Headaches
Orient Medicine Acupuncture & Massage Clinic

at Downtown Calgary Tower Professional Centre

Located downtown Calgary.

 Registered Acupuncturist.

 Member of Alberta Association of Traditional Chinese Medical Doctors.

 Please pardon our Chinese English, 
thank you!  :)

1. What causes migraine headaches?

2. What are the risk factors of migraine headaches?

3. Self-care for migraine headaches.

4. How acupuncture treats headaches?

5. Does it work for me?

6. How much does it cost? Does Alberta Health Care cover it?

7. Where will I get needles? Is it painful?

8. How do I start?

   What causes migraine headaches?

1.      Exact etiology is unknown.

2.      80% of patients have positive family history. Identification of a chromosomal abnormality has been confirmed in familial hemiplegic migraine.

3.      It appears to be a genetically-linked neuronal disease with vascular disruption as an epiphenomenona of underlying neurochemical disruption.

4.      Serotonin and norepinephrine metabolism abnormalities may play a role.

5.      Neurogenic inflammation and regional disruption of cerebral and/or extracranial blood flow may explain some clinical features.

Tension, cluster & mixed headaches have different mechanism and etiologies, please refer to other sources due to limited space here. However, acupuncture do deliver quick relief due to all 3 kinds of headaches and has been widely recognized.

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   What are the risk factors of migraine headaches?

1. specific foods: M.S.G., red wine, alcohol, Other foods like aged cheeses and chocolates. Other foods are sour foods like vinegar, citrus fruits, sour cream and yogurt. Dried / smoked fish, dairy products, beans, nuts, onions, caffeinated drinks, and food additives may also trigger migraines.

2. missing meals,

3. hormone: menstrual cycle, estrogen replacement

4. physical: injury or over-exertion,

5. emotional: loss, death, argument, fear, emotional stress, relief of stress,

6. chemical: drugs, BCP’s, vasodilators or air pollution

7.  chronobiology: excessive sleep, lack of sleep, fatigue,

8. sensory: glaring lights

9. family history of migraine,

10. female gender,

11. young age,

12. history of childhood cyclic vomiting, cyclic abdominal pain, motion sickness.

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   Self-care for migraine headaches.

Before having attacks:

The best way is to keep a diary to log down your migraine attacks and find out the triggering factors. Modify your lifestyle toward a less-triggering one. Such as getting a vacation to relax (What a luxury idea, isn’t it?), quitting red wine, chocolate & coffee (A life without red wine, chocolate & coffee?) …

During the headache, you can

1.      apply compression to tender areas of scalp or neck;

2.      apply cold compression to area of pain;

3.      rest with pillows comfortable supporting the head or neck in an area that is devoid of sensory stimulation, including light, sound and odors;

4.      withdraw from stressful surroundings

5.      get good sleep

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How acupuncture treats headaches?

Acupuncture offers quick relief that could be effective in just a few minutes to hours on low back pain by the following ways:
1. desensitizing the nerve sensation,
2. constrict the blood vessels in the brain.
3. relaxing the muscle spasms if they exist.
4. reduce local inflammation if there is any.
Scheduled treatment can reduce the frequency and/or severity of episodes and wean down the dependence to drug use.

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    Does it work for me?

Acupuncture treatment in relieving migraine, tension, cluster and mixed headaches has been proven effective and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute of Health (NIH). It has helped many patients with headache problems. It is certainly a reasonable natural modality that has its potential to help. However, “It works for many” doesn’t equal to “it works for you”. As for you, there is only one way to find out…

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How much does it cost? Does Alberta Health Care cover it?

We charge $60 per acupuncture session. In addition, 5-minute acupressure for $6 is often useful for tension headache. There is a $15 initial consultation fee at the first time of visit. All fees above are subject to change without notice. Please call 403-233-0498 for current rates. 
Alberta Health Care does not cover acupuncture treatment. However, most of the group insurance and company benefits cover acupuncture treatment. You may get clarification from human resources department in your work place or simply bring your policy certificate here; we can find it out for you.

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Where will I get needles? Is it painful?

Each individual will receive needles according to their underlying conditions and body’s constitution. Most of the acupuncture points don’t hurt. Patients will have a mosquito bite feelings instead. There are some points tend to hurt more than the others. We would do it carefully to avoid the discomforts.

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How do I start?

Call 403-233-0498 to get a consultation first. 

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Telephone (preferred): 403-233-0498 (Please leave a message if get voicemail.)
Address: 433, 131 - 9th Ave., S.W., Calgary, AB T2P 1K1 (Map)
E mail (may be over-looked due to massive junk mail)