Are you struggling with headaches or migraines in Calgary? Headaches can be intensely painful, ranging from mildly annoying to debilitating. As the third most prevalent illness worldwide, they demand serious attention. If you’ve experienced a severe headache, you understand the urgency of finding effective relief. Have you tried medication but remained dissatisfied with the results or side effects? Consider our natural approach, using acupuncture for migraine treatment in Calgary, to help alleviate your discomfort.
Classification of Headaches
There are various types of headaches. Primary headaches are those where the headache is the disease. Secondary headaches are those where the headache is a symptom of another condition. For example headaches can be a symptom of the flu. They could also be secondary to a concussion. Primary headaches include migraine, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.
There are several different types of headaches, each with distinct causes and symptoms. The most common are tension headaches, which often feel like a constant pressure or tightness around the forehead or the back of the head and neck. Tension headaches are typically triggered by stress, fatigue, or poor posture. Migraines are more intense and can involve throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound. Typically they only affect one side of the head. Cluster headaches are rare but extremely painful. They are characterized by severe, burning pain around one eye and usually occur in cyclical patterns. Other types include sinus headaches, which are associated with sinus infections and pressure, and rebound headaches, which can result from overuse of pain medications. Identifying the type of headache is crucial for effective treatment and long-term relief.
Natural Pain Relief for Headaches & Migraines
In Calgary, a natural approach to headache and migraine relief is available through acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). For those seeking alternatives to medication or experiencing unwanted side effects, this method offers a holistic solution. By addressing the underlying imbalances in the body, acupuncture and TCM can provide effective relief from the discomfort and debilitating effects of headaches and migraines.
During your initial hour-long appointment, we will conduct a thorough assessment of your headaches, including their frequency, duration, location, and triggers, as well as past remedies. To understand any underlying bodily imbalances contributing to your headaches, I will also examine your tongue and pulse. Following this assessment, we will develop a personalized treatment plan, which will include your first treatment. While some clients experience immediate, temporary relief after the first session, lasting results typically require ongoing treatment. A standard initial course of acupuncture involves one to two treatments weekly for the first one to two months, with the frequency gradually decreasing as long as you remain headache-free.
How Acupuncture Can Help Migraines
Acupuncture is a natural, drug-free approach that has shown promising results in the treatment of headaches and migraines. By stimulating specific points on the body—typically with fine, sterile needles—acupuncture helps to regulate the nervous system, improve blood flow, and release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.
In the short term, acupuncture can provide immediate symptomatic relief muscle tension, pain and nausea. Over time this ancient therapy can help individuals suffering from chronic tension headaches or migraines by reducing both the frequency and intensity of episodes; often with fewer side effects than medication. Many patients in Calgary turn to acupuncture as part of an integrated treatment plan, especially when stress, muscle tension, or environmental triggers play a role in their symptoms.
I work at Ren Acupuncture and Massage, located in the vibrant Kensington community of Calgary, offering holistic treatments for migraine and headaches. The clinic provides both private and community acupuncture sessions, ensuring accessibility for all individuals.
Further Reading
Check out these blog posts for further reading. Learn how acupuncture can help reduce migraines and some steps you can take to help control your headaches.
- Migraine Relief: the benefits of acupuncture in reducing frequency and severity of migraines.
- Control Your Headaches: some simple steps to help you get relief for migraine and tension headaches. These lifestyle tips will help you achieve natural pain relief for headaches.
Additional Links
- https://migrainecanada.org/the-migraine-tree/self-care-lifestyle/
- https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/
- Headache diaries: https://migrainecanada.org/diaries/
