A Migraine Story I See Far Too Often

When she first came into my clinic, she was in the process of losing her job.

Her migraines were so frequent and debilitating that she had already used up all of her sick days, and then some. She was calling in sick weekly sometimes, pushing through when she could, and living in a constant state of anxiety, when will the next one hit? The stress alone was enough to trigger more migraines.

Relief began after her very first visit with me. Nothing beats the wide-eyed wonder of a patient getting instant relief from a migraine!

As we continued through her personalized treatment protocol, the migraines became less frequent, less intense, and eventually stopped disrupting her life altogether. Today, she comes in once a month, not because she’s in pain, but because she wants to stay that way. Her treatments are now preventative, not reactive, and her life (and career) no longer revolve around migraines.

This outcome isn’t rare, and it’s exactly why I specialize in migraines and chronic headaches. If you want to see the tools I commonly use for migraines in my clinic, check out this page.

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How Chinese Medicine Understands Migraines

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), migraines are never viewed as “just a headache.” They are a sign that something deeper is out of balance, most often involving circulation, tension, digestion, hormones, or the nervous system.

Instead of asking “What drug will stop the pain?”
TCM asks “Why is the pain happening in the first place?”

This is the basis of why Chinese medicine is so powerful. We aren't masking symptoms, we are treating the root cause!

Some of the most common migraine patterns I see clinically include:

• Poor circulation to the head and neck
• Chronic tension and nervous system overactivation
• Digestive weakness leading to inflammation
• Hormonal fluctuations and stress overload
• Blood or energy stagnation, especially from long-term stress

Migraines often follow specific pathways along the gallbladder, liver, stomach, or bladder meridians, which is why they can feel one-sided, wrap around the eye, settle into the neck, or pulse behind the temples.

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Traditional Tips & Tricks I Share With Migraine Patients

These are some of the foundational strategies I teach patients alongside treatment. They don’t replace care, but they dramatically improve outcomes.

Prioritize Circulation (Not Just Relaxation)

Cold hands and feet, tight neck muscles, and stagnant digestion often show up alongside migraines. Gentle daily movement: walking, tai chi, light stretching, keeps blood and energy moving so pressure doesn’t build in the head.

Eat to Reduce Internal Heat & Inflammation

Skipping meals, blood sugar swings, and inflammatory foods are major migraine triggers.

Helpful habits:

• Eat regularly (even if meals are simple)
• Focus on warm, cooked foods
• Reduce excess sugar, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods
• Stay hydrated, but avoid iced drinks if migraines are chronic

Release the Neck, Jaw, and Upper Back

Migraines love tension. Clenching the jaw, hunching the shoulders, and staring at screens all day trap circulation at the base of the skull.

Daily tools:

• Heat on the neck and shoulders
• Gentle neck mobility
• Jaw awareness (tongue resting softly, teeth not clenched, mindfulness)

Support the Nervous System

Many migraine patients live in a constant “on” state. Acupuncture works in part by shifting the nervous system out of fight-or-flight and into repair mode, but lifestyle matters too.

Simple practices:

• Consistent sleep times
• Breathing slowly through the nose
• Reducing late-night screen exposure

Treat Before the Migraine Hits

This is the biggest shift: migraines respond best to prevention, not crisis management. Regular treatments retrain the body, improve circulation, and calm the nervous system so migraines stop forming in the first place.

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Why Prevention Changes Everything

When patients wait until a migraine is already full-blown, they’re fighting uphill. When we treat proactively, the body stays regulated, and migraines lose their grip.

That’s why so many of my migraine patients eventually transition to monthly maintenance care. Not because they’re broken, but because their bodies have learned what balance feels like again.

And once you’ve experienced life without migraines running the show, you don’t want to go back.

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