Headaches are probably one of the most common complaints I treat with acupuncture and Chinese herbs.  There are a variety of headache types: cluster, migraine, tension, stress, sinus…. Each has a unique signature but also a basic commonality.

In Chinese Medicine it is stated, “Where qi is blocked from flowing freely, there is pain.”  Thus our goal in treatment is to restore the free flow of the body’s energy.  It is relatively easy to draw the energy out of the head and alleviate the symptoms  with the correct treatment while the headache is occurring.   In chronic condition cases the treatment scenario is to treat the underlying root of the dis-ease.

 In Migraine and Cluster headache conditions there is often and underlying deficiency.  Like a child who has let go of the helium balloon, it now bounces and pounds against the ceiling.  Further, migraines can be differentiated into those where the head feels like it is in a vice and those where it feels like your head wants to explode.   A series of 10 acupuncture sessions and appropriate herbal formulas should free you from further distress.

Stress and Tension headaches require exploration into who or what is a pain in your neck.  I consider 5 Element treatment successful when a patient reports that their typical stressor no longer has averse effects on their mind/body/spirit.  Teeth are saved as you stop grinding your jaw and insomnia becomes a thing of the past.

Sinus headaches are equally treatable though often require a longer duration of treatment (12-15 sessions).  There is often an underlying chronic sinus infection with these headaches.  Too often antibiotics have been over prescribed.  Antibiotics wipe out the good flora in the gut where 80% of immunity occurs.  This can further leave the digestion compromised.  So we must work at restoring the digestion and the proper flora in addition to clearing out all the phlegm from inside the sinus cavity.  Like mold on a shower curtain, if even a little is left, given some moisture the whole colony will re-take the sinus cavity.  Like stormy weather, once it’s cleared out it will feel like a beautiful, sunny day in your whole body!