Seattle Community Acupuncture
Migraine
Migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. There are two types of migraine treatments with drugs: prevent the attacks, or relieve the symptoms during the attacks.
Researchers found that compared with standard medical care, acupuncture can offer powerful relief for people suffering from frequent migraine. It has no side effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause. Acupuncture will treat the root cause of the migraine, rather than provide a temporary solution. In 1979 in Beijing, the World Health Organization recognized acupuncture as an effective treatment for migraine.
From the viewpoint of Chinese medicine, the head is the place where all the Yang meridians of the hand and foot meet, and Qi and blood of the five Zang organs and Six fu organs all flow upward to the head. Attacks of endogenous and exogenous factors may cause headaches due to derangement of Qi and blood in the head and retardation of circulation of Qi in the meridians that traverse the head. Migraine headaches are classified to three types: headaches due to invasion of exogenous pathogenic factors into the meridians and collaterals; headache due to upsurge of liver Yang; and headache due to deficiency of both Qi and blood. The exogenous pathogenic factors include Wind, Damp, Heat, and Cold.
For example, the migraine caused by Cold shows that the headache may get worse when the temperature drops. The Liver type of migraine commonly in conjunction with emotional strain or stress, feeling of oppression in the chest and hypochondrium, depression or anxiety.
Diagnosis will be made thorough analyzing the complete history of the patients and all presenting symptoms, followed by checking the tongue and taking pulse. A treatment plan specifically for you will be designed. In the treatment, fine stainless steel acupuncture needles will be inserted into specific points on the body followed by gentle manipulation of the needles. Moxibustion and ear acupuncture will also be used in the treatment.
Some patients may feel immediate comfort after one acupuncture treatment, it usually takes five to six times treatment to see a remarkable imprvement. It's important to notice that acupuncture may not be helpful for you if you do not see an improvement in migraine after six to eight sessions of acupuncture treatment.
Patients with migraine will get healing benefits of acupuncture treatment from experienced Chinese acupuncturists at Green Point Acupuncture L.L.C.. The mission of our acupuncturists is to improve the quality of a patient’s life by providing natural health care that focuses on the whole person.
Some tips:
Prevention
- Try to avoid foods or other things that seem to cause migraines for you.
- Get plenty of sleep
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Exercise regularly. Choose any aerobic exercise you enjoy, including walking, swimming and cycling.
- Try to relax and reduce the stress in your life.
- Reduce the effects of estrogen if you're a woman with migraines and estrogen seems to trigger or make your headaches worse
When migraine symptoms begin:
- Rest in a quiet, darkened room
- Drink fluids to avoid dehydration (especially if you have vomited)
- Try placing a cool cloth on your head
- Put pressure on one of the following acupuncture points:
· Taiyang (EX-HN5) http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2007/8-25/2007825152512.html
· Xiaguan (ST7) http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2007/8-16/2007816115332.html
· Hegu (LI4) http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2007/8-12/200781210309.html
· Fengchi (GB20) http://www.tcmadvisory.com/2007/8-24/2007824101115.html
Green Point Acupuncture L.L.C.