How Does Acupuncture Help With Headaches?
Headaches are one of the most common health complaints worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. Whether it’s the occasional tension headache or chronic migraines, these conditions can significantly interfere with daily life. At Holland Landing Health Centre, we offer a variety of holistic services—including chiropractic care, physiotherapy, massage therapy, naturopathy, and osteopathy—to support individuals in managing and reducing headache symptoms. One highly effective and evidence-based option we offer is acupuncture.
Understanding Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body. This practice is believed to stimulate the nervous system, enhance blood flow, and regulate the body’s natural healing processes. While acupuncture has been used for centuries, modern research is increasingly validating its role in pain management, including the treatment of headaches.
Acupuncture and Headaches: What the Research Says
Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective intervention for various types of headaches, particularly tension-type headaches and migraines.
A 2016 Cochrane Review found that acupuncture is effective in reducing the frequency of tension-type headaches and may be more effective than conventional care or even no treatment. The researchers concluded that the effects of acupuncture were long-lasting and could reduce the number of headache days per month by at least 50% for many participants.
For migraines, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (2017) revealed that true acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency of migraine attacks compared to sham acupuncture and standard care. The study found that patients receiving acupuncture had fewer headaches per month and reduced intensity of symptoms.
These studies suggest that acupuncture isn’t just a placebo or complementary treatment—it can serve as a legitimate, evidence-based approach to managing headache disorders.
Why Choose Acupuncture Treatment?
Our approach to providing East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Bradford acupuncture treatment at Holland Landing Health Centre is holistic, integrative, and tailored to your individual needs. Acupuncture targets the root causes of your headaches—whether they stem from stress, musculoskeletal tension, poor posture, or hormonal imbalances.
What sets our clinic apart is the collaborative care model. For instance, someone dealing with chronic migraines may benefit not only from acupuncture but also from chiropractic adjustments to relieve neck and back tension, massage therapy to relax muscles, and naturopathic guidance to address underlying dietary or hormonal triggers. Our team works together to design a personalized treatment plan that offers long-term relief.
What to Expect
Acupuncture treatments are typically painless, relaxing, and can often bring immediate relief. Over several sessions, many patients report a significant drop in headache frequency, intensity, and duration. Side effects are rare, and the benefits can be profound—especially when combined with other health-promoting interventions.
If you’re tired of living with persistent headaches, contact Holland Landing Health Centre today to learn more about how we offer East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Bradford acupuncture treatment and how it can support your path to better health.
References:
Linde, K., Allais, G., Brinkhaus, B., Manheimer, E., Vickers, A., & White, A. R. (2016). Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD007587. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007587.pub2
Li, Y., Zheng, H., Witt, C. M., Roll, S., Yu, S. G., Yan, J., … & Liang, F. R. (2017). Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(4), 508–515. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9378
