A part of an ancient medical system known as TCM or traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is an extremely effective tension headache and migraine treatment. According to TCM, Qi (pronounced “chee”) or life energy circulates throughout the body along channels or pathways known as meridians. Health problems develop when the flow of Qi becomes disrupted and unbalanced.
The main objective of acupuncture is to unblock and restore balance to the flow of Qi by the placement of filiform needles into certain acupuncture points located on your shoulders, legs, or arms. Terrible as it may sound, this technique does not cause pain. As the needle is stuck into the skin, the person usually only experiences a mild discomfort that, after a while, is transformed into a relaxing and even sleepy feeling.
The frequency and duration of acupuncture treatment is based on several factors including what type of headache you have (sinus headache, tension headache, or migraine), as well as its frequency and severity, what part of the head that’s affected, the time of night or day when the headaches are felt, and other factors.
An acupuncturist will have to consider all these factors in order to correctly select the proper meridians to be used to treat the headache. Migraine headaches, for example, usually require the needling of the gallbladder meridian and the application of a technique known as the preventive approach, to effectively cure the headache. This approach involves around eight to ten acupuncture sessions that’s combined with diet therapy and the use of Chinese herbs. An obstruction in the abdomen meridian can induce tension headaches. This requires a treatment approach that’s different than migraines combined with stress-relieving activities such as Thai Chi or yoga every day, and lifestyle changes. This helps promote relaxation and reduces muscle tension.
Certain headaches are immediately alleviated after the first acupuncture treatment that may last for 5 to up to 30 minutes, while severe and chronic headaches usually require 10 or more treatments.
Despite the fact that numerous studies around the world have already proven acupuncture’s ability to treat headache, scientists still cannot explain how acupuncture comes about achieving this. Some believe that acupuncture helps regulate neurotransmitter or serotonin levels in the brain that’s believed to be key in preventing migraine headaches. Another belief states that acupuncture stimulates the release of natural substances such as endorphins released in the brain to ameliorate pain.
If you’d had enough of constant headaches that prevent you from enjoying life and disrupt your daily activities, the safe and effective treatment of acupuncture in Miami is worth a try.