Headaches are one of the most common reasons people first try acupuncture, and one of the conditions where it has the longest track record. But not all headaches are the same, and the first job of a visit is to work out which kind you have.
Three common patterns
Tension headaches sit like a band around the head or a knot at the base of the skull. They usually track with tight shoulders and neck, long hours at a screen, and stress. Treatment often works as much on the upper back and neck as on the head itself.
Migraines are their own category: throbbing, frequently one-sided, often with nausea or sensitivity to light. Many people have a warning sign before one arrives. Acupuncture for migraine is usually a preventive course rather than a rescue, with the aim of fewer and milder episodes over time. This is one of the better studied uses of acupuncture, and several large trials have found it reduces migraine frequency for many people.
Sinus headaches press behind the eyes and cheekbones and come with congestion. They have become more common in recent years, and the usual treatments are decongestants and steroid sprays. Those help, but long steroid use has costs, and some people look for a gentler option to use alongside.
The Chinese medicine view
Chinese medicine rarely treats a headache as a problem of the head alone. Where the pain sits, when it comes, and what makes it worse all point to different patterns. A headache that flares with frustration and tight shoulders is read very differently from one that arrives with a cold, or one that follows a poor night's sleep. The classical texts link many headaches to the liver system, which in this framework governs the smooth flow of energy and is easily disrupted by stress and strong emotion. Treatment aims at that underlying pattern, which is why people often notice better sleep or steadier mood as a side benefit.
What to expect
Cara will ask about your headache history, triggers, and what you have already tried. Points are often placed on the hands, feet, and neck as well as around the head. Most people find the session relaxing, and many feel a headache in progress ease during treatment. For chronic headaches, a course of weekly visits followed by less frequent maintenance is typical.
Sudden, severe, or unusual headaches need medical evaluation first. For the everyday kind that keep coming back, talk with Cara about whether a course of treatment suits you.