Natural Medicine: Acupuncture for headache relief

More than 45 million people in the United States experience chronic, recurring headaches, and, of these, 28 million also suffer migraines. Approximately 4 percent of adults experience headaches almost daily.

Many headache sufferers are compelled to take pain-relieving drugs that may only temporarily relieve the pain and can cause undesirable side effects. However, acupuncture offers hope for many headache sufferers. Numerous studies show acupuncture's efficacy in reducing the duration, severity and frequency of occurrence of headaches with few or no side effects. It also reduced medication use. One randomized, controlled trial conducted by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, for instance, showed that medical management combined with acupuncture decreased pain and improved quality of life in people suffering from chronic daily headaches, while medical management alone did not.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, one cause of headaches is a blockage in the smooth flow of Qi energy and blood. Treatments that focus on removing this blockage may involve needling the site of pain and other sites along associated energy channels. The length, number and frequency of treatments as well as response to treatments vary depending on individual constitutions. Customized Chinese herbal formulas and tui na (Chinese massage) also may be used in conjunction with acupuncture. Managing stress, minimizing caffeine consumption, and eating a balanced diet that limits the intake of greasy, fatty and spicy foods also help reduce headaches.

If you experience headaches, first get a thorough evaluation by your physician to rule out serious potential causes. If you are interested in incorporating acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy, be sure to seek a licensed and experienced acupuncture provider.

-- Donah I. Natividad, MS, LAc, acupuncture and Oriental medicine resident, Bastyr Center for Natural Health

Nonprofit, accredited Bastyr University (bastyr.edu) offers multiple degrees in the natural health sciences, and clinical training at Bastyr Center for Natural Health (bastyrcenter.org), the region's largest natural medicine clinic.