Migraine and Acupuncture By Steve Ryu, R.TCMP, R.Ac.
T
he migraine headache is a neurological disorder, which can manifest as severe headaches, often on one side, and often with a pulsating quality. They may or may not be preceded by a visual aura which can look like a sparkling jagged obstruction to the vision or a blind spot. There may be nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, a tingling sensation in a limb, and other symptoms. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, headache differentiation is based on patterns of pathogenic factors and the location of headache. Chinese Medicine will analyze your body’s unique individual disharmonies and develop a prescription designed precisely to correct your specific imbalances for long-term success. Basically acupuncture approaches migraines by reducing vasodilatation, which is where the blood vessels from the brain widen due to the relaxation of the smooth muscles within the vessels wall; since there is now more room for blood your blood pressure drops. The reduction of the vasodilatation gives the brain more blood, which is what the brain needs. The Chinese believe rather than feeding the brain drugs to help with the pain due to the lack of blood, why not give the brain the blood it needs? Not only does it save you from putting chemicals into your body, but it helps solve the problem and gives the migraine patient the relief from the body’s own constriction of blood vessels. Chinese Medicine not only helps you relieve the symptoms associated with tension headache, migraine, cluster headache and sinus headache but also the causes or factors of the headaches. One of the main factors that cause migraine and headaches is stress. Since it is almost impossible to avoid stress in today’s world, treatment must be focused on helping you recover quickly form stress in order to avoid harmful migraine or headaches. Patients not only eliminate their migraine or headaches, but also find that other related symptoms such as stiff necks, anger, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, restlessness, fatigue and allergies are improved or disappear. Not only is acupuncture very effective in treating headaches and pain in general, but it reduces the recurrences of migraines and helps bring about the health and wellbeing of the body. Acupuncture is not simply about pain reduction, it is about health and prevention. In the treatment of migraines there is also the exploration of what triggers cause an individual to have a migraine. Avoiding these triggers, and improving the diet and lifestyle in general are some of the additional ways in which migraines can be avoided.
New Life Acupuncture &SteveOriental Medicine Center (Eun Kyu) Ryu
, R.TCMP, R.AC Pre-Med at McGill University (B.Sc.), Master Program of Acupuncture at Mercy College, NY (MPA)
Specialized in...
• Infertility • IVF Support • Menopausal Syndrome • Women's Health • Allergies • Pain Relief
2211 Riverside Dr., Suite 106 For appointments call
613-863-6906
www.freewebs.com/newlifeacu www.acupunctureottawa.com
Receipts for insurance coverage • Disposable needles • Gift certificates available Affiliated with Riverside Acupuncture and Wellness Centre and Ottawa Fertility Centre for Infertility Treatment
• Keeping regular sleeping patterns. • Avoiding physical or mental fatigue; alcohol (especially red wine); caffeine because it is a vasodilator. • Eliminating all foods that may trigger migraine from your diet, such as: dairy products, chocolate, spices, wheat and corn Steve Eun Kyu Ryu, R.TCMP, R.Ac is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner at New Life Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Center in Ottawa. He is affiliated with Ottawa Fertility Centre and Riverside Acupuncture & Wellness Centre for infertility treatment. For further information or to make an appointment call 613-863-6906 or visit website www.freewebs.com/newlifeacu or www.acupunctureottawa.com
Burnham Systems
Facial Rejuvenation
b realignment and toning of facial muscles into a stress-free, youthful pattern. b facial tension released and lines reduced b release of physical and emotional blockages that contract facial muscles and the body's organs and energy systems. b stimulation of nerve function throughout the whole body. b nourishment of the skin on the cellular level. b deep renewal of the entire body and spirit.
June 2014
(613) 422–5701
Gayle Mickelson
Certified Practitioner
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