An inconveniently timed headache can bring your day to a grinding halt. The most common kind of headache is called a tension headache and is caused by muscle contraction. 70% of the population experience tension headaches regularly. Acupuncture reduces the frequency of these headaches as well as relieve their symptoms.
What is A Tension Headache?
A tension headache is characterized by:
dull, aching pain behind the eyes
feelings of pressure/tightness across the forehead, behind the eyes, and on the sides and back of the head (often described as an "iron band" or a "vise-like" feeling)
tenderness/tightness in the neck and shoulders
These headaches can be episodic--usually occurring 2-3 times a month for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 weeks--or chronic--lasting more than 15 days a month for 3 months or more.
Tension headaches are usually brought on and made worse by:
stress
eye strain
cold temperatures
alcohol
smoking
fatigue
cold/flu/sinus infection
bad posture
caffeine
Acupuncture for Tension Headaches
Acupuncture triggers your nervous system and releases endorphins, your body's natural painkillers, to reduce the pain that accompanies a tension headache. By stimulating the nervous system, acupuncture relieves stress and your body's response to it.
Acupuncture also increases circulation to the affected areas in your head and neck. By improving blood flow, it helps relax the muscles that have contracted and reduces any inflammation contributing to the issue. In one study, acupuncture alone reduced the frequency of tension headaches by 50% and lowered the overall levels of pain experienced during headaches.
Chinese herbal medicine can be added to help decrease anxiety, stress, and pain. When properly prescribed by a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, herbs and acupuncture can stop tension and pain before they have a chance to start.
Let us stop your tension headaches today! Call us at (321) 972-2940 to schedule your initial health consultation.
Sources:
Acupuncture for Tension-Type Headaches. (April 19, 2016). Retrieved from http://www.cochrane.org/CD007587/SYMPT_acupuncture-tension-type-headache
How Acupuncture Works For Tension Headaches. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.dc-acupuncture.com/common-health-conditions/how-acupuncture-works-for-tension-headaches
Acupuncture for chronic headaches--an epidemiological study. (April 2006). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16643558