Science Forums 2

[sundog]

Hi Tormod,

Yes, I've tried it. It worked for both my mother and myself.

Throughout my childhood I suffered migraines. They would come in clusters, sometimes as frequent as once or twice a week, which meant I was missing a lot of school. The various medication I was given to try was completely ineffective, the only cure was 12-24 hours in a darkened room. My mother not only suffered migraine, but also Asthma. When I was 14 years old my mothers GP referred her to a friend of his who practised acupuncture. She went to see this guy, but didn't really like his bedside manner, and after a few visits she didn't feel any better so stopped going. Later she found out about another acupuncturist and started receiving treatment from him. A couple of sessions later she was feeling a little better, so she then asked me if I would like to try it for my migraines. At the time I was doubtful because nothing had worked so far, but I was willing to try almost anything to get rid of this disability.

I don't know about the methods used by your acupuncturist Tormod, but with mine, once the needles were in place, each one was wired to a electrical panel. The acupuncturist would slowly turn some knobs on the panel which sent small pulses of electricity to each of the needles. Though not painful, it would actually make my muscles twitch when turned too high. When the output of the electric panel was set at comfortable levels the Doctor would leave for 10-15 minutes, then return to increase the output a little more and leave for another 15 minutes.

I had 10 weekly sessions of acupuncture and from the first one to this day I have never had a migraine since. Well, there was one case a couple of years ago, but that was self inflicted, I spent too much time around LOUD music at a party, something I normally avoid because of my "tinnitus" (a constant ringing in the ears). But other than that, I have been free of migraines. I do still get headaches, but doesn't everybody.

As for my mother, she only received part treatment because she wouldn't allow the Doctor to put the needles in certain places, like in the temples or below the eyebrows. But even though the Doctor was restricted in what he could do for her, she has still benefited from it. She no longer gets migraines the way she used to, certainly not the nausea that comes with migraine, and her Asthma is all but gone.

If anyone tries acupuncture and find it gives no relief, try a different acupuncturist as their methods seem to vary. The first one my mother went to put needles in different places to the second guy.


sundog