Acupuncture for Migraines
Identify triggers, make changes and reduce the frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks.
More than just a bad headache...
We understand how debilitating chronic migraines can be, and you know it’s more than just a “bad headache” when there is:
- Pulsating and throbbing pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Light and sound sensitivity
- Fatigue
While the cause is unknown, it is possible to identify possible contributing triggers including:
- Dehydration
- Bright lights
- Severe heat
- Excess stress
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Certain foods
- Hormonal fluctuations
By identifying triggers and making changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can reduce the frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Acupuncture for Migraine Relief in Toronto and the GTA
Scientific evidence shows that the insertion of needles into designated acupuncture points speeds the conduction of electromagnetic signals within the body. These signals may increase the flow of endorphins and other pain-relieving chemicals, as well as immune system cells, which aid healing.
It would appear that Acupuncture resolves acute pain by affecting several pain pathways and healing responses at the same time:
- Raises endorphin levels (the body’s natural painkillers) and diminishes the nervous system’s pain response
- Decreases inflammation and swelling
- Increasing oxygen levels in tissues
- Relaxes muscles and stops spasms
- Increases blood circulation and blood flow to the local area, enhancing healing
All these actions not only help to alleviate pain, but also promote a deep sense of relaxation. This reduction in stress and anxiety is especially beneficial in managing chronic migraines.
Acupuncture therapy can provide immediate relief for acute or chronic pain. Most people experience instant relief during the acupuncture session, surpassing the speed and side effects of pain medication.
Although the results can be sometimes fast and remarkable, it’s not a one-time treatment.
After the initial session, pain may return, requiring multiple treatments to fully stimulate the body’s immune system and self-healing power for complete pain disappearance.
Typically, weekly acupuncture sessions are recommended, which are then reduced to monthly and to an as-needed basis.
Ready to Get Started?
Click to book your acupuncture session for migraine relief.
Have questions? Arrange for a No-cost 10-minute Discovery Call and speak directly with Eileen to learn more.
Nutrition for Migraine Support in Toronto and the GTA
There are many potential root causes of migraines that are related to diet and lifestyle. These include nutrient deficiencies, stress, lack of sleep, hormonal imbalances and inflammation.
We will help you to:
- Identify and avoid potential food triggers.
- Address nutrient deficiencies
- Balance hormones
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.
- Reduce stress and improve sleep
We will provide you with:
- A written summary of your health plan
- Meal ideas and recipes
- Mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and improve sleep
- A list of recommended natural supplements including vitamins, minerals and herbal remedies.
Tracking and understanding your migraine episodes is the first step. Being able to recognize the signs of an episode can help us identify the triggers, contributing factors and even the underlying cause. A migraine episode can have four stages; prodrome, aura, attack and post dome.
- Prodrome is the first stage, you may notice subtle symptoms such as constipation, frequent urination, mood changes, fluid retention and frequent yawning.
- Aura, the second stage, includes temporary symptoms of the nervous system, such as pins and needles in the arms, seeing flashes of light, weakness and numbness in the side of the face and body.
- The third stage, the attack, is the migraine itself, which involves painful throbbing of the head, nausea and vomiting. This can last anywhere from 4-72 hours.
- Post-drome is the after effects which often leaves you feeling depleted and unfocused. Not everyone who suffers from migraines goes through all these four stages.
We recommend starting a migraine journal. A migraine journal will track not only migraine episodes but also food, water, sleep and stress levels. It may also be beneficial to track your menstrual cycle, if applicable.
We will use the information from your migraine journal to develop a strategy that is unique to your specific needs. It is not uncommon for a person suffering from migraines to also struggle with digestive upset, allergies and sleep issues. Many of these issues are related and can all be addressed through dietary and lifestyle changes.
Our goal is not just to help you with migraines but rather to create an easy-to-follow health plan that will improve your overall well-being.
Nutrition Consulting
Click to book your nutrition session for migraine relief.
Have questions? Book a Free 10-minute Discovery Call with Kirsten or Eileen and get your questions answered!
Your Questions Answered
We recommend starting with acupuncture treatments as this is easy to begin and doesn’t require any major dietary changes. Then we suggest starting a journal to track your migraine episodes, your food and water, sleep, and stress levels. This will help you identify triggers. You may already be doing this under the guidance of your doctor (if so, great.) Then we will start looking into dietary changes and recommend any vitamin, mineral or herbal remedies if needed.
You may want to continue using OTC or prescribed pain medication to manage symptoms as you are making other changes.
Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine - Linde, K - 2016 | Cochrane Library
Herbal medicine and migraine - ResearchGate
It’s important to consult your doctor before starting any new herbal medicine or supplement. It’s also important to inform your natural health practitioner of any medication you are taking whether it is OTC, prescription, daily or just as needed.
Vitamin D in migraine headache: a comprehensive review on literature | Neurological Sciences (springer.com)
Why all migraine patients should be treated with magnesium - PubMed (nih.gov)
B vitamins and their combination could reduce migraine headaches: A randomized double-blind controlled trial - PMC (nih.gov)
The Role of Diet and Nutrition in Migraine Triggers and Treatment: A Systematic Literature Review - PMC (nih.gov)
A Literature Review of Women's Sex Hormone Changes by Acupuncture Treatment: Analysis of Human and Animal Studies - PMC (nih.gov)