Headaches in Wokingham
Headaches are one of the most common types of pain. Most people reach for a painkiller at the first sign of a headache – and pain relief medication is among the most widely purchased in the world. Interestingly, the original modern painkiller derives from herbal medicine – specifically the bark of the willow tree, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
Causes of headaches
Many people assume their headache is caused by dehydration, and sometimes this is the case. However, headaches are more commonly caused by stress or tiredness. Pain is a messenger – the body signalling that something is out of balance. Rather than listening to that signal, we tend to suppress it with painkillers and carry on, which allows the underlying cause to persist.
Often the body simply needs rest. The mind, however, tends to resist slowing down, and this ongoing tension between body and mind is a common driver of chronic headaches.
Acupuncture for headaches
Acupuncture is a highly effective treatment for headaches. It can help by:
- Increasing endorphin and neuropeptide Y levels, which help to combat negative affective states
- Stimulating nerves in muscles and other tissues, leading to the release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors that change how pain is processed in the brain and spinal cord
- Reducing inflammation by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors
- Increasing local microcirculation, which aids the dispersal of swelling
What patients say – Google reviews
“After 50+ years of daily headaches I had finally found the right treatment. Attilio is gentle, caring and incredibly knowledgeable.”
“Vastly knowledgeable, friendly and professional. My headaches and fatigue were solved completely. Highly recommend!”
“After five sessions, my migraines never returned and my tension headaches improved dramatically. Huge relief.”
Our headache acupuncturist
Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto BM (Beijing), BSc (Hons) TCM, MBAcC, MRCHM
Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto has been treating headaches and migraines for over 25 years with an excellent success rate across all headache types – tension, cluster, sinus and hormonal. He holds a 5.0-star Google rating from over 230 reviews. Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto's acupuncture is recognised by most private health insurance companies.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine (BM) from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, completing a full-time five-year medical degree including clinical internships at two of Beijing's largest hospitals. He is a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Book your headache consultation today. Many patients experience meaningful relief within the first three to six sessions.
☎ Call 07786 198 900 ✉ info@wokinghamtherapyclinic.com
Book your consultationReferences
Friedman AP et al. Migraine and tension headaches: a clinical study of two thousand cases. Neurology 1954; 4: 773–88.
Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 2nd edition. Cephalalgia 2004; 24: 9–160.
Lance JW et al. Investigations into the mechanism and treatment of chronic headache. Med J Aust 1965; 2: 909–14.
Russell MB et al. Familial occurrence of chronic tension-type headache. Cephalalgia 1999; 19: 207–10.
Steiner TJ et al, 2007. Guidelines for all healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of migraine, tension-type, cluster and medication-overuse headache. British Association for the Study of Headache.
Watson DP. Easing the pain: challenges and opportunities in headache management. Br J Gen Pract 2008; 58: 77–8.
