Acupuncture for Migraines and Insomnia

Acupuncture is uniquely suited for migraines, because we look at the brain differently that Western medicine. Acupuncture treatments differ based on the part of the brain that is affected by a migraine, and the type of onset. A sound body of evidence exists supporting the use of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. It has also been validated that acupuncture is at least as effective as prophylactic drug therapy for migraine and it is safe, long-lasting and cost-effective.

We also treat Menstrual Migraines – the severe, throbbing headaches triggered by dropping estrogen levels just before or during a cycle. These usually occur 2 days before up to 3 days after the period starts. Often lacking a migraine aura, these are usually more painful, longer-lasting, and harder to get rid of with OTC meds.

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders, with a prevalence of 40% in adults. It is generally believed that 10%–15% of the adult population suffers from chronic insomnia, and an additional 25%–35% have transient or occasional insomnia. The symptoms of insomnia may be difficult falling asleep, sleep latency more than 30 minutes, or sleep efficiency less than 85%, which usually happened more than 4 nights a week and occurred at least 3 weeks. Patients with insomnia may feel tired, tense, lazy, or have delayed reactions, distraction, or headache. The serious consequence of insomnia can be mental illness, and the worst mental illness is schizophrenia.

Acupuncture is a safe, non-addictive, and effective complementary therapy for insomnia, helping to improve sleep quality by reducing stress, regulating the nervous system, and increasing neurotransmitters like GABA. It treats insomnia by addressing underlying causes, such as anxiety, depression, or pain, to increase total sleep time and reduce night-time waking. Acupuncture for insomnia is good enough that I’ve had clients fall asleep on my table.