Managing Migraines with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine | Rebalance Chinese Medicine 

Man in blue shirt holding his eye in pain against a black background.

Migraine pain can feel unbearable—acupuncture may offer relief.

Migraines aren’t just “bad headaches”. They’re a complex neurological condition that can hijack your quality of life — from the physical pain to the emotional toll. At Rebalance Chinese Medicine in South Morang, Melbourne, we see many people who’ve tried everything else, only to feel stuck. That’s where acupuncture and Chinese medicine step in: addressing not just the pain, but the whole picture.

Migraines can be debilitating, painful and isolating —but support is always available.

 

How Migraines Impact Daily Life

Migraines affect more than your head. They can:

  • Stop you from working or even getting out of bed.
  • Disrupt sleep and create a vicious pain–fatigue cycle.
  • Trigger anxiety, stress, or depression.
  • Cause social withdrawal, missed events, and lost opportunities.
  • Lower appetite, especially in vestibular migraine cases.
Woman sitting on a bench with head in hands, wearing a white sweater and jeans.

Migraines can be debilitating and painful and isolating —but support is always available.

 

How Common Are Migraines in Australia?

Around 15% of Australians live with migraines, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That makes it one of the country’s most disabling conditions. Women are disproportionately affected — 18% of women versus 11% of men — often linked to hormonal changes such as menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause.

 

What Can Trigger a Migraine?

Migraines are influenced by both internal imbalances and external triggers. Some common ones include:

  • Hormonal shifts (especially fluctuating oestrogen).
  • Certain foods (chocolate, aged cheese, processed meats, alcohol, caffeine).
  • Stress and emotional strain.
  • Poor or irregular sleep.
  • Environmental triggers (bright lights, strong smells, Melbourne’s weather changes).
  • Neck tension or jaw clenching.

 

A TCM Perspective on Migraines

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), migraines are often linked to energetic imbalances such as:

  • Liver Qi stagnation or Liver Yang rising: Stress and tension driving energy upward into the head.
  • Blood deficiency: Fatigue or poor circulation leaving the head unsupported.
  • Phlegm-dampness: Heaviness and fogginess linked to diet and digestion.
  • External Wind: Weather changes triggering imbalance (a common issue in Melbourne’s variable climate).

This perspective means treatment focuses on restoring balance, not just masking pain.

 

Julia applying acupuncture to a point on the clients hands

 

How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine May Help

  • Acupuncture: Calms the nervous system, regulates Qi, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain. For acute migraines, 2–3 sessions a week may be helpful. For chronic migraines, weekly treatments over several months often reduce frequency and intensity.
  • Herbal medicine: Custom formulas target underlying patterns — calming Liver Yang, nourishing Blood, or clearing phlegm.
  • Lifestyle support: Sleep hygiene, diet changes, and movement practices are tailored to each person.

What the Research Says

  • “Acupuncture is superior to sham acupuncture for the treatment of migraines and more effective than usual care, including pharmacological therapy.” (Zhao et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2017).
  • “Acupuncture can be considered a treatment option for patients willing to undergo this treatment.” (Linde et al., Cochrane Review, 2016).
  • Chinese herbal medicine, including Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, has been shown to reduce migraine frequency and severity. (Headache Journal).

 

At-Home Support: Acupressure & Qigong

Acupressure for Migraines

Press gently for 1–2 minutes, ideally at the first sign of pain:

  • Yintang (Third Eye): Calms the mind, eases frontal headaches.

A picture of a woman with a red dot between her eyebrows demonstrating the point yinttang

 

  • Taiyang: At the temples, relieves one-sided pain and eye strain

A women with a red dot at the corner of her eyes demonstrating taiynag acupuncture point

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • LI4 (Hegu): Web between thumb and index finger, relieves stress and pain (avoid during pregnancy).

A thumb pressing into the fleshy area of the back of the hand between the index finger and thumb

Large inetstine 4 dot on the back of the hand.

Large intestine 4 acupuncture / acupressure point location – headaches, pain, migraines

  • GB20 (Fengchi): Base of the skull, great for neck tension.
Gallbladder 20 ( Feng chi) acupuncture point

Headaches and neck pain: GB20 is commonly used to relieve tension headaches, stiff neck, and neck and shoulder pain.

Qigong for Migraine Relief

Gentle movement can ease tension, calm stress, and support circulation.

▶ Watch this 8-minute Qigong routine for headache relief

Practice tip: Aim for once daily, morning or evening.

 

Diet & Lifestyle Tips

  • Cut back on alcohol, caffeine, greasy foods, and sugary desserts.
  • Choose room-temperature or warm water over iced drinks.
  • Add leafy greens, whole grains, and light teas like chrysanthemum or peppermint.
  • Keep a headache diary to track patterns and triggers.
  • Establish a consistent sleep routine.
Diet and herbal teas to support migraine relief in Chinese medicine.”

Chrysanthemum tea

Migraine support at Rebalance Chinese Medicine

At Rebalance, our goal is simple: treat the person, not just the migraine. That means combining acupuncture, herbs, dietary guidance, and lifestyle advice into a tailored plan. Whether your migraines are hormonal, stress-related, or linked to neck tension, you don’t have to navigate them alone.

👉 Ready to take the next step? Book your consultation today at Rebalance Chinese Medicine, South Morang.

 

References

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2019). National Health Survey: First Results, 2017–18.
  • Zhao, L., et al. (2017). Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(4), 508–515. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9378
  • Linde, K., et al. (2016). Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3
  • Zhao, Y., et al. (2017). Chinese herbal medicine for the prophylactic treatment of episodic migraines: a systematic review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(9), 673–683. doi:10.1089/acm.2017.0009
  • Zhao, Y., et al. (2014). Effects of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin for the treatment of migraine. Menopause, 21(11), 1203–1210. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000231

 

DR Julia Bartrop (Chinese Medicine) She is smiling and in a treatment room

Dr Julia Bartrop ( Chinese Medicine).

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Do you have friends or family  who need assistance with migraines, headaches or general health? Please help them and share this article with them!

 

 

This information is general in nature and not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Always consult your healthcare practitioner. If symptoms persist, seek appropriate care.

Always follow your butterflies – Julia