For those not overly familiar with the conservative therapy world, acupuncture may seem a little bit like hocus-pocus voodoo, or a very outdated practice. Let us assure you, that could not be further from the truth! Until more recently (we’re talking the last 10 or so years) there was not a lot of high-quality evidence to support the use of acupuncture for migraines. Now there is.

While acupuncture originated as a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the type of acupuncture practiced by Dr.Jenn at our Oakville acupuncture clinic is a version modified to fit the principles and practices in the western world. The acupuncture points are the same in both versions, but the theory is a little bit different. The TCM practitioners use acupuncture to balance energies within the body for migraine headaches. The contemporary medical acupuncture approach is slightly more direct, inserting the needles into muscles, joints and/or around nerves affected in the injury, such as neck, scalp and fascial area for migraine.

Can Acupuncture Really Help Migraine Headaches in Oakville?

Sticking needles in a painful area may seem counter-intuitive. Migraine headaches can be completely debilitating. They have a huge negative impact on quality of life. So what do you have to lose? Try acupuncture!  You’ll be shocked at how painless it is.

Read How Acupuncture Can Help Migraine Pain

What types of differences can you hope to experience from starting acupuncture treatment for migraines? The biggest benefit is a decreased frequency of migraines. In fact, scientific studies have showed that acupuncture treatment may be just as beneficial as some common preventative medications that are often prescribed to migraine suffers! Acupuncture can help decrease the frequency of migraines by up to 50% in some cases!

In the healthcare world, we rely a lot on research to direct our practice. So when research proves that a certain therapy is beneficial, it really excites us healthcare geeks. The efficacy of acupuncture treatment was tested, in multiple studies, against no acupuncture and commonly perscribed prophylactic medication, and guess which one was found to be the most effective? You guessed it – acupuncture! 

Learn About Acupuncture Treatment with Dr. Jenn

Despite being practiced for hundreds of years, the ‘proof’ that acupuncture works is relatively new. Practitioners have been successfully treating all sorts of conditions with needling techniques for a long time, and many have clinical experience that has proved the technique to be effective. Only recently has acupuncture been recommended as a first-line treatment of migraine to compliment other conservative treatment options

Acupuncture is safe, and does not come with the side effects that medication does. It is extremely cost effective, with most insurance plans cover the acupuncture provided by Dr. Jenn at our clinic. Acupuncture treatments can often be directly billed to most insurance providers.

How Does Acupuncture Work to Improve Migraines?

There are a number of ways that acupuncture improves migraine symptoms:

• Pain Relief :  Acupuncture can trigger the release of endorphins (our body’s natural painkillers!)
• Improved Blood Flow :  The insertion of needles will immediately start to enhance circulation to the affected areas.  This stimulates and focuses the healing response on where it needs to be!
• Muscle Relaxation :  Increased blood flow into muscles helps to alleviate tension, which are often a source of migraine pain.
• Stress Reduction :  Acupuncture helps to regulate the nervous system, which is beneficial to migraine sufferers.

Oakville Acupuncture Session for Migraines with Dr. Jenn Garven

Your first medical acupuncture appointment will involve both assessment of your injury and treatment.  Dr. Jenn will work with you to find the most comfortable position to sit or lay in while the needles do their work! 

Acupuncture treatment for migraines at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre typically involves the insertion of 8-20 needles. Each injury/condition is unique, and the acupuncture treatment will be tailored to each individual patient. Acupuncture is a pain-free experience. Our patients often describe a small prick, or feeling of mild pressure as the needle is being inserted, but once the needles are inserted to the required depth they don’t cause any discomfort at all.  During an acupuncture treatment needles will typically remain inserted for 12-15 minutes.

Read About Acupuncture For Migraine Here

For migraine headaches, the specific points used are located in the head, neck, shoulders, scalp and hands.  There are some acupuncture points located at the base of the skull that provide excellent relief of migraine pain.  Needles are inserted around the suboccipital muscles that are often responsible for causing pain behind the eyes and in the temple region.  Releasing these muscles via acupuncture is highly effective for relieving migraine-related pain. 

It may be surprising to learn that one of the most powerful points for alleviating headaches is located in the hand.  This one needle can relieve headache pain immediately for some people.  It’s a true headache powerhouse!

Electroacupuncture is a variation of acupuncture that applies electrical stimulation to the needles, which helps to boost the therapeutic effect and often provide a superior result. Each treatment is provided while keeping patient comfort as a top priority.  For migraine headaches a minimum of six treatments is recommended. Migraines are a chronic condition, and those type of conditions take a little bit of time to influence.

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