Acupuncture for Migraine

Migraine is a common neurological condition characterized by headaches that can range from moderate to severe. These headaches are often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. It is a complex disorder that extends beyond a typical headache, frequently impacting daily life significantly. In Australia, migraines affect 4.9 million people, which is about 20.55% of the population. It's also more prevalent in women, who account for 71% of those affected.

Key Characteristics

Migraine headaches are frequently described as a throbbing or pulsing pain, which typically affects one side of the head, though it can sometimes be bilateral. In addition to the headache, common accompanying symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). It's also important to note that migraine attacks can progress through several phases, including a prodrome where warning signs may appear before the headache, an aura which involves sensory disturbances like visual changes, the headache phase, and finally, a postdrome after the headache subsides. Migraine triggers are highly individual and can range from stress and certain foods to hormonal fluctuations, and various environmental factors. 

Causes

Migraines are complex, and their exact cause isn't fully understood. However, they are thought to be linked to temporary changes in brain chemicals and blood vessels, potentially triggered by a combination of factors.

Common triggers include stress and negative emotions; sensory triggers; hunger; lack/excess of sleep; food and drink; alcohol; menstruation; and weather. Not everyone experiences migraines in the same way, and triggers vary. Keeping a headache diary to track potential triggers can help identify patterns and manage migraines.

Treatment & Management

Migraine treatment typically involves two main strategies: acute treatment for symptom relief during an attack and preventive treatment to lessen the frequency and intensity of attacks. Options range from over-the-counter pain relievers to prescription medications and lifestyle adjustments.

Acute treatments are generally more effective when taken at the first sign of a migraine. The most suitable treatment approach varies for each individual. It is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate combination for your specific needs.

Does Acupuncture Help Migraine?

Acupuncture is becoming increasingly recognized for its potential benefits in addressing both acute migraine attacks and for use as a preventive treatment.

While research is ongoing to fully understand its mechanisms and long-term effects on mental health, several studies have demonstrated promising results, particularly in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. A notable 2016 meta-analysis provided strong evidence that acupuncture significantly decreases both the duration and frequency of migraines, regardless of their occurrence. This research also highlighted that the benefits of acupuncture treatment are sustained for an impressive period of over 20 weeks. Furthermore, it's particularly interesting that acupuncture can alter metabolic activity in the thalamus, a key brain region involved in pain perception. This alteration in metabolic activity has been directly linked to a reduction in headache intensity scores after acupuncture treatment, offering a robust physiological explanation for its therapeutic effects.

Given these findings, it's clear that acupuncture could be a valuable complementary approach to existing migraine treatment plans. 

Acupuncture is generally considered to have cumulative effects, meaning the benefits build up over time with repeated treatments. Similar to physical exercise, consistent acupuncture sessions can lead to gradual improvement. Many migraine sufferers  require regular sessions to achieve noticeable and lasting results.

About the Author

Youngmi Choi

Ripple Acupuncture | Newcastle | New Lambton

As an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist with 15 years of nursing experience, I offer safe, effective, and holistic care. My special interests include pain management, psycho-emotional well-being, digestive balance, and women’s health & fertility. My approach is outcome-focused, and clients receive a clear care plan with personalized lifestyle advice.

If you have any questions about your migraine condition, please make an online booking, submit an online enquiry or call me on 0402 474 884. 

Follow me on

Reference

1. Mayo Clinic (2025).Migraine; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201#:~:text=A%20migraine%20is%20a%20headache,sensitivity%20to%20light%20and%20sound.

2. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2025). Migraine; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from:  https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/migraine#:~:text=touched%20or%20grabbed.-,Headache,nausea%2C%20vomiting%2C%20or%20constipation.

3. Association of Migraine Disorders (2025).Migraine Disease From a Different Perspective; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://www.migrainedisorders.org/migraine-disorders/#:~:text=Vestibular%20Migraine,as%20a%20subtype%20of%20migraine.

4. Pescador Ruschel, M.A. & De Jesus, O.D. (2024).Migraine Headache; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560787/

5. Johns Hopkins Medicine (2025). How a Migraine Happens; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/how-a-migraine-happens#:~:text=Stress%20and%20other%20emotions,Specializing%20In:

6. Headache Australia (2025).Migraine Treatment Options; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://headacheaustralia.org.au/migraine/treatment-options/#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20main%20groups,which%20you%20can%20find%20below.

7. Jenkins B. Migraine management. Aust Prescriber, 2020;43:148-51. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2020.047

8. Cook, Calli et al. Migraine Treatment: When, Why, and How to Introduce Antimigraine Therapies. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 2024;20(8):105112

9. Ornello, Raffaele et al. Resistant and refractory migraine: clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and management. eBioMedicine,99:104943. 

10. Kish T. Emerging Therapies for Patients With Difficult-to-Treat Migraine. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 2018;43(10):616-621. PMID: 30271106

11. QUT Health (2025).Migraine; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://research.qut.edu.au/sgel/research/migraine/

12. Headache Australia (2025).Prevalence and Cost of Headache; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://headacheaustralia.org.au/what-is-headache/prevalence-and-cost-of-headache/

13. Migraine Australia (2025).Burden of Migraine; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://www.migraine.org.au/burden

14. Wilhour, D. (2022). Migraine sufferers have treatment choices – a neurologist explains options beyond just pain medication; [reviewed 2025 Aug 18]. Available from: https://theconversation.com/migraine-sufferers-have-treatment-choices-a-neurologist-explains-options-beyond-just-pain-medication-181348

15. Coeytaux, R.R., & Befus, D. Role of Acupuncture in the Treatment or Prevention of Migraine, Tension-Type Headache, or Chronic Headache Disorders. The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 2016; 56(7): 1238-1240. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.12857

16. Zhao L, Chen J, Li Y, et al. The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2017;177(4):508–515. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9378

17. Gu T, Lin L, Jiang Y, Chen J, D’Arcy RCN, Chen M, Song X. Acupuncture therapy in treating migraine: results of a magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging study. J Pain Res. 2018;11:889-900. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S162696

#acupuncture #migraine #headache #newcastle #newlambton #charlestown