Migraine and other headaches

Testimonial from a happy migraine-free patient

I see a lot of patients with chronic migraine, cluster headaches or tension headaches in my clinic and generally get good results.

Migraine in particular can have a huge impact on life. Patients often say they need to be in bed for several days, in pain, feeling nauseous or possibly vomiting, being light and sound sensitive, unable to work or be with family members. It’s very poorly understood by those who have never experienced a migraine and can only relate it to a ‘bad headache’.

UK figures show that 33% of women and 13% of men suffer from migraine but according to NICE “migraine is often underdiagnosed in primary and secondary care, with one in four people who fulfil the International Headache Society criteria for migraine being diagnosed as 'non-migranous headache'. GP diagnosis is based on the patient's presenting symptoms, with many headaches lasting 2-72 hours, and symptoms of moderate or severe pain which is pulsing, throbbing, of unilateral location, and may be accompanied by vomiting, auras and photosensitivity.”

Prescribed medications for acute migraine include NSAIDs, paracetamol, aspirin and triptans, but these can be contraindicated for some patients, such as those with cardiovascular conditions, liver and renal function problems, pregnant or breastfeeding women, the very young and the elderly. Many patients report adverse effects, and for some people they just don’t work. Many patients coming to a Chinese herbalist with migraine have suffered for years with worsening symptoms which are unresponsive to any other interventions.

There is therefore a role for herbal medicine treatment where these western medications are contraindicated, and/or the drugs just don’t work.

In Chinese medicine terms there are various diagnoses which could be made according to patterns of health and symptoms, and it is the job of the herbalist (or acupuncturist) to work out which pattern is the underlying cause of the migraines. As we take a holistic view of health, it is likely that two people presenting to the clinic with migraine would end up with different herbs in their treatment (although there are some classic herbs for headache which are likely to be in any headache formula).

When you come to see me about your migraine (or other headaches) I will ask about your symptoms, your diet and lifestyle, digestion and urination, your menstrual cycle (where appropriate), your stress levels, sleep quality, any other health issues, any medications or supplements you take. It’s a full body MOT because you are a unique individual and your treatment will reflect that. I will also need to see your tongue and will probably ask you to send me photos. I can tell so much about the state of your health from the colour, shape and coating of your tongue and it is a big part of making a diagnosis and tracking changes during treatment (particularly for patients I only see on Zoom so I can’t take pulses as I would have done in my acupuncture clinic).

If migraine or other headaches are making life difficult for you, contact me to find out more or make an appointment. Chinese herbs really can make a difference to your symptoms and your quality of life.