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SHENCLINIC
BERKELEY ACUPUNCTURE
Berkeley Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Herbs
serving Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, El Cerrito, and the East Bay
since 1987

ACUPUNCTURE FOR HEADACHE

Acupuncture treatment for headaches will vary according to the type of headache being treated. Headache types in Chinese medicine do not resemble the headache types named in Western Medicine. Acupuncturists treat headaches caused by Liver Yang Rising, Qi or Blood Deficiency, Dampness in the Gall Bladder Channel, and other causes that sound exotic to those of us who are diagnosed with migraine headaches, cluster headaches, and other Western headache designations. Nevertheless, acupuncture is very successful treating most types of headaches, once they have been properly diagnosed according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In many cases acupuncture points used to treat headaches are not located on the head. Points to treat headaches are located all over the body. Needles might be placed along your legs, arms, shoulders, and perhaps even your big toe!

Typical treatments last from 20 to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments. Usually, the older the condition the longer the course of treatment.

 

Studies on Acupuncture and Headaches

Since the early seventies, studies have suggested that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines and headaches. Recent studies show extremely positive results: Most of these studies have never been translated from the Chinese, however a few English language studies have been done.

In a case study, published in the June 2003 Issue of Medical Acupuncture, doctors found that acupuncture resulted in the resolution or reduction in the frequency and severity of cluster headaches, and a decrease or discontinuation of medications. It was concluded that Acupuncture can be used to provide sustained relief from cluster headaches and to stimulate adrenal cortisol to aid in discontinuing corticosteroids.

A clinical observation, published in a 2002 edition of the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, of 50 patient presenting with various types of headaches were treated with scalp acupuncture. The results of this study showed that 98% of patients treated with scalp acupuncture experienced no headaches or only occasional, mild headaches in the six months following care.

In a study published in the November 1999 issue of Cephalalgia, scientists evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of migraines and recurrent headaches by systematically reviewing 22 randomized controlled trials. A total of 1,042 patients were examined. It was found that headache and migraine sufferers experienced significantly more relief from acupuncture than patients who were administered "sham" acupuncture.

 

CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE MADE IN USA FOR HEADACHES