Headache

According to the World Health Organisation 80% of women suffer from headache or migraine on a regular basis, and two-thirds of men. This condition can be painful and in some cases debilitating. The good news is that the British Medical Association recognises acupuncture as an effective treatment for headache and migraine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are many different types of headache and many different causes. To treat a headache with acupuncture it is important to make the diagnosis according to the individual, and to TCM principles.

The nature of the pain is indicative of the way that your energy is flowing. For example, if you have a full and throbbing headache, it is likely that excess energy is flowing to the head. In this case acupuncture treatment would revolve around subduing the excess energy in the channels. If the pain is a dull ache it may indicate that not enough energy is flowing to the head, and in this case the treatment would involve increasing the flow of energy to the area.

The location of a headache is also very important in TCM diagnosis:

Forehead:
Headaches on the forehead indicate a disorder in the energy flow of the Stomach channel in Chinese Medicine. This type of headache may be related to a digestive disorder, or to overeating or skipping meals.

Behind the Eyes:
Pain behind the eyes is often associated with migraine. This type of headache indicates a disorder in the Liver channel in TCM.

Side of Head:
Headaches on the temples indicate a disharmony in the Gall Bladder channel. This type of headache can occur on both sides, or one side only. It is believed that a headache on the left side is more likely from a lack of energy in the channel, and one on the right side from excess energy.

Back of Head:
An acute headache in this area can be an early indication that you are about to come down with the common cold. However, chronic headache in this area indicates a lack of energy flow in the Kidney or Bladder channels.
 

In each of the above scenarios, acupuncture points are selected along the relevant channel. If you are nervous about acupuncture, fear not – it is possible to treat a headache without needling the head at all. In many cases a needle in the hand or foot is all it may take to bring instant and gentle relief.

One other type of headache that I frequently encounter in clinical practice is that which is related to the menstrual cycle. Many women find that they suffer from a headache just prior to the commencement of menses. Whilst this is not a recognised syndrome in Western Medicine, it is understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and may respond well with acupuncture treatment.