More than 300 million people worldwide — about 6 to 7 percent of men and 15 to 18 percent of women — suffer from severe migraine headaches, yet to this day, it’s one of the least understood and poorly treated medical disorders.
Part of the problem has been that the experiences of those suffering from migraines vary greatly. Aside from throbbing, searing pain, which may or may not be one-sided, some experience “auras” prior to onset, while others do not. There may also be nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, sweating, and/or sensitivity to light, sound, and smells.
Triggers can be a combination of things and also vary from person to person. They include:
- Food Sensitivities
- Chemical Triggers
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Dehydration
- Magnesium Deficiency
- Mitochondrial Imbalances
- Chronic Stress
- External Stimuli
- Weather Changes
- Hypoglycemia
Acupuncture can provide lasting relief from the pain of chronic headaches, such as migraines, when combined with a nutritional plan that takes out as many known food triggers as possible.
Researchers found that compared with standard medical care, acupuncture offers substantial benefits in preventing headaches and improving the quality of life for people who suffer from frequent headaches, especially migraines.
Acupuncture is commonly used to treat other types of chronic pain, but researchers say this is the first large-scale study to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture under real-life conditions.
In the study, published in the March 15 issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers randomly divided 401 adults aged 18-65 years old with chronic headache (at least two headaches a month) — into two treatment groups. Participants had a history of having mostly migraine headaches.
One group received up to 12 acupuncture sessions during a three-month period in addition to standard medical care, and the other group received standard care alone.
A year later, researchers found those who received acupuncture:
- Experienced 22 fewer days with headaches
- Used 15% less medication
- Made 25% fewer visits to their doctor
- Took 15% fewer days off sick from work than the control group
We recommend a treatment plan of twelve sessions along with a strict adherence to an elimination diet for the first few weeks to find out what common food triggers may touch off a migraine.