Can Acupuncture Help with Migraines?
Looking for a natural solution for your migraines? Acupuncture offers a drug-free way to treat migraine symptoms and reduce their frequency. Benefits of acupuncture treatment include:
Better Pain Control
Controlling the throbbing pain of a migraine can be difficult. Medications aren't always helpful, and those that are may cause nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and other unpleasant side effects. Acupuncture eases migraine pain naturally by prompting your body to release endorphins and other natural pain-relieving chemicals. The treatments may also prevent pain signals from reaching the brain.
According to a literature review published in Frontiers in Neuroscience in 2022, acupuncture may help reduce headache intensity and attack duration. The review noted that other benefits include reduced auras and migraine frequency and improved quality of life.
Increased Blood Flow
Blood vessels in the head may narrow during a migraine, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the brain via the bloodstream. Acupuncture opens the vessels, improving blood flow. When blood flow improves, migraine pain may decrease.
Less Nausea
Nausea is a particularly unwelcome migraine symptom for many people. More than 49% of people surveyed for the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study experienced nausea at least half the time when they had migraines. Acupuncture calms the vomiting center in the brain, decreases stomach acid production, and improves stomach rhythms.
Fewer Migraines
Preventing migraines is the best way to avoid their unpleasant symptoms. According to a systematic review published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine in 2024, research participants who received acupuncture treatment three times per week for two months had significantly fewer migraines.
Muscle Tension Relief
Tight muscles in your neck, shoulders, and upper back can trigger migraines and may also occur as a result of migraines. Acupuncture softens tight muscles and tissues, reducing tension that can travel from your neck to your head. Acupuncture also improves stiffness and range of motion in the neck.
Less Stress
Stress, a common trigger for migraines, affects the brain, causing pain and other symptoms. In 2024, Yu Shin Kim, Ph.D., a scientist and associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, discovered that stress activates a specific pathway in the brain. Stress triggered the release of inflammatory substances and increased sensitivity in the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
Acupuncture decreases stress by flooding the body with endorphins and serotonin, hormones that ease pain while helping you feel more relaxed.
Hormonal Balance
Hormonal changes caused by menstruation, hormonal birth control, pregnancy, peri-menopause, and menopause can trigger migraines in women. Acupuncture regulates reproductive hormones, improves blood flow to the reproductive system, and lowers inflammation. It can also be helpful in relieving menstrual pain and promoting regular cycles.
Better Sleep
Daytime fatigue and concentration problems aren't the only issues you may face if you have insomnia. Failing to get enough sleep could also cause a migraine, the last thing you need when you're sleep-deprived. The relaxing effects of acupuncture can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Acupuncture may also help regulate your sleep cycle and promote deep sleep.
Reduce Dependence on Medication
Acupuncture offers a holistic way to control your pain without any side effects. According to the 2022 Frontiers in Neuroscience literature review, acupuncture could reduce the number of days you need to take medication. You may be able to control your migraines completely with acupuncture or decrease the amount of medication you need to relieve your symptoms.
Do you struggle with migraines? Safe, effective acupuncture could relieve your symptoms. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the acupuncturist.
Sources:
Frontiers in Neuroscience: Therapeutic Applications and Potential Mechanisms of Acupuncture in Migraine: A Literature Review and Perspectives, 10/19/2022
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.1022455/full
Science Direct: Complementary Therapies in Medicine: Acupuncture for Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials, 11/2024
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924000645
Headache: The Journal of Head & Face Pain: Frequency and Burden of Headache-Related Nausea: Results from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study, 11/2012
UT Health San Antonio: UT Health San Antonio Scientist Discovers Stress-Triggered Pathway Behind Migraines, 11/26/2024
MedlinePlus: Migraine, 11/20/2025