Can Acupuncture Really Reduce the Number of Migraine Headaches You Experience Each Month?
Migraines are the most common type of headache, affecting 1 in 10 people. For those suffering, migraine headaches are a severe neurological disease, and should not be overlooked, undiagnosed, or left untreated.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is difficult to predict who may suffer from migraines and who may not, but there are risk factors that may make one more vulnerable. These risk factors include:
Do you get migraines because of genetics? Up to 80% of people who get migraine headaches have a first-degree relative with the disease.
Do you get more frequent migraine headaches because of your gender? Migraine headaches happen to women more than men, especially women between the ages of 15 and 55. It’s likely more common in women because of the influence of hormones.
Are migraine and headache pain more prevalent because of high stress levels? You may get migraines more often if you’re high stress. Stress has been shown to trigger and prolong a migraine.
Fortunately, for migraine sufferers, both Acupuncture and Acupressure can provide relief for these common types of headaches and promote less pain and a healthy lifestyle long-term.
In one of our blogs, we share the Top 4 Acupressure Points for Relieving Migraine and Headache Pain.
Can Acupuncture Reduce the Frequency of Migraines?
The available evidence and research suggest that acupuncture can lower the number of migraine headaches in both the short-term and long-term.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study in 2017 showing the efficiency of acupuncture for reducing the frequency of migraines. In participants who received true acupuncture, the frequency of their migraines was reduced from 4.8 per month to three per month.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health suggest from several studies that acupuncture may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches.
The American Migraine Foundation is also a proponent of acupuncture. “Based on a systemic review of 22 plus studies, involving 4985 people, The frequency of headache is dropped by 50% or more in up to 59% of individuals receiving acupuncture and this effect can persist for more than 6 months.”
Overall the research highlights that regular acupuncture can be a good choice to help relieve and prevent migraines without the use of drugs and associated side effects from prescription and over-the-counter medication.
This ancient practice has even gained the endorsement of many of the top universities, hospital systems, and national migraine associations as an effective alternative and complementary therapy for this common pain issue.
Visit your local Modern Acupuncture clinic to speak with a Licensed Acupuncturist and begin the journey that can significantly improve your health.
FAQ – Does Acupuncture Hurt for Treating Migraines or Headaches?
You may feel a little sensation or tingle at the point, but most patients don’t feel anything at all and often fall asleep during their treatment because of how comfortable they are. Keep in mind that the acupuncture needles are extremely tiny, often smaller than a strand of human hair. Your acupuncturist will make sure that you are comfortable and adjust any point during your acupuncture session that causes discomfort.
Acupuncture Minimizes Pain
Modern Acupuncture® is a natural pain relief solution and the leading provider of acupuncture in the U.S. The most studied theories show that acupuncture stimulates the body to release naturally produced “feel good” endorphins and stimulate the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” response in our body.
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