Migraines

Migraines remain something of a mystery to medical practitioners. While the cause is often unknown and triggers vary from person to person, the most common are stress, fatigue, lighting, hormonal, dietary and environmental factors. The medical treatment options include various medications (most of which only treat the symptoms) and even surgical options! If you’re not prepared to go under the knife just yet, Traditional Chinese Medicine provides a more natural range of treatment options, including acupuncture, remedial massage, cupping, herbal supplements and dietary changes. Chinese Medicine views headaches and migraines slightly differently; generally speaking, migraines are caused by four groups of patterns:

1. Environmental factors, or ‘The Four Pathogenic Factors’ (heat, cold, wind and dampness)

2. Hyperactivity of the Liver: usually due to stress which can restrict the circulation of blood, as well as the energy (‘Qi’) of the body’s various systems causing a multitude of symptoms.

3. An underlying deficiency causing a lack of blood flow to the brain

4. Accumulation of fluids and toxins, or ‘Phlegm’. This is a pattern often associated with carrying a few extra pounds or a poor diet, and may be accompanied by nausea, bloating, sensations of heaviness, poor concentration and ‘foggy-headedness’.

Acupuncture and traditional therapies can provide effective relief from such migraines. Physical causes (such as muscle tension) may also be a factor, for which massage is a fantastic treatment option.

 Jennifer McKeown
Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture & Remedial Massage

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