Headaches - How Acupuncture Helps
If you suffer from headaches, you are not alone. Over 50
million of us experience some form of a severe headache at some point in our
lives. Whether you experience minor head pain or severe migraines, headaches
can take valuable time out of your day and your life, and leave you searching
for relief.
Many seek relief by reaching for drugs and other
medications. This may work temporarily and can help you get out of pain fast.
Unfortunately, common headache medications do not address the root cause(s),
and when used over long periods of time can cause unwanted side effects.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer a
safe and effective approach to relieving headache pain without causing harmful
side effects. These healing modalities provide a comprehensive diagnostic
protocol that can help your acupuncturist understand and address the root
cause(s) of your headaches.
Causes of Headaches:
There are many factors in TCM theory that may play a key role in the root
cause(s) of a headache. These include body constitution, emotional health,
excessive work, social activities and exercise, improper diet, physical trauma
and hormones. Headaches can also be diagnosed according to specific symptoms,
times of occurrence, location, type of pain, and triggers.
A natural path to relief: Acupuncture and TCM take a holistic, or whole-body approach to health. Your practitioner will take a detailed health history, and perform a physical exam to determine how and why your body’s vital energy, or Qi (pronounced chee), is out of balance and identify what type of headache you are experiencing. To determine the most effective care, he/she will focus on illuminating the root cause(s) of the problem.
A natural path to relief: Acupuncture and TCM take a holistic, or whole-body approach to health. Your practitioner will take a detailed health history, and perform a physical exam to determine how and why your body’s vital energy, or Qi (pronounced chee), is out of balance and identify what type of headache you are experiencing. To determine the most effective care, he/she will focus on illuminating the root cause(s) of the problem.
It is important to remember that acupuncture is not a
quick fix. Changes may occur quickly or over a longer period of time, depending
upon your overall constitution and health. Whether it is one visit to address
an acute problem, or several visits to address a chronic problem, it is
suggested to closely follow care recommendations of your acupuncturist to
maximize your healing potential.
Below are a few ways that you can make simple lifestyle
changes that may help alleviate or even prevent headaches:
Track your triggers - Try
to keep track of when your headaches start. Migraine sufferers may find it
especially helpful to keep a diary of symptoms. Certain types of foods and
hormonal changes can be possible causes.
Stress relief - Stress can contribute to many types of health concerns,
including headaches. Talk to your practitioner about healthy ways to handle
stress.
Exercise - Physical activity is an important part of any healthy
lifestyle and is a great antidote for stress.
Healthy habits - Do your best to eat healthy, organic foods, stay
hydrated and get enough sleep every night.
Acupuncture care - is
extremely effective in reducing the frequency and severity of many types of
painful conditions, including headaches and migraines, naturally. By working
with your acupuncturist and adopting some simple lifestyle changes, you will be
on your way toward a healthier, happier, pain-free life.
Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA
New York Sports Acupuncture
(888) 375-5444
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