Migraine and Headache

Migraine and Headache

Nearly everyone will suffer from a headache at some point in time. Although most headaches are not symptomatic of another condition, some headaches may be a sign of a serious medical problem and require medical evaluation before you proceed with alternate methods. Such symptoms may include fever, vomiting without nausea, headache following trauma, high blood pressure or extreme neck stiffness.

The usual treatment Western medical doctors recommend for migraine or chronic tension headaches is NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). For the occasional headache this may be an excellent and effective choice. But when used regularly, NSAIDs can produce secondary effects such as upper gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, heartburn, diarrhea) or liver stress.

Chinese medicine can be very effective in the treatment of headaches. The greatest advantage of acupuncture over Western medicine is that it does virtually no harm. In addition to acupuncture and Chinese herbs, an important factor in relieving headache pain is lifestyle changes.