Part of the A - Z of conditions series.
Headaches can take many forms. Some feel like pressure or tightness around the head and neck, while others are more intense or throbbing. Migraine may also involve nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, visual changes, or the need to stop normal activities until an episode passes.
Whether headaches are occasional or recurring, they can affect concentration, sleep, work, exercise and family life. People commonly seek acupuncture because they want support in understanding their headache pattern and reducing its impact on everyday life.
Headaches do not always occur in isolation. Their frequency or intensity may interact with stress, muscle tension, sleep, hydration, missed meals, posture, hormonal changes, medication use and other aspects of health.
During treatment, Jamie considers the character and location of the headache, when it occurs, possible triggers and any accompanying symptoms. The wider picture may include sleep, digestion, energy, emotional wellbeing, menstrual health and physical tension.
Keeping a headache diary can be useful. Recording when headaches happen, how long they last, associated symptoms, possible triggers and medication use can help reveal patterns and support conversations with healthcare professionals.
Chinese medicine uses an individual diagnosis rather than treating every headache in the same way. Two people with a similar medical diagnosis may therefore receive different acupuncture treatments according to their symptoms, health history and overall presentation.
Jamie combines more than 20 years of clinical experience with detailed pulse diagnosis to understand the pattern behind each person's headaches. Treatment is then adapted according to the individual's presentation and response.
The first appointment provides time to discuss your headaches in detail, including their frequency, location, severity, possible triggers and effect on daily life. Jamie will also ask about your general health, current medication, sleep, stress, digestion and other relevant symptoms.
The appointment includes an individual Chinese medicine assessment and, where appropriate, your first acupuncture treatment. Jamie will explain the initial treatment approach and discuss a suitable rhythm of care.
Acupuncture is not a replacement for medical assessment. Please continue taking prescribed medication unless the healthcare professional responsible for your care advises otherwise.
Headaches and migraines usually connect most naturally with the Pain and Recovery Pathway. This pathway provides a clear framework for assessing the wider pattern, beginning treatment and reviewing how you respond over time.
Your treatment plan remains individual. Where stress, sleep or wider wellbeing are particularly relevant, aspects of the Anxiety and Regulation or Foundations of Health and Wellbeing pathways may also inform care.
Headache is one of the more extensively researched areas of acupuncture. The British Acupuncture Council's headache fact sheet discusses research concerning migraine and tension-type headache, including systematic reviews and clinical guidance.
Current NICE guidance recommends considering a course of acupuncture for the prevention of chronic tension-type headache. For migraine prevention, NICE recommends considering acupuncture when certain preventive medicines have not worked, are not tolerated or are unsuitable, taking account of the person's preferences and circumstances.
Research findings do not mean that every person will respond in the same way. Treatment decisions should consider the type of headache, the individual's health, their preferences and any care they are already receiving.
Further reading: British Acupuncture Council: Headache fact sheet
Most headaches are not serious, but new, severe, worsening or unusual headaches should be medically assessed. Seek urgent medical help for a headache that begins suddenly and is extremely painful, follows a recent head injury, or occurs with symptoms such as weakness, confusion, difficulty speaking, loss of vision, seizure, high temperature or a stiff neck.
See the NHS headache guidance or contact an appropriate healthcare professional if you are concerned about your symptoms.
If headaches or migraines are affecting your daily life, a first appointment gives us time to understand your individual pattern and discuss whether acupuncture may be a suitable part of your care.