Acupuncture for Headaches

Almost everyone suffers from a headache at some point in life, and for a significant part of the population it is a recurring, difficult phenomenon. A Chinese medicine practitioner does not simply relieve the pain when it appears, but tries to understand the root it comes from. This article explains how Chinese medicine understands headaches, when to seek medical evaluation first, and how acupuncture can help treat them over time.

Headaches – A Common Phenomenon That Sometimes Needs Evaluation

Estimates suggest that up to a fifth of the Western population suffers from severe, long-term headaches that recur again and again. Most headaches are not a symptom of another medical condition, but there are cases in which a headache may indicate a more serious problem. This is the case, for example, when the pain is accompanied by severe dizziness, vomiting, high fever or high blood pressure, and when the patient is elderly. In such cases some of the warning signs require medical evaluation before turning to complementary treatment methods, and only afterward is it worth considering treatment with acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Headaches in Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine views a headache as one of a whole set of symptoms that point to a pattern of disharmony in the patient. The location of the pain matters a great deal for the diagnosis: pain at the back of the head, at the crown, or at the front of the head each points to a different clinical significance. After gathering further information, including medical history, dietary habits and lifestyle, the practitioner arrives at a precise diagnosis on which the course of treatment is based.

Headaches Can Take Different Forms

The location of the pain can vary between the forehead, the temples and the back of the head, and so can the type of pain itself — sharp, dull or throbbing. The frequency, timing, aggravating or relieving factors, and accompanying symptoms such as blurred vision or nausea, all differ from person to person. Chinese medicine recognizes that body and mind constitution differs from one person to another, so headaches appear and are described differently for each patient.

• Rising liver yang
• Kidney and liver yin deficiency
• Blood deficiency, in Chinese medicine terms
• Stomach heat
• Qi and blood stagnation

These are some of the common clinical patterns that can lead to headaches. An accurate diagnosis of the pattern allows a treatment plan of acupuncture and herbal medicine to be built specifically for you.

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Headaches

For those who suffer from chronic headaches or recurring migraines, the pain and discomfort can be exhausting. However, acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment that can offer relief and even resolve the problem over time, and there is a wealth of research describing its effect on reducing headaches and migraines. A study published in the British Medical Journal examined a group of 400 patients suffering from headaches, half of whom received acupuncture treatments. A year later, researchers found that the patients who received acupuncture experienced 22 fewer days with headaches, made fewer visits to their doctor, and took fewer sick days from work, compared with the group that was not treated with acupuncture, where the relief rates were much lower.

A Personally Tailored Treatment

Migraines and headaches can be especially painful, and at times they prevent a person from taking part in simple daily activities such as school or work. Acupuncture and herbal treatments tailored personally to each patient can make a significant difference. An in-depth diagnostic session allows for an accurate diagnosis of the headache: what causes it, what triggers a migraine that erupts suddenly or builds gradually, and what nutrition and treatment approach is most effective for you personally.

Book a Treatment

If you suffer from recurring headaches or migraines and are looking for an approach that treats the root of the problem, feel free to contact Shai Davids’s clinic in Jerusalem and Ramat Gan and schedule a personal diagnostic session.