Headaches Plus Needles = No More Pain?

As a headache sufferer myself I have personal experience with this particular topic. My contributing factors include head trauma from bike accidents (and 7 years of Ju-Jitsu), sinus problems, and I’ll admit it, stress from building an acupuncture practice and raising two children.

As with many different problems treated by acupuncture, it is of major importance to observe where on the head the pain is located. Qi (Chi or body energy) travels along distinct channels with several running along the surface of the head. Any one or all of these channels traveling over the head can lead to headache pain. 

For example, if your headache is primarily a frontal or a sinus type headache, it corresponds to the Large Intestine channel. If the pain is more over the temples, it can be attributed to the Gall Bladder channel. If the pain is at the back of the head, it can be either Urinary or Gall Bladder channels. 

Thus the treatment will differ from patient to patient depending upon where the pain is on the head. The channel affected dictates the treatment so each individual receives a unique treatment. This is contrary to the mainstream approach of blasting the body with a broad spectrum of pain killers that everyone can take for any problem.

When there is stagnation somewhere in a particular channel, there is going to be pain or injury. This stagnation can come about from many different reasons. A depletion of qi can lead to stagnation and therefore pain. This is usually the dull and achy type that comes about with exhaustion or overwork. A stagnation of qi due to emotions can often lead to a pounding type headache around the temples and back of the head. A stagnation anywhere on the head caused by an old (or new) trauma can also lead to pain.

In choosing a proper treatment for each of my patients, I will take all of these things into consideration and more to create a personalized treatment plan. Certain acupuncture points will work better for each type of problem.

Along with acupuncture, the use of herbal remedies is important to continue the treatment while at home. Taking a course of herbs can have dramatic effects on the frequency and severity of most headaches while also addressing the particular root condition at hand.

So why use acupuncture for headache care? The answer is simply that by doing so you will be getting at the root cause of the headaches and will not continue to suffer from them as you have in the past. Simply taking pain medications to cover up the symptoms of what is causing the headache only buys you time until your next headache.

For sufferers from migraines that next headache might mean more time out of work, and an often crippling experience all around. Also, prescription and over-the-counter pain killers have been shown to contribute quite considerably to both liver and kidney failure when taken long term. The number of transplants due to these medications is staggering!

So consider trying something a little different if you suffer from headaches. I find through my own personal experience that acupuncture and Chinese herbs have had a dramatic impact on my headache experience. I strongly encourage you to give it a try. 

Feel free to call me any time with your questions.  I would like to help in any way that I can. I hope to help educate people about many facets of health treatment and how you can take control of yours!

Jim Chialtas, L.Ac. attended the University of California at Santa Cruz to achieve his Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology in 1997. There, he began his instruction in Quantum Ju-Jitsu, a martial art that encompasses Ju-Jitsu, Yoga, and Restoration Massage Therapy training. After volunteering for a period of time at Quan Yin Healing Center in San Francisco, he decided to pursue a career in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Jim went on to attend Five Branches Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After three and a half years, and over 2500 hours of training, he received his Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Jim has also attained an advanced level of training in Functional Blood Chemistry and Endocrinology and specializes in hormone disorders.

As well as being licensed by the state of California in Acupuncture, Jim is certified in Restoration Massage Therapy—a unique form of massage that he incorporates into many of his treatments.

Jim can be reached by email or at 619.200.8904.

Also, be sure to visit his website and blog.