How can acupuncture help treat migraines?
Millions of people across the United States suffer from migraines every single day. Some of these migraines are so intense that it’s difficult for them to complete even the simplest of tasks, let alone get through an entire day of work (or play, for that matter). Many of these people have been using acupuncture to relieve their pain. Today, we’re going to discuss some common migraine triggers and how using acupuncture for migraines has been able to help many of these patients.
How Acupuncture Can Reduce Pain from Migraines
The traditional Chinese medicine of acupuncture has been used to reduce pain for thousands of years. This includes the horrendous, throbbing sensation of migraines. Here’s how acupuncture is able to alleviate this pain:
Reduces Tightness
First off, acupuncture helps reduce pain in a physical sense by targeting the tightness in your neck. Very thin acupuncture needles are inserted into trigger points where muscles are constricted, which can be very beneficial for relieving pain. These pressure points relate to spots around your body, giving you focused relief.
Releases Endorphins
When acupuncture needles enter your skin, this will stimulate the release of endorphins. These endorphins reduce pain and create feelings of well-being. Both of these actions will help combat the pain of your migraines, which will be especially helpful after multiple sessions.
Reduces Stress
Acupuncture has been used as a stress reliever for thousands of years. This is made possible by the balancing of the hormones cortisol, serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine. By reducing your level of stress through this balance, you’re less likely to experience migraines.
Promotes Circulation
When your body experiences inflammation, you’re more likely to get migraines. Acupuncture promotes healthy blood circulation by controlling inflammation and modulating chemicals in your brain that balance your blood vessels. This will help alleviate your migraines.
The Most Common Migraine Triggers
There are a large variety of things that trigger migraines, and some of them can be quite intense. Each person has different triggers, even though acupuncture can relieve migraines regardless of the cause. Depending on your body’s reaction to certain variables, you could experience a migraine based on one of these common triggers:
Stress Triggers
Stress is one of the biggest reasons people experience migraines. This is because stress is able to alter the way that the brain actually functions. Stress produces serotonin, which constricts blood vessels, thereby causing migraines to persist. Acupuncture is well-known for relieving stress, which makes it a good way to treat migraines.
Certain Foods
Certain types of foods, such as cured meats, aged cheeses, salty foods, and even chocolate, may trigger a migraine. This is because these foods contain substances that the body may negatively react to. Migraines can also be caused by foods that are high in sodium, which can increase blood pressure and constrict blood vessels.
Sleeping Issues
Doctors have linked sleeping issues with migraines for many decades. This can include a lack of sleep or changes in a person’s sleeping patterns. It typically occurs because your body isn’t getting enough rest, which affects your body’s hormone production and thereby reduces its pain threshold.
Caffeine
Many people love caffeine because it gives them a jolt of energy throughout the day, but those who suffer from migraines should back off a bit. That’s because caffeine causes dehydration, an increase in blood pressure, and a reduction in magnesium levels. All of these are linked to the frequency of migraines.
Alcohol
As you may be aware, histamine creates inflammation in a person’s body, while ethanol increases blood pressure. Both of these are known to trigger migraines, and both of these are found in alcohol. This is why it’s very common for alcohol to get out of hand because people will drink more alcohol to help relieve the pain from migraines despite the fact that the migraines are being caused by the initial drinking of alcohol.
Weather Changes
Believe it or not, changes in the weather can also cause migraines. This is actually due to pressure changes, heavy gray days, and high humidity that have been linked to chemical changes in the brain. These chemical changes can irritate your nerves and increase inflammation.
Contact East West Healing Solutions for Acupuncture for Migraines
As you can see, acupuncture for migraines is quite effective. East West Healing Solutions provides acupuncture for many different types of physical, mental, and emotional ailments. If you have any questions about acupuncture therapy or would like to schedule an appointment, reach out to us at (727) 216-3972 today.
