Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Alik Minikhanov, AP, DOM
It’s a gorgeous day; the sun shines brightly, and a gentle breeze blows through the trees. Some people dread these days – can you imagine?
But bright lights can trigger migraines, and the sun flashing off car mirrors and windows can ruin the rest of your day. Unfortunately, light isn’t the only trigger. Any of the following can trigger a migraine.
• Hormonal changes
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Sleep changes
• Weather changes
• Diet
• Dehydration
• Smell
• Medication Overuse
So, how can you help against the auras, pain, and exhaustion that come with a migraine?
You could limit your triggers.
Anyone who’s had migraines is aware of the triggers listed above and, in fact, may find more than one item listed can trigger your migraines.
Diet is one thing that also triggers some patients’ migraines, specifically caffeine. But caffeine feels like a necessity if you’re like most working adults!
Then there are triggers that are harder to control, like light. You can’t hide in your basement if you have to go to work, and asking your co-workers to work with some of the lights off doesn’t win you any friends.
Limiting triggers is a great first step; naturally, in our society, medication will come as the next best solution when migraines occur.
However, migraine medication works for some – not all.
Some migraine medications work really well at stopping the migraine before it gets too far. It may stop auras completely and even keep the pain from ever happening!
However, these medications come with their own risks and adverse effects, including, but not limited to:
• Weight gain
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
If you have regular migraines, your medication to prevent them may also contribute to them! It’s a trigger called Medication Overuse Headache.
Medication isn’t the last solution to migraines in fact, it may be one you’re looking to avoid or combine with other options like acupuncture, a treatment Dr. Alik is all too familiar with.
Dr. Alik’s Acu-Healing can help with migraines.
A study conducted in 2012 showed that “…
acupuncture is at least as effective as prophylactic drug treatment and has fewer adverse effects. Therefore, acupuncture should be considered an option for patients willing to undergo this treatment.”
Acu-Healing combines treatments like acupuncture, meridian massage, and energy healing. It relieves migraine triggers like stress, changes in sleep, and hormonal changes, starting with the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Acu-Healing has a cumulative effect, meaning that the benefits of each session build on the previous ones. A study titled Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine conducted in 2016 stated, “…the effect of true acupuncture was still present after six months.”
Dr. Alik has worked with dozens of patients with varying levels of migraines who use a combination of treatments to manage their triggers.
Managing migraines involves understanding and addressing triggers that can provoke these debilitating headaches. While triggers such as hormonal changes, caffeine, stress, and environmental factors may be difficult to control, limiting exposure to them can be a crucial step in prevention.
Medication is often employed for migraine relief, but it may not work for everyone and can come with its own side effects. As an alternative, treatments like Acu-Healing, which combines acupuncture, meridian massage, and energy healing, offer a promising approach. Research suggests that acupuncture can be as effective as prophylactic drugs with fewer adverse effects.
Dr. Alik’s Acu-Healing focuses on targeting the root causes of migraines and has shown cumulative and long-lasting benefits. By working with patients to manage their triggers, Dr. Alik aims to provide effective relief for individuals suffering from migraines.
If you struggle with migraines, considering alternative treatments like Acu-Healing may offer a new path toward better management and improved quality of life.
How do you book an appointment with Dr. Alik?
Visit our website at iamdesignedtoheal.com or call 239.322.3817 to schedule your free initial consultation with Dr. Alik.
We cannot wait to help you simply feel better!
I AM DESIGNED TO HEAL
239.322.3817
WWW.IAMDESIGNEDTOHEAL.COM
826 Anchor Rode Dr., Naples, FL 34103
References:
1 Molsberger A. The role of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine. CMAJ. 2012 Mar 6;184(4):391-2. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.112032. Epub 2012 Jan 9. PMID: 22231676; PMCID: PMC3291665.
2 Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Fei Y, Mehring M, Vertosick EA, Vickers A, White AR. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jun 28;2016(6):CD001218. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3. PMID: 27351677; PMCID: PMC4977344.
