Accupuncture - Anyone have it done for bad headaches and/or weight control?

Well, I have decided that maybe it is time to try accupuncture for my bad headaches and thought if I was going to do that, then I may look into having it done for weight loss as well.

Anyone have it done for either of these and how well did it work, how did it feel (painful), would you recommend it and how satisfied were you with it's results?

First, what is the cause of the headaches, have you ruled out any possible medical causes?
I have had acupuncture for tension headaches, along with other symptoms after an auto accident.
Yes it helped, yes it can hurt, especially if they insert a needle into and activation point( enhances the process being done for that visit.)
Very satisfied with the results, it can be very expensive. My physician was certified in Medical Acupuncture, of course auto insurance paid, but the bill would have been 1/2 out of pocket.
I would rule out all other, causes for your headache, if you haven't already.
Hormone spikes related to menstrual cycle, Muscular, allergy, Rebound headache from taking too much aspirin and other analgesics.

I'd read up on this procedure first. I understand that accupuncture is, in tests, no better than a placebo.

My mom has been seeing an accupuncturist for years to help with her headaches. So far she has seen only a slight improvement. However, she has been having headaches since she was 16 and is now 50 so an automatic fix isn't really possible.

I saw an acupuncturist to deal with stress and anxiety and found that the needles bugged my enough to stress me out even more.

Even though actupunture hasn't really worked for me, I know people who sware by it. Maybe you should just givie it a try. I would also look into finding a biofeedback technician who uses something called The Life System or someone who does somehting called Body Talk. You can look up both systems on the internet. I do both and they have helped me far more than accupuncture has.

Good luck :]

I am a licensed acupuncturist, and have treated headaches in the clinic for years. Patients are typically released with an herbal prescription after 6-12 weeks (12 weeks being a chronic migraine condition). I can only recall one patient in the last 8 years who didn't respond.

I would not consider going to a medical acupuncturist or chiropractic acupuncturist for this condition; they typically have limited training. The chiropractors in our state only need 100 hours of Oriental medical training and the Md's go on weekends (I think one or two a month) for six months for their Oriental medical training.

A licensed acupuncturist, on the other hand, has to have 4 years of graduate studies at an Oriental medical school to practice. This translates to about 3,000 training hours (if they are trained in herbs) in just Chinese medicine to take the national boards.

This is why a licensed acupuncturist can treat internal chronic conditions with a great deal of success. And acupuncture, done correctly, will correct hormonal imbalances, allergies, and muscular pain, etc.

Furthermore, in NC auto insurance pays 100% of claims for acupuncture treatment, so check with your lawyer in that type of situation.

Although I have not ever done acupuncture for Headaches or Weight loss specifically, I have had acupuncture for controling chronic pain and releasing emotional trama, and I have loved it. It seems to very effectively relax me.
I did not think it was painful at all, unless you move and then it can (not always) shock you. It doesnt hurt, more just surprise. I love it and would do it way more often if my budget permitted.

I am a western medical doctor who specialized in neurology. I WAS a migraineur with bimonthly attacks mostly triggered by weather and by monosodium glutamate. I was treated with one acupuncture session in 2005 and haven't had a recurrence of migraine until last week only! Had another session and am still headache free so far.

In fact, I studied acupuncture after that 2005 treatment and I've now ended up using it in my own practice for others with headaches.