuncture needles can easily fit inside one hypodermic needle! So if the only thing holding you back is the thought that it will hurt, then rest assured it is not what you’re thinking.
Both people who are new to acupuncture, and those who receive it frequently, report a small prick almost like a mosquito bite, or feel the protective tube more than the actual needle. After trying it once, most people hardly ever report any discomfort after that.
Acupuncture visits can take up to 30-60 minutes. Most people experience a variety of post-session feelings, which range from energized to a deep sense of relaxation and well-being. Don’t keep suffering from migraines — make an acupuncture appointment with us today and we’ll help you treat and prevent future migraines.