Migraines affect over 39 million Americans, causing severe headaches along with nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. These symptoms can be truly disabling for sufferers.

Sadly, common migraine treatments often fall short in managing pain and other symptoms. Many migraine medications also bring unwanted side effects like nausea, tiredness, low mood, drowsiness, dizziness, tingling, dry mouth, hair loss, confusion, shakiness, weight changes, trouble focusing, and other negative impacts.

Here’s some good news: Many migraine sufferers find relief through acupuncture! Studies show this age-old healing method can cut migraine frequency by about 50% for many people. In some cases, acupuncture may even stop migraines before they start, greatly improving quality of life for those who struggle with them. Both the World Health Organization and American Migraine Foundation recognize acupuncture’s benefits for migraines, as do many patients.

To understand how acupuncture helps, it’s key to know that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), migraines stem from uneven blood and energy flow. To treat migraine headaches, acupuncturists place thin needles at specific body points to boost blood flow to the brain. This helps ease the pain felt during a migraine attack.

Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles to promote balance. It helps regulate serotonin levels, which affect blood vessels, mood, and play a role in migraines. Acupuncture also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers.

The best part? Acupuncture has no side effects and is nearly painless! This practice has been used in China for over 2,000 years. Though it’s newer to the U.S., it’s already made a big impact. Studies show it can effectively treat ongoing issues like migraines, sleep problems, pain, anxiety, and more. Science backs acupuncture for treating various problems, including pain control, stress, digestion, sleep issues – and migraine headaches.

If migraines trouble you, check if your insurance covers acupuncture. Many providers pay for all or part of acupuncture treatments. Click here to check your coverage!