Pregnancy is a time of life when many women are looking for natural alternatives to treat chronic issues. Women from all over central Vermont try acupuncture with Integrative Acupuncture to resolve their headaches naturally during pregnancy.
How Does Western Medicine Treat Headaches?
Headaches are most commonly treated with pharmaceutical drugs. Depending on the severity, frequency and type of headache, over the counter or prescription drugs are recommended. Two categories of drugs are often prescribed, one for the acute pain of a headache and one to prevent a migraine from coming on, called an abortive drug. Unfortunately, many of these drugs have unwanted side effects.
Western doctors are also recommending stress reduction therapies including meditation, massage, biofeedback, essential oils, dietary changes and acupuncture.
How Are Headaches in Pregnancy Treated With Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the modality of choice to move stagnant Qi of headaches and decrease pain. The underlying pattern of imbalance for headaches of all types frequently lies within the function of Liver. In TCM the Liver is responsible for the free flow of Qi. The Liver is easily effected by stress, muscle tightness, hormone fluctuations, emotional irritability, poor diet and lack of sleep. When the Liver is not functioning optimal, the Qi will not flow optimally. We use acupuncture to harmonize the function of the Liver to create a free flow of Qi and reduce pain from headaches.
Acupuncture’s fine needles trigger an increase of blood circulation. When the blood circulation is increased for migraine sufferers, the enlarged blood vessels decrease and associated pain decreases. We treat patients both during acute attacks of headaches and for prevention of future headaches. The frequency of treatment depends on the type of headache and severity.
Since acupuncture is all natural and drug free it is safe and recommended for women to try during pregnancy.
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