Acupuncture For Headaches, Migraines, & head Pain | Big Easy Acupuncture, Metairie LA
Acupuncture Care for Head Pain, Pressure, and Tension in Metairie, LA
Does acupuncture help headache and migraine sufferers?
Yes. Acupuncture has been widely studied and is commonly used in clinical settings for headache and migraine care. Acupuncture helps to decrease the number of times during the year and also the intensity of headaches and migraines.
Headaches and migraines can slow your day down or stop it completely.
Some people feel a dull, tight ache.
Others feel sharp pain, pressure behind the eyes, or pounding on one side of the head.
For some, light, sound, or smells make things worse.
At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, we help people understand why their headaches happen and support the body so they happen less often and feel less intense.
Headaches and Migraines: What’s the Difference?
Headaches and migraines are related, but not the same.
Common headaches often feel like:
- Tightness around the forehead or temples
- Pressure across the head
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Pain that builds slowly through the day
Migraines often include:
- Strong pain on one side of the head
- Throbbing or pulsing pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Vision changes or aura
Many people have both, and can have some overlap.
Common Reasons for Headaches and Migraines
Head pain rarely comes from just one cause.
We often see headaches and migraines linked to:
- Tight neck, jaw, or shoulder muscles
- Poor posture or long hours at a desk
- Stress and nervous system overload
- Poor sleep or irregular sleep times
- Dehydration
- Skipped meals or blood sugar swings
- Hormone changes
- Sinus pressure or congestion
For migraines, triggers may also include:
- Certain foods or additives
- Strong smells
- Bright screens or lights
- Sudden schedule changes
Our job is to help identify your pattern.
How Acupuncture Helps Headaches and Migraines
Acupuncture works by supporting the nervous system, circulation, and muscle tension balance.
Acupuncture helps headaches and migraines by:
- Reducing muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders
- Improving blood flow throughout the body, including the head and face
- Improving nerve signaling
- Helping calm an overactive and stressed nervous system
- Supporting natural pain-relief chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins
- Reducing pressure and tightness
These changes can lead to:
- Shortening how long headaches last
- Reducing how often migraines show up
Some people feel relief after the first visit. Others notice gradual improvement over a series of visits.
What to Expect During Treatment
At your visit, we will:
- Review your health history and symptoms
- Talk about mood, stress, and energy patterns
- Check areas of physical tension
- Perform mobility and strength assessment
- Create a care plan that fits your needs
- Begin treatment
Treatment may include:
- Acupuncture
- Gentle bodywork
- Cupping or gua sha when helpful
- Herbal Medicine
- Lifestyle change recommendations
Whole-Body Care, Not Just the Head
Head pain often starts outside the head.
During care, we may also work on:
- Neck and upper back tension
- Jaw and facial muscles
- Shoulders and posture
- Abdominal tension that affects breathing
- Stress patterns that keep the body “on edge”
Herbal Medicine for Headaches and Migraines
Herbal medicine can be used alone or alongside acupuncture.
Custom herbal formulas help:
- Reduce head pressure and body tension
- Improve blood circulation
- Calm nervous system irritation
- Support sleep and recovery
- Address sinus or digestive triggers
Formulas are chosen based on your symptoms, not a one-size-fits-all plan.
How Many Treatments Are Usually Needed?
The number of treatments depends on a few factors:
Your Symptom Stage (Relief → Correction / Root Cause → Maintenance)
- Relief: calming pain, tension, or nerve irritation
- Correction / Root cause: correcting movement, strength, or structural issues
- Maintenance: preventing flare-ups and supporting long-term function
Acute conditions:
If you’re dealing with recent injuries or sudden issues within the last few months, you may notice significant improvement after just a few sessions. Typically acute conditions require only 1–5 treatments compared to long-term issues.
Chronic conditions:
Chronic issues or long-term systemic conditions usually require more sessions. A typical plan involves 2 visits per week for the first 2–3 weeks, with treatments spreading out as you progress. Chronic issues often need more total sessions and may benefit from follow-up or maintenance care.
Long Standing Issues:
May require initial evaluation sessions + longer course of care. % improvement is assessed for long standing issues to determine progression between sets of visits.
Maintenance:
Many patients choose occasional visits to keep pain from returning and to support active lifestyles.
We’ll regularly reassess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as you improve.
With Headaches, This depends on:
- How long you’ve had headaches or migraines
- How often they occur
- How strong they are
- How your body responds early on
Many people start with a short evaluation plan to see how their body responds before deciding on longer care. Pre-existing health conditions can also affect how quickly your body responds to care.
Acupuncture as Standalone Care or Combined Support
Acupuncture can be an effective standalone treatment for headaches and migraines.
Many of our patients are professionals, athletes, or active adults who want relief without relying only on medication.
Some patients choose acupuncture because:
- Medications have not helped enough
- Side effects are difficult to tolerate
- They want a non-drug option
- Headaches are closely linked to muscle tension, stress, or nervous system overload
For others, acupuncture works best as part of a broader care plan.
It is often used alongside:
- Primary care or neurology care
- Physical therapy or corrective exercise
- Massage or manual therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Counseling or therapy for stress, anxiety, or trauma-related tension
Counseling and therapy can help people process emotional stress and build coping tools. Acupuncture also supports stress reduction by helping calm the nervous system and release tension patterns that can trigger or worsen head pain.
Our goal is to support your whole system, whether acupuncture is your main form of care or one part of a larger plan.
Lifestyle Support
Alongside treatment, we may recommend:
- Tracking triggers and sensitivity as we move through treatment
- Improving sleep timing
- Take home or gym recommended exercises
- Staying hydrated
- Consistency in meals
- Reducing jaw or neck strain with exercises
- Adjusting desk or screen setup
- Managing stress more effectively
These changes help support longer-lasting results.
🚩When to Seek Hospital Care First (Red Flags)🚩
Seek urgent medical care if you have:
- A sudden, severe headache unlike any before
- Head pain after a head injury
- Headaches with fever, confusion, weakness, or vision loss
Acupuncture supports many headache patterns, but safety always comes first.
Is Acupuncture Right for You?
Acupuncture may be a good fit if:
- You want fewer headaches or migraines
- Medications are not helping enough
- You want care that looks at the whole body
- Stress or tension plays a role in your symptoms
Schedule a Visit
If this is your first time trying acupuncture, these pages may help you feel more prepared:
If headaches or migraines are affecting your work, sleep, or quality of life, care can help.
📞 Call or text 504-650-0027
💻 Schedule online anytime: bigeasyacu.janeapp.com
