Acupuncture treatment for six weeks for migraines works just as well as six months of prophylactic drug treatment according to a review of the latest research.

The review recommends the use of acupuncture within existing protocols for migraine therapy. (Reference: Role of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine. Expert Rev Neurother. 2007 Sep;7(9): 1121-34.)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ascribes migraine to a Liver imbalance, and describes the Liver as being the temperamental organ, the organ most affected by stress.

The function of the Liver, in Chinese Medical terms, is to keep the Qi (the life force, or vital energy) flowing smoothly and freely.

When the Liver is not functioning healthily the Qi becomes stagnant and causes pain.

According to TCM pain is the symptom of blocked or stagnant Qi.

So, the treatment of pain according to TCM is very straight forward, just get the Qi to flow again, however, practice is not always as easy as the theory.

When the Qi in the channels in the head associated with the Liver stagnates the result is the one-sided headache commonly associated with migraines.

Traditional Chinese Medicine theory describes a close relationship between the Liver and the eyes and stomach. Imbalances in the Liver can affect these organs with the resulting visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting that is so common in migraines.

Acupuncture, as seen both by clinical experience and current research, has been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of Migraine.

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