Chronic Tension Headaches
If you have a mild to moderate pain which feels like a tight band around your head, you are likely to be suffering from a tension headache. These headaches may also be only at the front or the back of your head. They can vary in frequency from several times a week to once every few months. Acupuncture is often beneficial in reducing the intensity and frequency of chronic tension headaches as studies have shown. [4]
One particular Cochrane Systematic Review from 2016 says that acupuncture is effective in treating headaches that are either chronic tension-type headaches or frequent episodic headaches. (Linde et al.,2016) [14]
Migraines
It has been shown through research that Acupuncture is effective in the prevention of episodic migraines. [14] Migraines differ from tension headaches which are characterised by recurrent attacks and are usually on one side of the head and of severe intensity. Migraines may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and photophobia and can last for hours or even days at a time.
Acupuncture is recommended as a form of intervention in different parts of the world. For example it is recommended in the NICE, ANZCAFPM guidelines and is on the USVA Evidence map 2014 as having evidence of positive effect.
