Migraine is a periodic, hemicranial (half-headache), throbbing headache that is inherited at a rate of 80%, can start at any age, can recur at short and long intervals. Nausea, vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and sensitivity to sound are common.
- Voltage type (tension); Headaches tend to be widespread, persistent, neck or forehead, and “bandy”.
- Headaches due to increased intracranial pressure or tumor are usually not as painful as migraine. It is not usually relieved by sleeping. It starts suddenly in an elderly person who has never had a headache before, or it always continues on the same side.
- Some migraines do not have a warning circuit that indicates pain, some have it (light sensitive eye symptoms, nausea, vomiting)
Migraine Occurrence (PHYSIOPATOLOGY)
- First of all, serotonin in the blood will increase. Its metabolites are excreted by the kidneys.
- The level of serotonin in the blood decreases. There is enlargement of the superficial temporal artery in the head, especially in the temple.
- Pain receptors in these vessels become sensitive.
- Severe pain occurs with the stretching of the pain receptors on the vessel walls.
- These intracranial changes can cause irritation of the cerebral cortex, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
- During the recovery period, the plasma serotonin level returns to normal and the vessel diameters begin to return to normal.
With the application of acupuncture;
It causes an increase in plasma serotonin level, which decreases in migraine attack. This level is balanced.
Since the serotonin level is in balance, dilatation does not occur in the temporal artery. The concentration of pain stimuli released in the blood decreases with the application of acupuncture.
The chain of events that cause migraine is broken when the plasma concentrations of biochemical substances are at normal values. (Homeostatic – balancing effect of acupuncture)
In order to relieve migraine, modern medicine has to accept the side effects of drugs. In addition, the disease does not completely heal by using drugs as a treatment, only a decrease in the frequency of seizures can be achieved.
Acupuncture in the treatment of migraine
In the use of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine, the chance of getting rid of migraine completely is over 80%. As those who apply this treatment, this success rate is known to all of us.
Numerous phenomena of acupuncture, which are being tried to be clarified by scientific studies, have not yet been clarified. But this does not justify ignoring the existence of acupuncture and its feasibility in treatment.
