With the acupuncture treatment method, the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems is restored, and the brain’s oxygen and energy use pathways are rehabilitated.
What is migraine?
Migraine occurs in attacks of varying frequency. It usually causes a severe and sharp headache that affects one side of the head. An attack may be triggered by one or more factors, including light, sound, strong smells, intense activity, emotional stress, changes in sleep patterns, smoking, alcohol, menstruation, fluctuations in blood pressure, and certain foods containing tyramine.
Severe pain may be accompanied by changes in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. An attack can last from part of a day to several days. Migraine pain does not always respond completely to pain relievers.
For more information about migraine symptoms, triggers, and different types, see What Is Migraine? What Causes Migraines?
How does it develop?
Although the brain accounts for only about 2% of total body weight, it consumes approximately 20% of the body’s energy at rest.
While other cells in the body can use various sources of energy, brain cells depend primarily on glucose. Under normal physiological conditions, glucose is the brain’s primary energy source.
The brain is highly sensitive to temperature and requires stable conditions to function properly. It has no direct contact with the external environment. It is enclosed within the skull and protected by three layers of membranes known as the meninges. Therefore, it cannot meet its needs directly from the external environment or release the heat produced by its activity directly into it.
During periods of increased mental activity, the brain’s demand for glucose and oxygen may rise, along with its metabolic heat production.
The continuous delivery of energy and oxygen to the brain, as well as the removal of heat, depends on adequate blood flow. Therefore, any slowing or disruption in circulation can reduce the delivery of energy and oxygen to the brain. The removal of heat may also be affected.
An increase in brain tissue temperature can cause blood vessels to dilate. Carbon dioxide produced during increased activity can also contribute to vasodilation. This widening of the blood vessels may initially slow blood flow. The nourishment of brain cells and the removal of waste products may then be affected. This can result in a dull and generalized pain.
Substances released in response to this situation can constrict the capillaries and raise diastolic blood pressure. This rapid change can lead to sharper, more pronounced, and localized pain.
This describes one possible pattern of tension-type headache. Migraine, however, is a separate primary headache disorder that can become more frequent or persistent over time.
Can it be treated?
With the acupuncture treatment method, the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems,* which are two different macro-reflex systems of the body, is restored, and the brain’s oxygen and energy use pathways are rehabilitated.
The method we use is auricular acupuncture, which was identified and developed by modern medical doctors while studying traditional methods. This treatment method has gained a unique place among modern treatment protocols as an easy and permanent treatment for migraine. For full recovery, 2-3 sessions per week for 4-6 weeks are sufficient.
Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have shown that improvements in migraine frequency and severity achieved with acupuncture were maintained throughout the follow-up periods of the studies.[1][2][3] These findings indicate that acupuncture can provide sustained, long-term improvement that continues after the treatment course has been completed, rather than merely offering temporary relief.
Migraine and Acupuncture Videos
Migraine: An Overview
Migraine and Acupuncture
Treating Migraine with Acupuncture
These videos discuss migraine, its possible triggers, and the role of acupuncture in its treatment.
Dr. M. Salih Özaytürk
* Sympathetic system: The part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for activity and stress. It helps regulate functions such as sweating, body temperature, and heart rate.
Parasympathetic system: The part of the autonomic nervous system that supports rest, digestion, energy conservation, and recovery. It helps regulate functions such as digestion, kidney activity, and the body’s removal of waste products.
References
- Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;2016(6):CD001218. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3
- Zhao L, Chen J, Li Y, et al. The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2017;177(4):508-515. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9378
- Shi H, Miao R, Gao S, Zhu L, Fang J, Liu Z. The durable effect of acupuncture for episodic migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2023;17:1211438. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1211438