13th Jan 2016 | Article

Acupuncture for Migraine

A case study of a woman suffering from migraines during the menopause.

Lorraine is in her late fifties. Her menopause started 8 years ago and she has been on HRT for the last six and a half years. She came for acupuncture because she had been having bouts of migraine for the last 3 months. The pain lasted 4 or 5 days each time, starting from her right temple and radiating to the neck and shoulder. During a migraine bout she was light sensitive, jumpy and edgy. She complained that her neck and shoulders were very tight and in constant pain, even when she was free of migraine. I examined her abdomen and pulse and diagnosed that she was deficient in Yin energy, particularly Yin of Liver. Around the menopause the body’s Yin and Yang balance can easily go astray, and symptoms such as migraine can appear. I treated her to tonify her Yin energy and I also needled lightly her upper back and shoulders to nudge energy to move more freely. After the second and third similar treatments given weekly, she felt much better in herself and she had not had a migraine for 3 weeks. She was happy and decided to stop coming. From my point of view, her Yin energy was not yet strong enough to stop treatments. I wanted to see her at least a few more times for monthly maintenance, which would have really boosted her Yin and her essential energy. It may mean that her migraines will come back and she will need to go through the same process again.

ATSUKO COWLEY BAC, MBAcC, Kanpo. Atsuko uses a Japanese style of acupuncture – Toyohari – known for its most gentle needling, yet powerful effect.