Migraines are not simple headaches, as anyone who has ever suffered from one will tell you. They are actually considered to be a neurological disease and they afflict an estimated 39 million people in the United States. The throbbing pain, usually occurring on only one side of the head, can last for an unpredictable amount of time ranging from a few hours to several days. Migraine sufferers can also experience dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to sound, light, and certain smells.
The most common treatments for migraines involve prescription medications. They relieve pain by blocking the signals of nerve cells to the brain, which trigger the symptoms, but they also cause side effects of their own, which can include drowsiness and fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances, stomach or intestinal irritation, addiction, and instability. The overuse and addictiveness of prescription drugs, particularly pain relievers like opioids, is fueling the search for more holistic treatments.
Acupuncture is one of those treatments that has proven to be successful in relieving migraine pain and symptoms. Here are some excellent reasons why acupuncture for migraines might be right for you.
- Acupuncture has been proven to relieve pain – Thousands of studies substantiate the claim that acupuncture does reduce and relieve migraine and headache pain.
- Acupuncture reduces inflammation – Experts agree that headaches and migraines are the result of some kind of inflammatory response inside the body. Acupuncture decreases these reactions by releasing vascular and immune-inducing chemicals.
- Symptoms can also be treated – In addition to pain, acupuncture also helps to reduce and control symptoms like nausea and dizziness.
- Acupuncture helps balance serotonin – Serotonin might be a contributing factor to the initiation of a migraine, and acupuncture helps to regulate its production to prevent migraines.
- Acupuncture increases blood circulation – Pain can be the result of lower oxygen levels caused by impaired circulation. Acupuncture improves blood circulation and the distribution of oxygen throughout the body.
- The risk of side effects is very low – Acupuncture side effects usually only include things like soreness, slight bleeding, or light bruising at the sites of the needle injections.
- Acupuncture is not addictive – Unlike prescription pain relievers, there is no risk of addiction because no medications, topical pain relievers, or injections are used.
The use of acupuncture for headache and migraine relief is increasing steadily in the United States. Over 14 million people have tried acupuncture. If you think it might be right for you, Seasons in Our Life offers acupuncture along with other holistic therapeutic treatments and services. Contact us today to learn more.