ACUPUNCTURE VS BOTOX FOR CHRONIC HEADACHES

ACUPUNCTURE VS BOTOX FOR CHRONIC HEADACHES

Ovee 70% of women and 50% of men have disabling headaches. Often emotional stress is implicated, but many people have headaches at time of stress free weekends. It is difficult to label a headache by its type, as muscle contraction headaches are often confused with other headaches.

Headaches often occur because of stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, eating cheese and wine and other tyramine foods, MSG, nitrites in  hot dogs, chocolates, flickering lights, missed meals, allergens, and vaso-dilating drugs.

Many headache treatments exist and most are ineffective. The drugs  become habitual, have dangers of overdoses, often contain large amounts of caffeine, combines sedatives and nausea suppressors, and over the counter analgesics. The most common medications are  beta blockers, which frequently result in fatigue, impotence,  and exercise intolerance.

 The aim of all the treatments is to reduce the frequency and severity of the headaches and to terminate  a series of headache attacks.  Doctors attempt behavioral alterations and psychotherapy in patients who are perfectionists, ambitious, fearful, or sensitive to the opinions of others.

 Headaches result in excessive contraction of the neck and scalp muscles, and are seen frequently because of occipital atlas-axial syndromes, intervertebral disc problems, inflamed spinal column ligaments, inflammation of the periosteum of vertebral bodies, spasm of the cervical muscles attached to bone, pinched cervical nerve roots, and vertebral arteries being compromised.  

 All of the above are effectively treated by acupuncture, which also can prevent these headaches.   Many of these headaches are  labeled  tension headaches with involuntary contraction of the scalp and cervical muscles. Scalp acupuncture can induce muscle relaxation  and be a  very effective treatment.

Recently Botox has been approved as a treatment for chronic migraine headaches. Generally 36 injections are placed in the scalp, forehead,  temples,  and neck.   This toxin  paralyzes the muscles  that are in spasm.  Repeat treatments are required every three months.  The cost for many is prohibitive.

 Headaches result in 3 million bedridden days each year, $17 billion of lost labor each year, five times more diagnostic tests, three times more drug costs, increase in emergency room visits, three times the increase in psychiatric disorders, and numerous visits to family doctors, internists, emergency room physicians, ophthalmologists, pediatricians, and neurologists.

 It’s about time, that acupuncture gets its day in the sun to relieve and prevent this malady.  It is safe, cost-effective, and above all therapeutically effective.

Visit www.americanacupuncture.com for more discussion of controversial medical subjects.




As a medical physician for over 51 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects, and help your read betwwen the lines. You must come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary. This results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies.  Visit http://www.americanacupuncture.com/ for more detailed information on mind, body, and spirit healing.