acupuncture cures migraine!

andyandy · 4th September 2006, 04:25 AM

Quote:

My migraines last on average eight hours - some people suffer days of pain.

Jane intends to keep using acupuncture

Over the years I have tried every sort of pain relief, from over-the-counter headache tablets - which only work sometimes in the very early stages - to targeted migraine drugs, which worked on many of the attacks but left me feeling nauseous.

This year, after my migraines reached an intolerable level and I found myself getting as many as three attacks a week, I decided to take immediate action.

My doctor recommended Imigran Recovery (sumatriptan), which has recently been made an over-the counter drug. He warned me that it didn't work for everyone - but it worked for me.

If I took the tablets everywhere with me and took them as soon as I started to feel the familiar warning signs they did not develop.

Not wanting to become reliant on too many drugs however, I decided to explore other ways of alleviating my migraine.

My mother recommended acupuncture, and I must admit that I was at first sceptical.

She had seen a TV programme which seemed to show a link between acupuncture and migraine relief, and she offered to pay for a course of treatments for me to see if it worked.

I didn't hold out much hope of it working, but was prepared to give it a go.

Diet changes

As well as the acupuncture, I was told to make some changes to my diet - only two cups of tea a day and no diet Coke (I normally have at least six teas daily and about one or two diet cokes a week).

Christina, my acupuncturist, warned that I was using the caffeine to boost my energy levels and advised more water instead. Cutting out the caffeine from my diet was extremely hard and I had more than a few withdrawal symptoms, although in the long-term a relatively caffeine free diet is no bad thing for my overall health.

A scan of the brain during a migraine

Sessions took an hour and consisted of gentle head massage as well as the strategically placed acupuncture needles.

The first week I had two attacks, the next week I had one and I was beginning to worry that I might be one of those for whom acupuncture did not work.

But at the start of week three I had a revelation - no migraines.

I went for treatment once a week for about two months and was completely migraine free. Apart from pregnancy this was a first.

Over three months later I have had one bad migraine (last week) which I put down to an enforced break of six weeks, while the acupuncturist and I both had three week holidays.

But I am amazed it has worked. I have read reports which say acupuncture and sham acupuncture both work, although other reports have disputed that.

To be honest I don't care whether it is real, or as some say an effect 'in my mind'.

I can't explain why it worked for me. All I can say is that it has worked for me and I intend to keep going.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5301690.stm?ls

Pragmatic fallacy? Check

Placebo not accounted for? Check

Regressive fallacy? Check

Testimonial evidence with confirmation bias? Check

Change in environmental factors? Check

Makes you wonder what the use of the article is really.....

Wudang · 4th September 2006, 08:18 AM

I used the feedback bit to point out that since caffeine can trigger migraine and she'd reduced her caffeine intake to less than a third of what it was, sufficient to trigger withdrawal, didn't that explain her improvement.

andyandy · 4th September 2006, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Wudang

I used the feedback bit to point out that since caffeine can trigger migraine and she'd reduced her caffeine intake to less than a third of what it was, sufficient to trigger withdrawal, didn't that explain her improvement.

that was what leapt out to me too.....she was drinking 6 cups of tea a day.......and seeing as how dehydration is a major cause of headaches/migraines one would have thought that may have done the trick. Really though, her GP should have already told her that......

ripsaw_22 · 5th January 2012, 03:52 AM

kind of like a cancer patient going to a crystal healer and being given radiotherapy at the same time...but really it's the crystals working right

marplots · 5th January 2012, 04:05 AM

I'd go for acupuncture to prevent migraines, except, you know -- I don't want to get hooked on needles.

Lisa Simpson · 5th January 2012, 10:04 AM

Head massage can be good for migraines, if the migraines stem from clenching the jaw (as mine often do).

marplots · 5th January 2012, 02:32 PM

Well, if I understand the treatment correctly, you go on regular meds until they no longer help and the condition escalates. And then, only then, do you go on to acupuncture. Not such bad advice. As long as you don't leave off the first part of the treatment and skip right to the second. That's nuts.

4th September 2006, 04:25 AM	#1
andyandy anthropomorphic ape Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: up a tree Posts: 8,193	acupuncture cures migraine! Quote: My migraines last on average eight hours - some people suffer days of pain. Jane intends to keep using acupuncture Over the years I have tried every sort of pain relief, from over-the-counter headache tablets - which only work sometimes in the very early stages - to targeted migraine drugs, which worked on many of the attacks but left me feeling nauseous. This year, after my migraines reached an intolerable level and I found myself getting as many as three attacks a week, I decided to take immediate action. My doctor recommended Imigran Recovery (sumatriptan), which has recently been made an over-the counter drug. He warned me that it didn't work for everyone - but it worked for me. If I took the tablets everywhere with me and took them as soon as I started to feel the familiar warning signs they did not develop. Not wanting to become reliant on too many drugs however, I decided to explore other ways of alleviating my migraine. My mother recommended acupuncture, and I must admit that I was at first sceptical. She had seen a TV programme which seemed to show a link between acupuncture and migraine relief, and she offered to pay for a course of treatments for me to see if it worked. I didn't hold out much hope of it working, but was prepared to give it a go. Diet changes As well as the acupuncture, I was told to make some changes to my diet - only two cups of tea a day and no diet Coke (I normally have at least six teas daily and about one or two diet cokes a week). Christina, my acupuncturist, warned that I was using the caffeine to boost my energy levels and advised more water instead. Cutting out the caffeine from my diet was extremely hard and I had more than a few withdrawal symptoms, although in the long-term a relatively caffeine free diet is no bad thing for my overall health. A scan of the brain during a migraine Sessions took an hour and consisted of gentle head massage as well as the strategically placed acupuncture needles. The first week I had two attacks, the next week I had one and I was beginning to worry that I might be one of those for whom acupuncture did not work. But at the start of week three I had a revelation - no migraines. I went for treatment once a week for about two months and was completely migraine free. Apart from pregnancy this was a first. Over three months later I have had one bad migraine (last week) which I put down to an enforced break of six weeks, while the acupuncturist and I both had three week holidays. But I am amazed it has worked. I have read reports which say acupuncture and sham acupuncture both work, although other reports have disputed that. To be honest I don't care whether it is real, or as some say an effect 'in my mind'. I can't explain why it worked for me. All I can say is that it has worked for me and I intend to keep going. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5301690.stm?ls Pragmatic fallacy? Check Placebo not accounted for? Check Regressive fallacy? Check Testimonial evidence with confirmation bias? Check Change in environmental factors? Check Makes you wonder what the use of the article is really.....
	__________________ "Contentment is found in the music of Bach, the books of Tolstoy and the equations of Dirac, not at the wheel of a BMW or the aisles of Harvey Nicks."

4th September 2006, 08:18 AM	#2
Wudang BOFH Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sheffield Posts: 8,247	I used the feedback bit to point out that since caffeine can trigger migraine and she'd reduced her caffeine intake to less than a third of what it was, sufficient to trigger withdrawal, didn't that explain her improvement.
	__________________ Aphorism: Subjects most likely to be declared inappropriate for humor are the ones most in need of it. -epepke

4th September 2006, 08:23 AM	#3
andyandy anthropomorphic ape Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: up a tree Posts: 8,193	Originally Posted by Wudang I used the feedback bit to point out that since caffeine can trigger migraine and she'd reduced her caffeine intake to less than a third of what it was, sufficient to trigger withdrawal, didn't that explain her improvement. that was what leapt out to me too.....she was drinking 6 cups of tea a day.......and seeing as how dehydration is a major cause of headaches/migraines one would have thought that may have done the trick. Really though, her GP should have already told her that......
	__________________ "Contentment is found in the music of Bach, the books of Tolstoy and the equations of Dirac, not at the wheel of a BMW or the aisles of Harvey Nicks."

5th January 2012, 03:52 AM	#4
ripsaw_22 Student Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 42	kind of like a cancer patient going to a crystal healer and being given radiotherapy at the same time...but really it's the crystals working right
ripsaw_22 Student Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 42

5th January 2012, 04:05 AM	#5
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,413	I'd go for acupuncture to prevent migraines, except, you know -- I don't want to get hooked on needles.
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,413

5th January 2012, 10:04 AM	#6
Lisa Simpson THE Lisa Simpson Administrator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 123 Fake Street Posts: 20,062	Head massage can be good for migraines, if the migraines stem from clenching the jaw (as mine often do).
	__________________ That's what the Internet does -- you get a free bonus prize of Stupid Lies with every box of Delicious Facts. - cracked.com Facts are satanic litter on the heavenly highway to blind faith! - Betty Bowers

5th January 2012, 02:32 PM	#7
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,413	Well, if I understand the treatment correctly, you go on regular meds until they no longer help and the condition escalates. And then, only then, do you go on to acupuncture. Not such bad advice. As long as you don't leave off the first part of the treatment and skip right to the second. That's nuts.
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,413