How to Treat Migraines With Acupuncture

Video Transcript

ROBERT LINDE: One of the aspects of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is extremely effective for is migraine headaches. And for anybody who has had a migraine in the past, they are very familiar with all of the symptoms that lead up to it and everybody is a little bit different for migraines even in western medicine. We look at different things that may cause it, anything from their cycle--their menstrual cycle to certain foods, can actually become a catalyst for their migraine headaches. In Chinese medicine we work the same way. We look at those very specific things that tend to trigger the migraine headaches and based on that, we can utilize acupuncture, herbs and even lifestyle changes. So in this case, I am going to look at one type of migraine headache that's oftentimes associated with stressors that brings it on occasionally. This is an extra point in the body which happens to be one of my favorites called yin tong. That point is good for not only migraines but it is also good for a variety of sinus problems. And there is one right at the corner of the eye near the temple that is called [PH] pai yang. This is another extra point that is particularly good for temporal headaches as well as a variety of different types of migraine headaches. With migraine headaches, it is oftentimes important to utilize the herbs and the acupuncture and depending on the frequency of your headaches and their cycle within the body itself, sometimes we have to do the treatments very close together in order to have the greatest influence on the migraine headaches. So, make sure that you talk to your acupuncturist, make sure that you give them as much information about all the various symptoms that may associate with that migraine headache as you get them. And you will get the best treatment possible.