Brochures

Migraine & Headache Relief

Overview

Migraine is one of the most common neurological conditions in the United States, affecting more than 40 million Americans — about 1 in 4 households has someone who lives with migraine. It typically causes throbbing, often one-sided head pain along with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, and can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

For many people, migraine is more than an occasional headache — it is a recurring condition that can interfere with work, family life, and daily activities. Frequent use of pain medication can also lead to its own complications, which is why many patients look for complementary approaches like acupuncture to reduce how often migraines occur.

What Causes Migraines?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, headaches and migraines are commonly associated with an imbalance in the flow of Qi and Blood, often described as Liver Yang rising, Liver Qi stagnation, or invasion of Wind — patterns that can be aggravated by stress, poor sleep, and diet. Western medicine points to triggers such as hormonal changes, stress, certain foods, and sleep disruption. Acupuncture addresses both pictures: calming the nervous system while also treating the underlying pattern of imbalance.

Research on Acupuncture for Migraine

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health, reports moderate-quality evidence that acupuncture can reduce how often migraines occur, based on a 2016 review of 22 clinical trials involving nearly 5,000 people.

A 2020 review comparing acupuncture with medications commonly used to prevent migraine found acupuncture was slightly more effective, and patients receiving acupuncture were far less likely to drop out of treatment due to side effects than those taking preventive medication.

How We Treat Migraines at Dragon Phoenix

At Dragon Phoenix Acupuncture, migraine treatment typically combines body acupuncture with auricular (ear) acupuncture to calm the nervous system, along with points selected to address the individual pattern behind each patient's headaches. Cupping or Tuina may be added for patients whose migraines are linked to neck and shoulder tension.

What to Expect

Most patients begin with acupuncture sessions once or twice a week. Because migraine is a recurring condition, a course of 8–10 treatments is often recommended before reassessing frequency and severity, and many patients continue with maintenance visits during high-stress seasons.

Sources: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institutes of Health.