A recent article in the Washington Post has been making the rounds online, detailing one woman's story of trying several different treatments for her persistent migraines and settling on acupuncture. See below for the link and what our Woodbury MN chiropractor has to say.

Headaches in Woodbury MN

Headaches are horrible and all too common. According to some studies 75% of the population suffers from tension headaches, and 15% from migraines. The cost of medicated pain management for patients with chronic patterns of headaches and migraines is unbelievably high and, while effective, have many uncomfortable side effects.

Tension headaches are named that for a reason; they are primarily caused by tense muscles in the neck and head. Neck muscles anchor on the lower bones of the skull and when they get tight they pull on those connection points while tight muscle bands called trigger points sent pain referral patterns all across the head. These tight muscles are exacerbated by vertebral misalignment, dehydration, and stress.

Migraines are a neurovascular condition resulting in headache pain, nausea, minor visual hallucinations, and extreme sensitivity to light and sounds. They can be triggered by certain foods, hormone fluctuations, stress, and muscle tension.

Both tension headaches and migraines can be greatly helped by acupuncture. Acupuncture releases pain killing neurotransmitters, decreases muscle tension and stress, and balances hormones. Patients who arrive with headache pain usually leave an appointment feeling significantly better, and with regular treatments experience less frequency and intensity of headaches. A 2016 review of 12 studies examining the efficacy of acupuncture in preventing and treating tension headaches found acupuncture to be a valid treatment(1). A paper published in the Headache medical journal likewise found acupuncture effective in preventing migraines saying "Acupuncture seems to be at least as effective as conventional drug preventative therapy for migraine and is safe, long lasting, and cost-effective."(2)
The next time you find yourself suffering from a headache, especially if it isn't the first one this week, come try acupuncture.