Acupuncture for Persistent Headaches

Last Updated on April 4, 2024

Acupuncture is a proven treatment for headaches

At Inner Gate Acupuncture we have treated hundreds of headaches over the past 13 years with great success.  Our treatments are designed specifically for your headache history and symptom patterns.  We combine both western and Chinese diagnostics to evaluate muscles, stress levels, posture and your specific symptoms to determine the best treatments and herbal formula for your headaches.

How Acupuncture Treats Persistent Headaches

Acupuncture relaxes muscles, reducing tension and areas of discomfort.  This is especially important at the back of the neck and in the shoulders. Acupuncture also reduces stress hormones and promotes a more balanced emotional state.  In our clinic Traditional Chinese Medicine is incorporated with Western Medicine. We use our deep understanding of anatomy and physiology to make sure acupuncture is treating both the Chinese acupuncture points for headaches but also the trigger points of muscles associated with headaches.

Understanding Headaches

Chronic headaches are highly disruptive to our lives. Headaches occur when brain, blood vessels, head muscles, and surrounding nerves send pain signals to the brain. The pain from headaches can range from mild to severe.  These signals can be interpreted as throbbing, sharp, dull or stabbing pain.  Headaches are classified by their frequency, sensation, and associated symptoms.

Types of headaches:

Tension: Tension headache pain can radiate from the neck and shoulders to multiple parts of the head. These headaches are on both sides of the head and they account for nearly 90% of all headaches.

Cluster: Cluster headaches are a neurological disorder with recurrent, severe headaches on one side of the head, typically around the eye. Often these headaches are associated with eye watering, swelling, or nasal congestion on the affected side. Symptoms typically last from 15 minutes to 3 hours.  Attacks often occur in clusters which typically last for weeks or months rarely more than a year

Migraine:  Migraine headaches are characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to very severe. Typically, the headaches affect one half of the head, are pulsating in nature, and last from two to 72 hours. Associated symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell.  These headaches are often triggered by several conditions including alcohol consumption, loud noises, or hormone changes.