,Studies prove acupuncture helps reduce chronic tension headaches. One of these studies by the Cochrane Library concluded acupuncture treatments should be a treatment of “tension-type headaches”. According to the study, patients treated with acupuncture and pain-killers had less headaches. This study was a compilation of several acupuncture trials. A total of 12 trials met the criteria and were included in the study.
Tension Headache Vs. Migraines
Tension headaches are not as painful as migraines, but often occur more often. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Stress tends to be the biggest factor regarding these types of headaches. Those who suffer from tension headaches frequently report a feeling of their head being squeezed. It feels like pressure around the forehead, temples, and back of the head or neck. Tension headaches can be short lived and last just 30 minutes, or they could linger for days.
What’s The Cause?
While the exact cause of tension headaches is still not clear, they are most commonly attributed to muscle tension or spasms of the head, face, scalp, or jaw. Tension headaches are chronic when they occur 15 or more days per month for several months. The most common treatment for tension headaches is over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or aspirin. Severe cases are sometimes treated with prescription drugs, but they tend to fail because they do not address the root cause of the headaches.
Watch a 1 Minute Video About Acupuncture and Headaches
How Does Acupuncture Treat A Tension Headache?
Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the root cause of any ailment, including tension headaches. One of the ways TCM treats the root is by figuring out personal triggers that cause tension-type headaches. Acupuncturists usually ask a lot of questions about the symptoms of any illness, including tension-type headaches. This allows for a correct diagnosis and treatments. This can also give the patient help into why the headaches keep occurring and how they can eliminate some of the triggers.
TCM includes more than just acupuncture. Herbal formulas, and extra treatments such as cupping or tuina, and even relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or qi gong are a part of TCM. Acupuncture leads to headache relief with a great deal of success. As few as one or two needles can be enough to stop tension-type headaches. Acupuncture relieves stress and anxiety. These are two of the most common triggers of tension headaches. By adding herbs and other therapies, the patient has tools needed to prevent headaches.
Acupuncture treatments can reduce tension headaches. If you are one of the nearly 1.4 billion people that suffer regularly from tension-type headaches, give us a call today or schedule online, acupuncture and TCM CAN HELP!
