Acupuncture for migraines and tension
headaches in London
Almost everyone has had a headache at some point in life. Migraines, though, can be much more than “just a headache” — they can affect work, sleep, mood, concentration, and day-to-day life. After puberty, migraines become much more common in women than in men, and hormones are often part of the picture. The Migraine Trust says migraines are around two to three times more common in women, and that almost 60% of migraines in women are associated with the menstrual cycle.
Headaches can also become more frequent when painkillers are used too often over time. NICE recognises medication overuse headache as an important part of headache care, which is one reason recurring headaches need proper assessment rather than simply more medication.
Acupuncture is often used to help relieve a range of headaches, including tension-type headaches, migraines and recurring headaches linked to stress, poor sleep or hormonal change. WHO guidance has noted that acupuncture may benefit some people with migraine or tension-type headache, while NHS and NICE guidance in the UK specifically recommends considering acupuncture for migraines and chronic tension-type headaches.
How Acupuncture can Help with migraines and tension headaches
From a modern medical point of view, acupuncture is thought to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. This may help regulate pain pathways, influence neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, encourage the release of the body’s own natural pain-relieving chemicals, and improve local circulation. That is why people often seek acupuncture not only for the pain itself, but also for the wider pattern around it — such as neck and shoulder tension, stress, poor sleep, hormonal fluctuations, and nervous system overload.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, headache is never treated as a one-size-fits-all condition. The aim is to restore smoother flow and better balance in the body, while also addressing the underlying pattern behind the headaches. In practice, that means treatment is tailored to the individual, not just to the label of “migraine” or “tension headache.”
A personalised approach to treatment
A full case history is always taken so that treatment can be tailored properly. Two people may both suffer with headaches, but the pattern behind them can be completely different. For one person, the main drivers may be stress and muscular tension. For another, hormones, poor sleep, overwork, or recovery after illness may be more important.
The aim is not simply to mask pain, but to understand the wider picture and support the body in a more complete way. Depending on your needs, treatment may include acupuncture on its own or acupuncture alongside appropriate lifestyle guidance and support around common triggers.
Evidence-informed care, tailored to the individual
If you are looking for acupuncture for migraines or acupuncture for tension headaches, the aim of treatment is to reduce headache burden, support the nervous system and help the body become less reactive, less tense and better able to recover. The research is encouraging, the treatment is tailored and the approach is both traditional and evidence-informed.
What Research Says About Acupuncture for Migraines and tension headaches
The evidence base for acupuncture in headache care is encouraging. A major Cochrane review on episodic migrainefound that adding acupuncture to usual care reduces headache frequency. It also found a small effect over sham acupuncture and concluded that acupuncture may be at least similarly effective as preventive drug treatment in some comparisons.
More recent studies have also reported positive findings. A 2024 randomised controlled trial comparing acupuncture with topiramate for chronic migraine found significantly greater reductions in monthly migraine days in the acupuncture group during both treatment and follow-up in that study. A 2020 BMJ multicentre randomised clinical trial also reported that manual acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture and usual care for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine without aura.
For tension headaches, the evidence and guidance are also useful. NICE says to consider a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over 5 to 8 weeks for chronic tension-type headache, and more recent reviews have reported improvements in headache frequency and relief outcomes.
Have a Question?
If you have a question, email hello@deborahwarden.com one of our expert team will be happy to answer. If you are able to, please leave a phone number as it can be easier to chat about your questions.