Acupunture
Hi Lyn, Sorry, I don't know much about herbs. But I would be curious to know if the acupunture has been helping your migraines. I've been thinking about trying acupuncture, but I'm also kind of afraid of it. I'm also worried that, as with other alternative remedies I have tried, it won't work and I'll end up wasting a lot of money. But if anyone here has been helped by acupuncture or any other alternative treatment, I'd love to hear about it. I've already tried massage therapy and meditation; all that those do is take my mind off the migraine for as long as the session lasts. They had no effect on the frequency, severity, or duration of my migraines. I hope that the acupunture and Chinese herbs are helpful to you. Take Care, Laura
hi~ no I haven't been to the acupunturist. My friend is going for shoulder pain (dr told her to live with but she can't) & she asked about acupuncture for my migraines. The acupunturist gave her these Chinese Herbs & a note to me that if the herb pills didn't help to come see her... ~Lyn~
Beverly, When I first started going about a year and a half ago, I was going to a friend of the family. He was rather abrupt and not very nice. His needles felt like a mosquito bit going in and they remained painful while they were in. But I got fed up with his line of thinking and found another acupuncturist. Now, I see a woman in town, and she is wonderful. They still feel like mosquito bits going in, but then the I feel nothing in that area. The ones she puts in my ears hurt a lot more going in, but the pain is gone almost as soon as it came. She puts them in based on the symptoms I tell her. Sometimes in my ankles or wrists, sometimes on the side or near the palm. All sorts of angles on my ears and head, and so forth. However, after all of the needles are in, she leave me alone in a dark room lit only with scented candles and gentle music. After a while, I feel wonderful (not even 20 minutes) and all of my pains are gone for several days, sometimes even weeks or months (of course I still have that one migraine per week, but that's my normal). At first, I was worried about the scent of the candles, because scent bothers my IBS and migraines, but after the needles are in, I am at peace and very comfortable, and the smells become good. I think it's in large part the placement of the needles and how she carefully puts each one in. The other guy would slam them in, say something rude about me, and leave me in a dark room to brood. I never relaxed, and it was days before I would begin to feel any relief. Maybe that is how acupuncture is supposed to be - takes several treatments to take effect. But when he would say mean things, I was never able to relax like I am with this new lady (well, I've been seeing her for about a year, even though I call her new to me). I still don't understand how it all works, and I'm not really a believer in Eastern medicine, but something about this helps me a great deal. Some people don't find it helpful at all. I find that the more I go, the less often I need to go. Now I only go every couple of months. At first, I went almost weekly or bi-weekly. I think it's worth a try. Also, keep in mind that I was desperate. I had tried many doctors, tests, medications, and so on. I couldn't stand being doped up all the time and not being able to function most of the time. I felt like I was in an abyss and going to crash. I was willing to do anything, so I did. Fortunately, it worked for me, so I recommend giving it and other alternative treatments a try. It doesn't work for everyone, but I also think we need to seek out and try acupuncturists just like we do doctors. Since insurance doesn't cover my acupuncture, I had no limits to who I could see. Yes, it was expensive, but again, I was desperate. Like I said, that first guy was mean and said mean things, I also think his needle technique was haphazard. He also believed the color red makes people sick and that eating chicken will kill us. The new lady doesn't say such foolish things, and she gives good advice that is really common sense, now that I can think again, I can see that. Thank You, Kim "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got." - Art Buchwald
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Only 20 mg Lexapro, vitamins, Depo Provera, and extra calcium w/vitamin D. The Lexapro is for depression and the Depo Provera is for seriously bad periods. Even before the Depo, I had at least one migraine per week, so I don't feel that Depo has been bad. My acupuncturist does recommend drinking various teas based on how I'm feeling, but that's all that she would like me to take. I'm just glad to be off all of the other migraine meds, except the occasional Maxalt or migraine relief meds. The one thing I don't like to do with acupuncture is get treatment for a specific migraine. It takes days to feel better. With the prescription meds, I'm feeling human within hours. Thank You, Kim "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got." - Art Buchwald
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Hi Kim, Sorry to jump in - I hope you don't mind. But, I noticed that you were on Depo Provera. Do you have any hair loss side effects with it? I noticed you did with the Nortriptiline, or however you spell that one.? I take Topamax and it is bad for hair loss as well. I was just curious. I took Depo years ago for endometriosis and I had bad hair loss and horrible mood swings. It was pretty wicked :-). Thanks, Julie
I am very fortunate with the Depo Provera, it has not increased my migraines for starters. I have had no hair loss, and my brother says my mood swings have been controlled by taking the Depo. Maybe you have to be neurotic before taking it, and then you'll be okay. :) However, I think that not having dreadfully painful periods has allowed me not to have the severe mood swings. With the Midrin, I'm really not sure if it was from scratching my head or a side-effect of the medication that I lost hair. I looked like an angry monkey with lice, so I don't take it anymore. Okay, it was more the angry stomach that I got from it that made me quite taking it, but I did look strange scratching my head for a day whenever I took it. Thank You, Kim "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got." - Art Buchwald
She hasn't written them down, and I don't remember what's not in writing, but something about Oolong for aches and pains, green tea for belly aches, and things like that. If I ever remember to ask for the details, I will. As you can tell, I don't follow it too well. But that's because all tea naturally has caffeine, so I drink the herbal stuff that she doesn't like that doesn't actually have tea leaves in it. I do like the real tea when I have a migraine. Thank You, Kim Bourner Technical Writer Manatron "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got." - Art Buchwald
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Hi all and lots of love to all who are suffering. I am in a cycle of pain now for over 30 days and was even in the hospital and the migraine still hasn't totally broke. I was wondering if anyone has tried acupuncture. I am having it done now and it is quite expensive. The practitioner is 4th generation Chinese acupuncturist trained in China. He swears that he can "cure migraines" but I have to come twice a week at least for a month and once a week after that. I have been going now for two week and have had no relief whatsoever.. Does any one have any experience with acupuncture that you would share? Thanks. Sheri