Migraines

Hello Tara,

It would be helpful if you could detail the points and the herbs you are using so other practitioners can give more precise recommendations.

Cheers,

Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.
Yin Yang House Acupuncture and Wellness Center

Hi,

Here is the more detailed info (thanks for replying Chad!)

Trying to concieve for the past 2 years. One miscarriage at 8 weeks term. No appetite, cold hands and feet, slight stress due to lack of conception, wakes up feeling tired, but has no trouble getting to sleep, a bit of a light sleeper, period is regular, cramps in the first few days. Work is not stressful and is regular- no shift work. Pulse is thready/sl. wiry, thin, tongue is normal to slightly pale but not too bad, normal thin white tongue fur. She's about 5'7/8 or so, thin body.

Last treatment consisted of:

LU 7 w/ KD 6
KD 16
LV 8
GB 34
ST 36
SP 4

Other points often used LI 4 and LV 3(if prior to ovulation),
SP 6, KD 3, REN 4, REN 6, Zigong, Taiyang, Yintang, GB 13,
DU 24, BL 15, BL 17, BL 20, BL 21, BL 23.

At the moment I have her taking Gui Pi Tang by Golden Flower Chinese Herbs. She doesn't have trouble sleeping but wakes up feeling very tired. Since taking it, and with regular treatments, her appetite has improved and her hands and feet are less cold. At this point the energy levels are still sluggish and she gets bloated after eating dinner (her largest meal)

I've diagnosed her with LV Xue Xu, SP Qi Xu, slight Xue Xu

Migraine history...she's had them a few years. They are typically one sided, above one eye/forehead. THe spread a little to side of head but tend to come back to the original location. Thumping quality. These drain her energy completely and she is nauseous. She finds that she can't do anything when she gets them, no control over them at all.

I'm hoping that with the reg. treatments and the herbs, we will see a decrease in them. I haven't been treating her migraines much yet as her primary reason for seeing me is fertility. In a couple of weeks, I may change her formula to an Essence tonifying one that focuses more on her KD's.

She has a good diet already but I've also advised her on Xue nourishing foods and SP strengthening foods as well.

Everything I've read concerning migraine/headaches tells me I've advised her as much as I can...but maybe someone out there has had great success with this type of pattern in regards to the migraines. I've also read differing opinions about whether to treat the migraine *during* it, as this can either help or possibly worsen it.

Any opinions are appreciated, if you need more info, please let me know!

Thanks everyone,

T

Hi Tara,
Several of my patients have reported that magnesium supplements have greatly improved their migraines. Maybe you can google some additional research on this.

Best,

Jacqueline Flisher, M.Ac. L.Ac. Dipl.Ac.
www.relaxupuncture.com
jflisher@relaxupuncture.com
255 S. 17th St. Suite 1502
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-990-5191

Thanks Jacqueline,

I appreciate the suggestion and will pass it on to my patient. I took a look at your website- it looks great and I really do get a sense of ease and kindness just from the site.

Thanks again,

Tara

Hello Tara,

I, too, would expect that the migraines would respond to the treatment you are already performing. Migraines, however, can be somewhat complicated as they can have multiple causes - allergies, circulatory issues, etc. As usual, pattern differentiation is the key here. From my perspective the points you are currently using are good. I would consider adding massage and/or acupuncture to the following areas on the side where she typically feels the migraines.

I would massage in the area of cervical vertebrae 1 and 2 (C1, C2) through to TH 16 which you could also needle - essentially the "sky window" area (also including points such as SI 16, SI 17, and LI 18 if they illicit pressure pain). The goal here is to regulate the circulation to and from the head. Migraines are not entirely understood but a regulation of the vascular systems running through the neck to the brain are what I concentrate on in most cases. This along with Tai Yang, which you are already using, is often very helpful.

Cheers,

Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.
Yin Yang House Acupuncture and Wellness Center

Chad,

Thanks for those suggestions as well. I'll incorporate those into regular treatments for her and see if that helps.

Cheers!

Tara

Dr. David Rogers
Doctor of Medicine - Holistic Medicine Specialist
Centro de Saúde da Alma (Center of Health for the Soul)
Pirenópolis, Brasil

Chad - I've had some significant success with GB20 and GB3 using mild electrical stimulation with "hand type" needles. I normally use this combination with all "headache" problems and have experienced an 80 - 85% success rate.

Em paz, (in peace,)
Dave

Hi Tara,
I'm not sure whether you still need the info. you were looking for, but I would try to loosen up your client's posterior neck with Lu7,
Would check if she shows deficiency in one or more of her pulses, and might find a lack of energy in SJ/PC pair, and so would tonify them with SJ3 & PC9, bilaterally; you could check as well working on her GB meridian at GB43, using it to tonify.
Migraine is usually appearing because of either a muscular tension that creates circulatory blockage, or very poor circulatory system by itself especially in the posterior neck arteries that go up to the head, and loosening muscles, you would improve irrigation to the head and prevent the head arteries from delating.
All the best

Beny Lotringer
Reiki Master-Teacher
Acupuncturist, Pranic Healer
San Jose, Costa Rica
(506) 817-2121
benylot@gmail.com

May I also suggest Chi kung exercises? My girlfriend suffered from severe migranes and neck stiffness that occured once or twice a week. The pains were often unbearable, she took medications for them and pretty much had to just lay down, couldn't function with them at all. After we met I introduced her to Chi kung exercises and we did these two three times a week, then slowly increased the frequency. In about 3 months the migraines barely occurred for her once a while. After about 6 months both the migranes and the neck pains were pretty much all gone. She is doing Chi kung with me for over a year now and she is completely free of these symptoms, also generally a lot more relaxed, her stress level has dropped down dramatically. She credits all these to chi kung.

Chi kung also has other great benefits for health, you might want to recommend your patient to also look into this natural healing method.

Best wishes:
Blade~