Migraine headaches have many causes as well as many effective treatments. Often migraines can be triggered by the foods we eat. The Mediator Release Blood testing I perform helps identify trigger foods that are then removed from the diet and In the vast majority of the cases the migraine headaches are relieved.
However I also use acupuncture to treat migraines and have found that it is very effective at eliminating the severity, duration, and frequency of migraines. In a recent randomized controlled trial out of China with 253 migraine sufferers received treatment with acupuncture focusing on the Liver and GallBladder meridians. These treatments were found to significantly reduce pain, frequency, and duration of headache attacks. Subjects were divided into two groups. One group received standard drug therapy (oral administration of Flunarizine tablets, 4 therapeutic courses), and the other group received acupuncture. Comparing the acupuncture group to the medication group, the reduction in pain was greater among the acupuncture subjects immediately post-treatment (93% vs. 86%), 3 months post-treatment (93% vs. 87%) and 6 months post-treatment (88% vs. 69%). One year post treatment, subjects in the acupuncture group maintained more of the beneficial effects gained from treatment, as compared to subjects in the medication group. In addition, less adverse effects and greater compliance were found among subjects in the acupuncture group. The authors suggest that acupuncture may be a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of patients with migraine headaches.
What is interesting is that they used a standard treatment of points. In the acupuncture I practice we use points that are specific to the patient based on physical findings. Nobody gets the same treatment, and people hardly get the same treatment twice, there is always some variability. I find that the style of acupuncture I practice is much more effective and I would argue that I get much better results than were attained in this study.
If you are a migraine sufferer it is worth giving us a call. 15 minute free consultation is available to talk about what treatments you’ve tried and what has and has not worked. Call me today 978-461-2001 or contact me here.
The full study can be found here: [Acupuncture at points of the liver and gallbladder meridians for treatment of migraine: a multi-center randomized and controlled study],” Zhong GW, Li W, et al, Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 2009; 29(4): 259-63.
Yours In Health,
George Mandler
Licensed Dietitian / Nutritionist
Licensed Acupuncturist