Acupuncture for migraine in Gothenburg
Acupuncture is widely used to prevent migraine and tension headaches, and research suggests it can reduce how often attacks occur. At Dr. Tian Akupunktur in Eriksberg, Gothenburg, the points are chosen according to where your pain is and what triggers it. Acupuncture complements the care you already receive, and you carry on taking your usual medication.
The TCM view
How TCM understands migraine and headache
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classifies headaches by where the pain sits, what it feels like and what sets it off. A throbbing pain at the temple, pressure behind the eyes and an ache that climbs up from the neck count as different patterns, and each is treated differently.
Common patterns include stagnant Qi and blood in the channels of the head, stress driving Liver energy upwards, and cold and tension lodged in the neck and shoulders. Your pattern decides which points Dr. Tian uses.
The treatment
How treatment works
Your first visit starts with a health consultation. You talk through how your headaches behave, what tends to trigger them and how you sleep, eat and feel in general. Dr. Tian also examines your pulse and tongue to make a TCM diagnosis.
You then get a treatment plan. For migraine, acupuncture is often combined with ear acupuncture. If the pain starts in your neck and shoulders, cupping or gua sha can help release the tension there.
Experience and research
Dr. Tian’s experience and what the research says
Headache and migraine are among the conditions Dr. Tian has worked with most, first at university hospitals in China from 1985 to 2000 and since then at her clinic in Gothenburg. She is a fourth-generation TCM practitioner and earned her PhD at the Sahlgrenska Academy in 2008.
Acupuncture for migraine has been studied extensively. Research suggests it can reduce the number of migraine days for some patients, although results vary from person to person. Acupuncture works alongside the care you receive from your health centre or neurologist.
Expectations
What to expect
A typical plan is one or two sessions a week to begin with, then less often. In Dr. Tian’s experience, many people notice a change after four to six sessions, but nobody can say in advance how you will respond.
Many patients find their attacks become less frequent, shorter or milder. You review progress together after a few weeks and adjust the plan if nothing has changed.
Treatments often used
Every new patient starts with a health consultation or a first visit that includes acupuncture. Dr. Tian then suggests the treatments that suit you.
Health consultation
30 minPulse and tongue diagnosis, and a treatment plan made for you.
SEK 550
BookHealth consultationAcupuncture, first visit
60 minA 30-minute health consultation followed by 30 minutes of acupuncture.
SEK 1,400
BookAcupuncture, first visitAcupuncture, follow-up
50 minSterile single-use needles placed at points chosen for your TCM diagnosis.
SEK 1,050
BookAcupuncture, follow-upEar acupuncture
45 minTiny needles or seeds on points in the outer ear.
SEK 800
BookEar acupuncture
On Saturdays a supplement of SEK 180 applies to all treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture help with migraine with aura?
Acupuncture is used for migraine both with and without aura. Tell Dr. Tian about your aura symptoms at the consultation and she will adapt the treatment to them. If you develop new or different symptoms, such as numbness or loss of vision that does not pass, always seek medical advice first.
Can I keep taking my migraine medication?
Yes. Acupuncture is a complement, and you should never stop prescribed medication on your own. Bring a list of your medicines to your first visit. Any change to your medication should be agreed with the person who prescribed it.
Can I have treatment during an attack?
You can, and some people feel relief straight away. Many are sensitive to light and sound during an attack, though, and prefer to come in between attacks. That is also when the preventive work is done.
Conditions that often go together
- Neck and shoulder painA stiff neck, aching between the shoulder blades, frozen shoulder and whiplash, treated as a whole.
- Stress and exhaustionFor long periods of stress, shallow sleep, an unsettled stomach or exhaustion.
- Sleep problemsTrouble falling asleep, waking in the night or waking too early: three different patterns in TCM.
Come in for a personal health consultation
Book 30 minutes with Dr. Tian. She listens to your concerns and examines your pulse and tongue. Together you agree on a plan: your first step towards better health.