HOW IS MIGRAINE HEADACHES TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE? | BEST OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA

HOW IS MIGRAINE HEADACHES TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE?

MIGRAINE HEADACHES

Migraine headache is a neurological disorder that causes reoccurring headaches of varying intensity to one side of the head. It consists of throbbing or pulsing sensation pain that can last between four to 72 hours. A migraine headache often coincides with visual disturbance, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sound. 

MIGRAINE HEADACHES SYMPTOMS

Migraine headaches symptoms can vary person by person and can occur before, during, or after a migraine. Symptoms of migraine can progress between four stages: prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome phases.

In the prodrome stage, a person can detect a migraine one or two days before it occurred based on slight changes to their body. They will notice modest mood changes, have food cravings, stiff neck, uncontrollable yawning, increase in thirst, and urination.

Some people may experience symptoms in the aura stage for 20 to 60 minutes before or after a migraine transpire. Symptoms include visual phenomena and vision loss. People may hear noises, struggle with speeches, have uncontrollable movements, prickly sensation in arms or legs, and weakness or numbness on one side of the body or face.

Attack stage usually occurs when the migraine is untreated, and they last between four and 72 hours. Migraine can attack a few times or happen several times a month. People may feel pulsing or throbbing pain on one or both side of their head, nausea and vomiting, and are sensitive to light, sound, smell, and touch.

After experiencing a migraine, people may feel drained and thoroughly washed out. However, any sudden movement in the post-drome phase may trigger migraine pain to arise again for a short-term. 

Risk Factors are:

Higher chance if a family member has migraines

Migraine headache peak in the thirties

Women are more likely to have migraines than men

Occur before or after the onset of menstruation 

MODERN MEDICINE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE HEADACHES | DRUG MEDICINE

Depending on the type of migraine headache, it can be treated either with a pain-relieving medication or a preventive medication. Pain-relieving medicines are taken during migraine attacks to prevent symptoms. Preventive medicines are taken regularly to reduce the severity of migraines. However, with overuse of medications, it can lead to worsening of migraines, vomiting and nausea, weight gain, sleepiness, dizziness, and possible ulcers and bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

NATURAL MEDICINE TO BENEFIT MIGRAINE HEADACHES

Acupuncture helps migraine by inducing the homeostatic response on the cellular level. They influence the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in the nervous system to improve the circulation of energy through the meridians. They stimulate the central nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will change the experience of sensory, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system. Acupuncture is safe and painless. There are no drugs or hazardous equipment used, and no surgical operation performed. 

CASE STUDIES:

According to the National Center of Biotechnology Information, a German randomized controlled trial conducts patient with migraines. Results showed that after 11 acupuncture treatments in six weeks, acupuncture was as effective as taking migraine medication daily over six months. Studies found there is a consistency that acupuncture is beneficial to treating acute migraine attacks by reducing the amount of migraines attack, alleviate pain and tension headaches. Testimonials on Agape Natural Health has proven acupuncture and herbal medicine has successfully treated patients with migraine. Their patients suffered from years of migraines, and Agape was able to restore their balance and improve their quality of life. Here's what their patients have to say after receiving acupuncture:

"I've suffered from chronic migraine for about 4 years... I finally have my life back. I can attend social events, spend time with my husband, and even be in the sunlight!!!! No more dark rooms and sunglasses on 24/7. I feel free and I have Natural Medicine to thank for it." -S.B. Irvine, CA

"For 14 years I've had migraines and headaches, and it worsened over time. I had insomnia, neck pain and stiffness, pressure on my chest and I could not breathe... A week after my first treatment of acupuncture and herbs, I began to feel better. It is a very soothing experience, very calming - painless. My headaches are gone 100%! I'm back to normal." -Y.M. Perris, CA

AGAPE NATURAL HEALTH, http://www.agapeacupuncture.com/search?q=migraine

"Migraine" Mayo Clinic, May 31, 2019 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201

"The role of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine" CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, March 15, 2006 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291665/

MIGRAINE HEADACHE SINCE AGE OF SIX | SUFFERING FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS | NAUSEA, VOMITING, EXTREME SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT, NECK PAIN

NAUSEA, VOMITING, EXTREME SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT, NECK PAIN | SUFFERING FROM MIGRAINE HEADACHES FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS | SUFFERING SINCE THE AGE OF 6

At the age of six, patient GN suffered from migraines. A migraine consists of a headache of varying intensity, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. It can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation for hours to days. A migraine usually occurs on one side of the head and can be treated with pain-relieving and preventive medication.

However, GN didn't have a typical migraine. Her migraine was so severe that it led to migraine attacks. GN migraine attacks occur throughout her head and scalp, producing tension towards the back of her neck. It would last for hours, even up to several days. With such severity condition, her primary doctor prescribed propranolol, a beta blocker that is used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, shaking (tremors), and other condition such as preventing migraine headaches and chest pain. Propranolol works by blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in the body to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, and naproxen. Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that blocks the body's production of a certain natural substance that causes inflammation. It is used to relieve pain from various conditions such as headaches, muscle aches, tendonitis, and menstrual cramps. Nonetheless, after taking her medications, GN would still experience severe migraines.

Suffering from migraines for more than forty-five years, GN couldn't tolerate the pain any longer. GN was desperate to try anything other than modern medicine. On July 28, 2017, GN came into Agape Natural Health of Orange County seeking help to alleviate her migraine. During her consultation with Dr. Huang, GN expressed how much distress her migraine had affected her life. How recently, her headache has lasted for three months straight causing her head and scalp to ache, producing a discomfort at the back of her neck. With the constant pain on her head and neck, she underwent stress that brought on sleepless nights. After trying various medications prescribed by her primary physician, nothing helped with her migraines. As Dr. Huang took in GN concerns and reviewed her migraine history, he recommends a combination of acupuncture treatments and natural herbal medicine. Without any hesitation, GN began her treatment immediately.

Before GN treatments, she had tension on the occipital and left temporal portion of her head, neck pain and was tired and stressed. By committing to acupuncture treatments in conjunction with herbal supplements, it allows the body to heal naturally causing her body to go through a series of ups and downs. With precise acupuncture points for needle insertion, acupuncture encourages the body to promote natural healing and improve functioning by stimulating the meridian system. Meridian system is an energy channel that runs in regular patterns through the body and over its surface, allowing it to unblock any areas that may cause a backup and unbalance of the body from regulating properly. Acupuncture helps the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities. In addition to acupuncture, herbal medicine contains between six to eighteen different herbs, making them a complete system. Within the herbal medicine, it consists of physical, biological, and chemical properties that promote, maintain and restore health by encouraging the body to strengthen the body's own healing power.  

After her first week of treatments at Agape Natural Health, GN reported she slept better and had more energy, but was still stressed. As GN actively continued her acupuncture treatments and herbal supplements, within three weeks, her headache was slowly subduing. GN indicated that her migraine felt 90 percent better. During her first month, she experienced four headaches that occur on her left temporal region and averaging six hours of sleep. Whereas before her treatments, she had headaches just about every day and was sleeping no more than four hours a night. There were times when GN went several weeks without experiencing any migraines and other times it would appear for less than two days. GN stress level and energy fluctuated each week, but as she progressively continued her acupuncture treatments and taking her herbal supplements, her stress level improved allowing her to gain more energy.

By committing to her acupuncture treatments and herbal supplements, her migraine improved tremendously. At the end of her six months, GN had no complaints because she felt completely better. She was no longer suffering from severe migraines. By dedicating to her treatment program, acupuncture and herbal medicine allow the body to promote healing by restoring its balance and improving her function to live a healthier lifestyle. 

GN, Huntington Beach, CA

5/5 stars

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Copyright © Agape Natural Health | Orange County, Southern California | Individual Results May Vary

Agape Natural Health

Patient

August 22, 2019

5/5 stars

Medical Acupuncture and Natural Healthcare Specialist