{"id":459,"date":"2015-01-19T09:35:03","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T09:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.judybowenjonesacupuncture.co.uk\/?page_id=459"},"modified":"2023-02-13T13:05:50","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T13:05:50","slug":"headaches-migraines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/judybowenjonesacupuncture.co.uk\/a-z-of-conditions\/headaches-migraines\/","title":{"rendered":"Headaches & Migraines"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Most of us will suffer from headaches at some time<\/h3>

\"\"Headaches have many different causes but can generally be split into two different types: primary headaches, which are not due to another underlying health problem, and secondary headaches, due to a separate cause or illness.<\/p>

The main types of primary headaches are:<\/p>

Tension headaches<\/strong>, which present as a dull ache with constant pressure around the front, top and sides of the head as if a tight rubber band has been stretched around it. This kind of headache does not worsen with activity and may be relieved by mild exercise. Tension headaches are frequently due to stress, but may also be caused by not getting enough sleep or fluids or missing meals.<\/p>

Migraines<\/strong> are less common, tend to be more severe and may interfere with daily life. Migraines are usually felt as a pounding or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, and are aggravated by routine physical activity. Migraine patients may also suffer auras, hypersensitivity to light and sound and nausea and vomiting.<\/p>

Cluster headaches<\/strong> are very painful headaches which cause an intense pain around one eye. They’re rare and are called cluster headaches because they happen periodically in clusters for a month or two at a time around the same time of year.<\/p>

Secondary headaches may occur due to drinking too much alcohol, after a head injury, as a symptom of a cold, flu, sinusitis<\/a> or allergy<\/a>. Women may also suffer hormonal headaches linked to their menstrual cycle or the menopause. Headaches may also be symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders, temporal arteritis in the elderly, and carbon monoxide poisoning.<\/p>

Conventional medical treatment for headaches usually aims to treat the symptoms and involves the use of over-the-counter or prescription medicines. Prophylactic medications may be prescribed for migraines but may have side effects. Taking regular painkillers may also cause headaches.<\/p>

Acupuncture for Headaches & Migraines<\/h5>

\"\"The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence of the NHS recommends a course of acupuncture treatments as one of the therapeutic options for the prevention of chronic tension-type headaches and migraines in young people and adults (NICE Clinical Guideline 150, 2012).<\/p>

A WHO review on controlled acupuncture clinical trials (2003) includes headaches and facial pain among conditions for which acupuncture has been shown through clinical trials to be effective.<\/p>

The results of many controlled trials of acupuncture for migraine show consistently that acupuncture is effective for treating migraine and appears to be at least as effective as prophylactic drug treatments with few contraindications or side effects. Acupuncture has also been shown to alleviate symptoms during an acute migraine attack. It is believed that acupuncture may help headaches and migraines by:<\/p>