In North America, headaches are becoming a very common medical complaint. Various types of headaches exist, but the most commonly seen and treated in acupuncture offices are tension headaches and migraines. While stress tends to be the usual cause of chronic tension headaches, discovering the trigger for migraines can be a bit more challenging. They can be caused by stress, anxiety, various foods, dehydration, hormonal imbalances, structural (spinal) imbalances, toxicity in the body, or genetics. In all reality, migraines are still not fully understood by modern science.

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Most people opt to either "suck it up" and live with the regular headaches, or they turn to conventional medicine for some level of pain relief. Medication can be helpful in managing the pain in certain cases, but many people would prefer to avoid drugs due to the cost and potential for side effects on the body. In addition, on some level they know that the underlying problem is not being addressed. Fortunately, several natural treatment options exist that can effectively end, or at least greatly decrease, the pain associated with headaches. Acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and nutritional counselling are excellent treatments for headaches and may be used alone or in combination depending on the specific needs of each patient.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine is an great place to start for managing headaches due to the fact that it accounts for the patient's entire presentation. Where conventional treatment fails, acupuncture and Chinese herbs step in and offer diagnostics and treatment from a uniquely different perspective. In general, these treatments work by decreasing stress and bringing balance to the nervous and circulatory systems of the body. More importantly, while reducing or stopping the recurrence of headaches and migraines, the overall health and well-being of the individual is improved.

 

If you would like to learn more about acupuncture and discuss your specific health situation, please phone 403.455.0880. Dr. Wegmann will be happy to answer your questions.

 

Mitch Wegmann is a registered acupuncturist and doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He owns and operates Calgary Acupuncture Centre in the city's southwest quadrant, near the Marda Loop district.