Acupuncture And Headaches: Get Answers To The Questions You May Have

If you experience headaches, acupuncture may be able to help relieve the pain. Getting answers to the questions you have about it will help you determine if you may be a candidate and what the benefits of this treatment are. Here are a few frequently asked questions about acupuncture and headaches.

Is Acupuncture Effective for Headaches?

Acupuncture has been used to treat headaches successfully for years. However, there has been little medical evidence to back up the claims that it is effective until recently. Studies that have been done in the past decade show that acupuncture is effective at relieving and treating headache pain. Depending on the type of headache, acupuncture was even more effective than medications.

Can Acupuncture Treat All Headaches?

Not all headaches are the same. The symptoms, pain level and where the pain is located can vary based on the different types of headaches. As such, you may find yourself wondering if acupuncture will work for your type of headache. Acupuncture is effective at controlling the pain level associated with these types of headaches:

• Cluster headaches
• Disease-related headaches
• Migraine headaches
• Post-traumatic injury headaches
• Tension headaches

What Are the Benefits of Treating Headaches With Acupuncture?

One of the biggest benefits of treating headaches with acupuncture is that there are no side effects associated with acupuncture. When you take medications for migraines or headaches, those medications often have a variety of side effects including sleepiness and upset stomach. As such, some people prefer to avoid medications, and acupuncture allows them to do that.

What Can You Expect When Treating Headaches With Acupuncture?

You may think that needles are poked into the head when treating headaches with acupuncture, but this is not true. Headaches and migraines can be caused by dilated blood vessels in the head, so care must be taken to avoid dilating them. Instead, acupuncture involves increasing circulation to avoid this dilation by using needles on pressure points on the lower part of the body. Increasing circulation can not only treat migraines but other aches and pains throughout the body as well.

If you suffer from headaches and are looking for a way to control the pain, acupuncture may be an effective way for you to do this. Getting answers to your questions will help you better understand the process. If you feel it may be beneficial to you, talk to your doctor today to find out if they feel it would benefit you based on the type of headaches you experience and your overall health.