Considering Acupuncture for Your Migraine? Here Are Some Points to Take Note Of

Acupuncture has traditionally been known as a practice to relieve pain, and up till recent years, even pain from migraine attacks as well! This makes it a contender for alternative preventive treatments that the migraine community can explore. However, as with any other type of treatment, it is still important to be cautious before embarking on the process of acupuncture. Below, we have consolidated some points to look out for when considering acupuncture as a preventive treatment!

1. Always consult your physician first

Although acupuncture is generally considered safe, there may be certain factors that can make you unsuitable to take on acupuncture – for example, if you have a bleeding disorder, a pacemaker, or are pregnant [1]. Your physician, who knows your condition the best, should always be consulted first to assess your suitability for new treatments like acupuncture.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask the community for help 

The Migraine Buddy community is always willing to lend a listening ear if you’re on the fence to try acupuncture or not. Some Migraine Buddy users have already tried acupuncture with some success while others had a different experience – but you’ll never know until you ask! We promise we won’t bite, so feel free to drop a message in any of the chat groups below. ?

3. Visit a licensed acupuncturist

When you’ve decided that you want to give acupuncture a try, make sure that you do enough research to find the best acupuncturist suitable for your needs. They must, of course, be licensed to practice the procedure to ensure that there are little to no side effects [2]. Check their reviews for any negative ones or red flags. When in doubt, consult a second credible opinion.

4. Speak up when you feel uncomfortable

Getting acupuncture for the first time may be a strange experience for some. Those who are new to the procedure may be confused as to how some of the things are done. Don’t be afraid to ask your acupuncturist to walk you through the whole procedure first before starting on anything.

We should be vigilant and monitor the procedure carefully. The needles used for acupuncture are sterile single-use needles. If you notice your acupuncturist is using one that seems to have been used before, raise your concerns about it. A good acupuncturist will answer all your questions and allay your fears.

5. Keep track of the effects in Migraine Buddy

Did you know that you can record your treatments in Migraine Buddy and assess their impact even when you do not have an ongoing migraine attack? Simply add a new entry in “Health Events” after each of your acupuncture sessions (see below on how to add). At the end of the treatment plan, you can export these entries in your Migraine Listing Report and share it with your doctor to assess the impact of the treatment on your migraine!

All in all, acupuncture should not replace traditional healthcare. If anything, it should supplement it. It is important to keep in mind that not all migraine headaches can be relieved with acupuncture and not all of us will experience the same results. If there is also any lasting discomfort after the acupuncture procedure, please remember to speak to your doctor about it!

References

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763#:~:text=The%20risks%20of%20acupuncture%20are,risk%20of%20infection%20is%20minimal.

[2] https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-in-depth