Acupuncture for Migraines & Headaches

Migraines and chronic headaches can disrupt your work, social life, and overall wellbeing. The throbbing pain, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and many other symptoms can make the simple tasks a real challenge. 


Whilst medications can often offer temporary relief, they often mask the symptoms rather than treat the underlying cause. Acupuncture can help to treat the root imbalance of your body, meaning that the focus is often on ensuring that the symptoms don't come back rather than just managing them slightly better. 


Most patients report a reduced frequency, intensity, and duration of headaches and a general improvement in their health overall.

Acupuncture for Migraines & Headaches

Migraines and chronic headaches can disrupt your work, social life, and overall wellbeing. The throbbing pain, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and many other symptoms can make the simple tasks a real challenge. 


Whilst medications can often offer temporary relief, they often mask the symptoms rather than treat the underlying cause. Acupuncture can help to treat the root imbalance of your body, meaning that the focus is often on ensuring that the symptoms don't come back rather than just managing them slightly better. 

Most patients report a reduced frequency, intensity, and duration of headaches and a general improvement in their health overall.

Understanding Migraines and Chronic Headaches

Chronic headaches, which include tension headaches and cluster headaches ,can be equally debilitating, often triggered by stress, poor posture, hormonal changes, or digestive imbalance.


Migraines are more than just headaches. They are a neurological condition that can cause severe pain, visual disturbances, nausea, and sensory sensitivity. 

Acupuncture, as with any condition, treats headaches holistically rather than just as a single symptom. By understanding you as a whole, we can begin to see things as a whole-body issue. We often address stress, nervous system function, and more by affecting your energy flow. Acupuncture helps headaches and migraines by encouraging your body to heal naturally.

Common Migraine & Headache Symptoms

As well as the symptoms, with acupuncture, it's always important to know the location and nature of your pain. The symptoms can include:

  • Throbbing or pulsating head pain
  • Sometimes it feels like the head is heavy with a crown like sensation
  • Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
  • Visual disturbances or aura
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Tension or pressure in the head, neck, or temples
  • Fatigue and difficulty concentrating

If these symptoms sound familiar, acupuncture could be a safe and effective route to lasting relief.

Josh is just an incredible practitioner and an absolutely lovely person! I've gone to several different acupuncturists in the past with mixed success, but Josh has a completely different approach that feels like a therapy session and acupuncture combined. He really listens and looks at all of your symptoms as a whole. Going to Josh, is the first time I had an experience of instant pain relief in acupuncture which felt like nothing short of a miracle. I can't recommend him enough! He's an absolute gem of a person and a very talented acupuncturist.

— Brittany

How Acupuncture Helps with Headaches and Migraines

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), headaches and migraines are seen through the lens of an imbalance or an energetic blockage of Qi (energy or life's breath), which affects our health. These imbalances or blockages can come from stress, hormonal changes, poor digestion, and much more.


My job is to try to find what it is that causes the symptoms for you. We then use acupuncture to:


  • Reducing headache frequency
  • Relieving pain naturally by stimulating the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
  • Improving circulation and reducing inflammation
  • Balancing hormone levels and nervous system activity
  • Calming stress and tension (often a significant cause)


Research, including the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines, recognises acupuncture as an effective treatment for chronic headaches and migraine prevention.

The Science Behind Acupuncture and Head Pain

Many studies seem to prove that  acupuncture has the ability to influence the body’s pain neurological system. Research shows that acupuncture:


  • Modulates brain activity in pain-processing areas
  • Regulates blood flow to the brain
  • Reduces muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
  • Improves neurotransmitter balance


This combination of effects makes acupuncture an effective solution for reducing both headache pain and the likelihood of future attacks.

What to Expect in a Migraine & Headache Acupuncture Treatment

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Step 1: Initial Consultation

Before any treatment is given, we conduct a full consultation to understand your health. This includes looking at your symptoms, triggers, lifestyle factors, and medical history. This allows me to create a tailored treatment plan just for you.

Step 2: Targeted Acupuncture Treatment

Using fine, sterile needles at specific acupuncture points, we target areas linked to headache relief and prevention. Each session is tailored to your unique needs so every treatment is different. It really depends on whether your headaches are triggered by stress, posture, diet, or hormonal changes.

Step 3: Relaxation and Healing

Acupuncture treatments also promote deep relaxation, reducing the tension and stresses that can trigger headaches. Most of my patients find the session to be deeply relaxing and restorative which is a often a big change from their daily routine.

Step 4: Lifestyle and Prevention Advice

I often offer guidance on posture, diet, stress management, and lifestyle changes that might help reduce the headaches from coming back. Typical treatment course: Many people notice improvements within 3–5 sessions. However, sometimes the effects are seen after a more extended period of time, which is often dependent on how long they have been a story for the patient.

Why Choose Our Clinic for Headache & Migraine Relief

  • Experienced and fully BAcC-licensed acupuncturist with deep expertise in treating headaches and migraines
  • Gentle, personalised treatments tailored to your condition
  • A holistic approach where I treat the root cause and not just the symptoms
  • Ongoing support with practical advice to help you prevent headaches and migraines
  • Evidence-based care guided by both traditional principles and modern research

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many sessions will I need?

    Most people notice improvements after 3–5 sessions, but a full course is recommended for sustained results. Your treatment plan will be personalised.

  • Is acupuncture safe for migraines?

    Yes. Acupuncture is a gentle, non-invasive treatment with minimal side effects when performed by a licensed practitioner.

  • Can acupuncture prevent migraines?

    Yes. Many patients find that regular acupuncture helps reduce both the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

  • Does acupuncture hurt?

    Most people report feeling little to no pain. Acupuncture needles are extremely fine, and treatments are often described as relaxing.

Take Control of Your Head Pain Today

Migraines and chronic headaches can take a toll on your life but you don’t have to accept them as inevitable.