MIGRAINE ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND recommends Acupuncture for migraines! – AcuRodos

I am pleased to announce that The Migraine Association of Ireland have now launched their updated website which now includes a really positive section on acupuncture.

Migraine is recognized as a major cause of disability, ranking as the second most disabling non-fatal medical condition worldwide and the fifth leading cause of disability in Ireland.

Migraines affect an estimated 12% to 16% of the general population in Ireland. This equates to between 500,000 and 750,000 individuals in the Republic of Ireland who suffer from the condition.

Migraines are approximately three times more common in women than in men, largely due to hormonal influences, primarily due to the significant influence of sex hormones, particularly estrogen.

The condition also has a substantial economic burden, costing Irish businesses an estimated €252 million annually due due to lost productivity.

It’s important to note that many people with migraines are not officially diagnosed or are not receiving appropriate treatment, which can lead to a significant impact on their personal, social, and professional lives.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries in China to treat Headaches/Migraine with impressive results. More recently modern research has been building to prove it’s safety & efficacy, and in 2016 two Cochrane Reviews (high level research) were published showing that it can be a useful therapy for Tension Headaches and in reducing the frequency of Migraines.

Acupuncture is believed to regulate the release of chemicals that play a key role in the pain pathway of a migraine:

1. Modulating Pain-Related Neurotransmitters

Endorphins and Enkephalins: The stimulation of specific acupuncture points causes the body to release its own natural opioids (endorphins, enkephalins, and endomorphins). These chemicals act on the same receptors as opioid pain drugs to provide a natural, powerful analgesic (pain-killing) effect.
Serotonin (5-HT): Migraines are linked to fluctuations in serotonin levels. Acupuncture may help stabilise the serotonin system, which is a target for common acute migraine medications (triptans).
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP): CGRP is a neuropeptide that plays a central role in migraine pain (it causes blood vessel dilation and inflammation). Studies suggest acupuncture can help inhibit the release and lower the levels of CGRP.

2. Regulating the Trigeminal System and Neuroinflammation

The main theory for migraine pain involves the trigeminovascular system and subsequent neuroinflammation (inflammation in the brain’s pain pathways):

Anti-Inflammatory Effect: Acupuncture appears to reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines and other pro-inflammatory substances, thereby mitigating the neurogenic inflammation that drives chronic headache pain.
Inhibiting Central Sensitization: Over time, frequent migraines can lead to central sensitization, where the brain becomes overly sensitive to pain signals. Acupuncture is thought to help regulate the descending pain modulatory system, essentially “turning down the volume” on the brain’s pain response.

3. Modulating Brain Activity

Neuroimaging studies (fMRI) have shown that acupuncture alters activity in specific brain regions related to pain, emotion, and sensation:

Pain Networks: Acupuncture can modulate the activity of brain regions involved in pain processing, such as the thalamus, limbic system (emotion), and the cortical areas (sensory processing).
Default Mode Network (DMN): The DMN, a network active when the brain is at rest, is often functionally abnormal in people with chronic pain conditions like migraines. Acupuncture has been shown to help normalize the connectivity and activity within this network.

From the perspective of Chinese Medicine, migraines are often seen as a disharmony in the flow of Qi (vital energy) and Blood, frequently involving the Liver and Gallbladder meridians.

Besides of the Migraine Association of Ireland, is also supported by organisations such as: