Headaches and migraine

TCM: a sustainable path to freedom from pain

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine identifies the cause of headaches and migraine as blockages in the flow of the life energy Qi. With a combination of acupuncture and supplementary TCM methods, these blockages can be released and the energy balance restored. Treating the cause leads to a lasting recovery.

 

Headaches manifest themselves in a variety of ways. There are unpredictable tension headaches which appear as if from nowhere and disappear again after a short time. Another manifestation is the migraine attack, with its intense hammering pain. This is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. A third category includes cluster headaches. These occur with a violent intensity followed by long periods without pain.

 

Various factors that trigger pain

Headaches can be triggered by factors which are difficult to identify. These include mental aspects such as stress, tension or overwork but also external influences such as changes in the weather, föhn or bise winds. And the negative influence of certain foods and alcoholic drinks should not be underestimated either, depending on the constitution of the individual. These are the symptoms targeted by conventional medicine. By contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine identifies the underlying cause as disruptions to the flow of the life energy Qi, so TCM treatments are aimed at this clearly defined vulnerability.

 

Unblocking the Qi flow

Qi circulates in various energy channels, or meridians. These, in turn, are associated with certain organs and so form a functional circuit. According to the theories of TCM, headaches are often related to the meridian that supplies Qi life energy to the functional circuit of the liver. TCM treatments for headaches aim to disperse the blockages disrupting the Qi flow in the meridians.

 

The TCM diagnosis delivers clarity

The TCM diagnosis makes it clear which forms of treatment are appropriate for the relief of pain in each individual case. In addition, it shows whether the body should be provided with warmth, or whether heat needs to be dispersed. It also takes into account any previous use of pain relief medication. With TCM there is a good chance that medicine-based treatments can be discontinued over time and relief from pain achieved through natural means.

 

Good prospects of lasting relief

TCM can achieve good results both with acute and chronic headaches and in the prevention of migraine attacks. A key element in this is the TCM diagnosis, which must take into account the varied and sometimes unclear ways that headaches can manifest themselves. Acupuncture and herbal therapies have proved to be particularly effective. Depending on the constitution of the individual, moxibustion and cupping may also be considered.

The duration of the treatment depends on the constitution of the individual, the intensity of the pain and how long the patient has been affected. There is a rule of thumb that says the more pronounced the symptoms and the more chronic the pain, the greater the number of treatments required. Experience shows us that patients can expect to feel an improvement after 10 to 12 sessions.