ACUPUNCTURE FOR MIGRAINE MANAGEMENT

Migraine is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches , often in conjunction with a series of symptoms of the autonomic nervous system. Typically the headaches are unilateral (affecting one half of the head) and pulsating , and take from 2-72 hours. The symptoms described by the most of the patients may include;

• nausea
• photophobia(increased sensitivity to light)
• phonophobia(increased sensitivity to sound)
• pain that generally worsens with physical activity

Up to one third of people with migraine perceive an ''aura''-transient visual,sensory,verbal or motor disorder that means the headache will occur shortly. Migraines are thought to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors. However, it is believed that this is a neurovascular disorder.

Acupuncture is an alternative treatment option for migraine patients needing prophylactic treatment, particularly those refusing drug treatment, or experiencing adverse effects from such treatment. The method consists of needling specific areas of the body ,head and face with special ,fine stainless steel sterilized disposable needles.The treatment course usually includes 4-6 sessions.Before everything it is more than important to ensure that this is the final diagnosis ,and all the essential investigations have been undertaken in order to exclude other possible causes.