Headaches and Migraine

Headaches are one of the most common health concerns in the UK, affecting millions of people each year. In some cases, headaches occur alongside symptoms such as visual disturbances (auras), nausea, vomiting and increases sensitivity to light and sound, and may be diagnosed as migraine.

It’s estimated that around half of all adults worldwide experience at least one headache each year, while migraine affects approximately 15% of the population. Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and can have a significant impact on work, family life and overall wellbeing.

The causes of headache and migraine are complex and can vary considerably from person to person. Factors such as genetics, hormones, stress, sleep, lifestyle and underlying health conditions may all play a role.

Headaches are commonly categorised as:

– Tension type headache

– Cluster headache 

– Migraine 

Current treatment for headaches is over the counter medication, which can work in some cases. Headaches also response quite well to dietary and lifestyle changes. Migraines, however, are harder to treat with conventional medication, especially as the causes are not fully understood. Current medications used are either analgesics, anti-convulsants, beta-blockers or anti-depressants. Whilst these can help, they do not always work. They can also have a variety of side-effects, including; lethargy, palpitations, nausea, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, depression, insomnia, hair loss, reduced libido and impotence.

Acupuncture, on the other hand, has no such risks associated with it and has been shown, in a range of studies, to be safe. It has also been shown to be beneficial for headaches and migraines. So much so that The National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommends it for both tension type headaches and migraine.

Perhaps the largest research into acupuncture for headaches and acupuncture for migraine was the York study, where a data-set of nearly 18,000 patients was amassed. In it they stated that, ‘Acupuncture was also found to be better than standard medical care for all of these chronic pain conditions. As well as the York study, the Cochrane Review states, ‘The available evidence suggests that a course of acupuncture consisting of at least six treatment sessions can be a valuable option for people with migraine.’