Over 50 million Americans suffer from a severe headache at lest once in their lives. Whether it’s a nagging dull headache or a debilitating migraine, headaches are an inconvenience and can severely impact daily life.
There are many different pain relievers marketed for headache relief available over the counter. The majority of these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS). Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are common pain relievers in this category. Ideally, these medications help the person who rarely suffers from headaches get out of pain fast. Over a prolonged period of time consistent use of these medications is linked with stomach ulcers and pain and liver inflammation. Plus, while for some people they do offer temporary pain relief, they don’t get to the root cause of the problem—what is causing the headache.
Asian medical theory holds that headaches are an imbalance of vital energy. Either too much energy is stuck in the head or due to poor circulation energy can not travel up to the head.
Why does this happen?
The causes of headaches are numerous: inflammation due to sinus irritation and allergies, blood sugar irregularities, past trauma to the head, food allergies, poor posture, vertebral subluxation and other structural causes, stress leading to tight neck muscles, toxins, lack of sleep… the list goes on and on. The good news is that Asian medicine can address all of these root causes.
I take an individualized approach to treating headaches Because there are so many causes of headaches there is no “one pill” or “one acupuncture treatment fits all” fix. After a through medical history and physical examination I put together a comprehensive treatment plan detailing acupuncture treatment, herbal therapy, nutritional supplementation and diet and lifestyle counseling. By addressing the internal causes of headaches rather than simply suppressing the symptoms I have seen many patients not only cease to have headaches, but go on to lead overall healthier lives.
