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HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
Headaches
Almost everyone has experienced a headache at one time or another. In fact,
about 90% of people will have a headache within one year and 99% of people will
have a headache in their lifetime. Headaches are one of the most common complaints
heard by primary care physicians, although 83% of people self-medicate.1
The list of reasons for headaches is one of the longest in medicine with over
300 different types and causes. While the occasional headache is not generally a
concern, particularly if you can track its cause, such as lack of sleep or too
much wine, chronic or severe or "mystery" headaches should be properly assessed
and treated.
One large study of 401 patients with chronic headaches randomly allocated
patients to receive either 12 acupuncture treatments over 3 months or control
intervention offering usual care. The results over one year showed that the
acupuncture group suffered fewer headaches, took less medication, made fewer
visits to their GPs, and took fewer sick days.2
MigrainesAs defined by WebMD, "Migraines are painful, sometimes
debilitating headaches often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to
light, noise, and smell. These throbbing headaches usually occur on only one
side of the head, although the pain can shift from one side of the head to the
other, or can occur on both sides simultaneously. Migraines involve changes in
chemicals and blood vessels in the brain, which trigger pain signals leading to
headache and other symptoms."
A study published in the journal Headache found acupuncture to have a greater
effectiveness and superior tolerability than the oral administration of the drug
flunarizine for the treatment of migraines.3
Treatment
Depending on the cause of the headache or migraine, and according to the
Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis, treatments can vary. Some headaches and
migraines will respond best to acupuncture. Others have a dietary cause and can
be treated via food cures (i.e. nutritional changes). Still others can use
Chinese herbs alone or in combination with other TCM treatments to rebalance the
body and relieve pain.
1 http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79573.htm
2 Vickers AJ, Rees RW, Zollman CE, et al. Acupuncture of chronic headache
disorders in primary care: randomised controlled trial and economic analysis.
Health Technol Assess. 2004 Nov;8(48):iii, 1-35.
3 Allais, G, MD; De Lorenzo C, MD; Quirico, P, MD; et al. Acupuncture in the
Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine Without Aura: A Comparison with Flunarizine.
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.
doi:10.1046/j.1526-4610.2002.02203.x |
