While most people reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever when they get a headache, for many Americans, that just won’t cut it. And for those suffering from debilitating migraines, the pain can be so intense that relief seems impossible.
RELATED STORIES:
As the number of people with this debilitating issue grows, researchers, drug companies, and doctors are looking for new treatment options. And according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, acupuncture might be one of the therapies to help both reducing the frequency of migraines and prevent attacks.
From the article:
“Researchers in China found that properly administered acupuncture therapy may reduce the frequency of the most common types of migraines. The research, which builds on a body of knowledge from smaller studies, looked at how true acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture in reducing migraine attacks and symptoms in those who have been battling the condition for at least a year.All treatments were administered by trained and licensed acupuncturists who trained for at least five years and had four or more years of clinical experience. Recipients of ‘true acupuncture’ were treated in four acupoints chosen by clinical experts. The four points used for the ‘sham’ group were chosen to avoid migraine relief.Twenty weeks after receiving treatment at five times a week, patients in the true acupuncture group saw a reduction in the average number of migraines from 4.8 per month to 3 per month, with no adverse events reported requiring “special medical intervention.”
Migraines are a disorder in the brain, thought to be genetic (about 12% of Americans suffer from them), and can last for hours or days. Dr. Amy Gelfand, assistant professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco says, “A migraine is an abnormal state of the brain where the brain has become hyperexcitable to stimuli.” Therefore, OTC drugs have little to no effect on migraines. Sometimes people can be so desperate that they will try anything, including sometimes expensive medications that come with unwanted side effects.
“At a cellular level, (acupuncture) changes the muscle cells as well as the fascia at the acupuncture point to influence the expression of pain in our body,” she said. “It also stimulates the body’s ability to recover from any illnesses and heal itself.”Typically, Ng hears from patients who have exhausted their medication options. She says it is common for people to come to her before trying medications that may have risks involved.”
Still, one of the most important treatments for migraines is lifestyle. Try to get enough sleep, don’t drink alcohol, and watch your diet. Don’t forget to try yoga and relaxation techniques, too. But, if you still haven’t found relief, visit a local acupuncture specialist- it’s not as odd, or scary as it might seem!
Source: CNN
