Can Acupuncture Treat Migraines and Headaches?

From temple pain and sinus pressure to stress-induced migraines, learn how acupuncture for headaches is more than just symptom management.

When comes to headache or migraine relief, most of us tend to think in terms of symptom management: take a pain reliever, avoid your triggers, drink more water perhaps, and just hope that it passes quickly. And while there can certainly be a time and place for medication, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) asks a deeper question:

Why is this headache happening in the first place?

At our Houston acupuncture clinic, we frequently see patients who have struggled with chronic headaches or migraines for years before discovering acupuncture. Many have tried countless medications, special diets, supplements and even brain scans and yet continue experiencing recurring symptoms, because the underlying imbalance hasn’t been fully addressed.

One of the things that makes TCM so unique is that we don’t simply treat “headaches” as single condition. We look at where exactly the pain is occurring, how it feels, when it happens, and what other symptoms are occurring alongside it. These details help us identify the root pattern causing the issue so we can create a more individualized treatment plan.

This is why acupuncture for migraines can look very different from person to person — even when two patients carry the same Western diagnosis.

The Six Main Types of Headaches in Traditional Chinese Medicine

While Western medicine generally recognizes three types of headaches — tension, cluster and migraines — in TCM, there are six main types of headaches. Different headache locations often correspond with different organ systems and meridian connections in the body. Here are six of the most common headache patterns we see in clinic:

1) Tai Yang Headaches (Back of Head / Tension Headaches)

Tai Yang headaches are typically felt at the back of the head, neck, and upper shoulders and often closely resemble what many people know as tension headaches. These headaches tend to feel tight, constricted, and stiff, as though the body is physically bracing.

In TCM, Tai Yang corresponds with the Bladder and Small Intestine channels, which travel along the back of the body and neck. Pain often creeps upward from the shoulders into the occipital region of the head, creating tension through the upper back, neck, and scalp.

Common Symptoms: Neck stiffness, shoulder tightness, fatigue, chills, feeling worse in cold weather

These headaches are commonly associated with:

• Stress and chronic muscle tension

• Poor posture or prolonged screen time

• Exposure to wind or cold

• Adrenal depletion and exhaustion

• Cold or flu onset

From a TCM perspective, Tai Yang headaches are often considered “cold” in nature and typically respond well to warmth and circulation. This is why many people instinctively crave hot showers, heating pads, warm baths, or warm herbal teas when these headaches arise.

What Helps: Hot showers, heating pads, acupuncture, stretching, ginger or cinnamon tea, nervous system support

2) Shao Yang Headaches (Temple / Migraine Headaches)

Shao Yang headaches are classically felt on the sides of the head, temples, around the ears, or behind the eyes. These are often the throbbing, one-sided headaches many people immediately think of when they hear the word “migraine.”

In TCM, Shao Yang corresponds with the Gallbladder channel and is associated with qi stagnation. These headaches are frequently triggered by stress, emotional tension, hormonal fluctuations, or nervous system dysregulation.

Common Symptoms: Nausea, dizziness, light sensitivity, irritability, jaw tension, alternating hot and cold sensations, bitter taste in the mouth

These headaches are commonly associated with:

• Chronic stress and emotional tension

• Hormonal fluctuations

• Liver and Gallbladder imbalance

• Qi stagnation and internal heat

• Irregular eating or sleep patterns

From a TCM perspective, Shao Yang headaches occur when stress and tension create pressure and heat that rise upward into the head. Movement and circulation are often key parts of treatment.

What Helps: Regular exercise, stress reduction, stretching, acupuncture, and supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways

3) Yang Ming Headaches (Frontal / Sinus Headaches)

Yang Ming headaches are typically located across the forehead, eyebrows, sinus region, or front of the head. These headaches often feel heavy, pressurized, intense, or hot.

In TCM, Yang Ming corresponds with the Stomach and Large Intestine channels. These headaches are often related to excess heat in the channels, gut inflammation, sinus congestion, dehydration, or digestive dysfunction.

Common Symptoms: Facial pressure, sinus congestion, thirst, red eyes, brain fog, constipation, feverish sensations

These headaches are commonly associated with:

• Sinus congestion

• Inflammation in the digestive track

• Dehydration

• Constipation

• Excess heat in the body

  
  

From a TCM perspective, heat and congestion rise upward into the face and head through the corresponding channels, creating pressure and pain.

What Helps: Hydration, sinus support, reducing inflammatory foods, supporting digestion, acupuncture, food therapy

4) Tai Yin Headaches (Heavy / Foggy Headaches)

Tai Yin headaches are often experienced as dull, heavy, foggy, or pressure-like pain affecting the whole head. Patients frequently describe feeling mentally cloudy, sluggish, or weighed down.

In TCM, Tai Yin corresponds with the Spleen and Lung systems and is associated with dampness and phlegm accumulation caused by weak digestion.

Common Symptoms: Brain fog, fatigue, bloating, loose stools, sinus congestion, heaviness in the body

These headaches are commonly associated with:

• Weakened immune system

• Dairy, sugar, and processed foods

• Damp weather

• Poor gut health

• Chronic fatigue and low energy

From a TCM perspective, when digestion becomes weakened, dampness and phlegm can accumulate and rise upward into the head, creating heaviness and congestion.

What Helps: Warm cooked foods, reducing dairy and sugar, acupuncture, supporting gut health and digestion with food therapy

5) Shao Yin Headaches (Deep / Empty Headaches)

Shao Yin headaches tend to feel deeper within the skull and have an empty, depleted quality. Pain can radiate into the face, teeth and even throat. These headaches are common in people who have been operating in survival mode or burnout for long periods of time.

In TCM, Shao Yin corresponds with the Kidney and Heart systems and reflects deep depletion of the body’s reserves and nervous system. This can include deficiencies of qi, blood, yin or yang.

Common Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, insomnia, low back pain, cold hands and feet, brain fog, exhaustion after minimal activity

These headaches are commonly associated with:

• Chronic stress and burnout

• Sleep deprivation

• Overwork

• Long-term illness

• Postpartum depletion

From a TCM perspective, these headaches are deficiency-type headaches and often require nourishment and restoration rather than aggressive clearing techniques.

What Helps: Rest, sleep, nourishing foods, acupuncture, nervous system support, rebuilding energy reserves

6) Jue Yin Headaches (Vertex / Migraine Headaches)

Jue Yin headaches are classically located at the very top of the head, though they may

also radiate into the eyes or sides of the head. These headaches can range from dull and lingering to sharp, stabbing, and intensely migraine-like.

In TCM, Jue Yin corresponds with the Liver system and is often associated with liver blood deficiency, liver qi stagnation, or what TCM calls "rebellious qi rising upward."

Common Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, visual disturbances, sensitivity to stress, cold hands and feet

These headaches are commonly associated with:

• Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation

• Hormonal imbalances

• Blood deficiency

• Liver qi stagnation

• Longstanding migraine patterns

Many chronic migraines ultimately involve some degree of Jue Yin imbalance, particularly when stress, hormonal shifts, blood deficiency, and nervous system dysregulation have been present for a long time. From a TCM perspective, the body loses its ability to properly anchor energy, causing symptoms to rise upward into the head.

What Helps: Acupuncture, stress reduction, grounding exercises, nourishing blood, improving circulation and balancing hormones

Natural Approaches for Headache Relief

If needle-phobia is keeping you from trying acupuncture for migraines, there are several other supportive therapies you can try at home for natural headache relief, including acupressure, essential oils and herbal teas.

Acupressure Points for Headaches

Applying gentle pressure for 30–60 seconds while breathing deeply may help relieve tension and improve circulation. Try the following points:

BL10 (Bladder 10)

Located at the base of the skull on either side of the spine. Helpful for neck tension, occipital headaches, and stiffness.

GB20 (Gallbladder 20)

Located below the occiput in the hollows at the base of the skull. One of the most commonly used points for headaches, migraines, dizziness, and neck tension.

BL2 (Bladder 2)

Located at the inner edge of the eyebrows. Often used for frontal headaches, sinus pressure, and eye strain.

LI4 (Large Intestine 4)

Located between the thumb and index finger. Commonly used for pain relief, headaches, facial tension, and stress. (Avoid during pregnancy unless directed by your practitioner.)

YinTang

Located between the eyebrows. Helpful for stress, anxiety, frontal headaches, and calming the nervous system.

GB41 (Gallbladder 41)

Located on the top of the foot between the fourth and fifth toes. Often used for temporal headaches, migraines, and hormonal tension patterns.

Essential Oils for Headaches

Essential oils may provide temporary relief when used properly. Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying to the skin. Try the following oils:

Peppermint Oil

Cooling and invigorating. Helpful for tension headaches and frontal pressure. Apply diluted oil to the temples, forehead, and back of the neck.

Lavender Oil

Calming for the nervous system and often helpful for stress-related headaches and migraines. Can be applied topically (diluted) or diffused before sleep.

Rosemary Oil

Traditionally used to improve circulation and mental clarity. May help with tension, fatigue-related headaches, and brain fog.

Herbal Teas for Headache Support

Peppermint Tea

Helpful for tension, digestion-related headaches, and sinus congestion.

Ginger Tea

Supports circulation, digestion, nausea relief, and warming the body in cold-type headaches.

Chamomile Tea

Calming to the nervous system and supportive for stress-induced headaches.

Lavender Tea

May help calm anxiety, tension, and support relaxation before bed.

Feverfew Tea

Traditionally used as a natural support for migraine prevention and circulation.

Headache Relief in Houston

If you’re searching for natural headache relief in Houston, it’s important to remember that your headaches are not random — and they are not all the same.

Your body is always communicating through symptoms. In Chinese medicine, headaches are viewed less as isolated problems and more as signals pointing toward underlying patterns of imbalance.

Whether your migraines stem from stress, hormonal changes, digestive dysfunction, nervous system dysregulation, inflammation, or long-term depletion, acupuncture offers a holistic framework for understanding why they may be happening in the first place.

At Nguyen Wellness + Recovery, we take an individualized approach to headache and migraine treatment using acupuncture, herbal medicine, nervous system support, and lifestyle recommendations tailored to your unique constitution and symptoms.

Why Am I So Tired After Acupuncture?

Exhausted after acupuncture? Here's what your body is doing (and, yes it's good!)

If you’ve ever walked out of an acupuncture appointment feeling unexpectedly exhausted, you’re not alone — and no, something didn’t go wrong.

In fact, feeling tired after acupuncture is one of the most common and misunderstood responses to treatment. Many people expect to feel energized, lighter, or instantly “fixed,” so when fatigue hits instead, it can feel confusing or even concerning.

Let’s talk about why post-acupuncture fatigue happens, what it means, and when (rarely) it’s something to pay closer attention to.

Is It Normal to Feel Tired After Acupuncture?

Yes — feeling tired, sleepy, or deeply relaxed after acupuncture is completely normal.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture is not meant to stimulate the body in the way caffeine or adrenaline does. Instead, it helps the body shift out of survival mode and into a state where healing can actually occur. For many people, this is the first time in a long time their nervous system has been allowed to truly slow down.

Why Acupuncture Can Make You Feel Exhausted

1. Your Nervous System Is Finally Relaxing

Many of us live in a near-constant state of stress...even if we don’t consciously feel anxious. Acupuncture helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, often called the “rest and digest” state.

When your body finally exits fight-or-flight, fatigue can surface. Not because acupuncture has drained you, but because your body is catching up on rest it hasn’t been able to access.

This is especially common if you:

• Are chronically stressed or burned out

• Have anxiety or trauma history

• Struggle with sleep issues

• Tend to “push through” exhaustion

2. Energy Is Being Redirected Toward Healing

From a TCM perspective, acupuncture helps move qi (vital energy) and blood so the body can repair, regulate, and rebalance itself. And that process takes energy.

Instead of fueling mental alertness or physical activity, your body may temporarily divert resources toward:

• Tissue repair

• Immune regulation

• Digestive support

• Hormonal balance

Fatigue after acupuncture can be a sign that your body is doing real work behind the scenes. And that's a great thing.

3. Emotional Release Can Be Physically Tiring

Acupuncture doesn’t just affect muscles and organs — it also works with the nervous system and emotional body.

Some people experience:

• Emotional release

• Feeling heavy or introspective

• A need to withdraw or rest

• Vivid dreams later that night

Even subtle emotional processing can leave you feeling tired afterwards, much like a long conversation or therapy session can.

4. You May Be Dehydrated or Undernourished

Acupuncture improves circulation and movement. If you’re already slightly dehydrated or have been under-eating, fatigue can feel more noticeable afterward.

This is why many acupuncturists recommend:

• Drinking plenty of water after your treatment

• Eating a little something before your session

• Avoiding intense workouts immediately after

How Long Does Fatigue After Acupuncture Last?

For most people, post-acupuncture fatigue lasts:

• A few hours

• The rest of the day

• Occasionally into the next morning

By the following day, many people notice they:

• Slept more deeply

• Feel calmer or clearer

• Have improved symptoms

If fatigue lasts more than 48 hours or worsens with each session, that’s worth discussing with your acupuncturist so the treatment approach can be adjusted.

Is Feeling Tired After Acupuncture a Bad Sign?

The short answer? No, not at all. In many cases, feeling tired after acupuncture is a sign that your body feels safe enough to rest.

That said, you should check in with your practitioner if:

• Fatigue feels extreme or debilitating

• You feel dizzy, faint, or unwell

• Symptoms intensify instead of stabilizing

• You’re new to acupuncture and unsure what’s normal

Acupuncture should support you — not overwhelm you — and treatments can always be modified.

What Should I Do If I Feel Tired After Acupuncture?

Think of acupuncture days as low-output days, if possible.

Helpful post-treatment care includes:

• Gentle movement (walking, stretching)

• Warm, nourishing food

• Extra hydration

• Going to bed earlier than usual

• Avoiding intense mental or physical strain

Rest isn’t a setback — it’s often part of the treatment.

Just remember: body is shifting out of stress and into healing. Fatigue after acupuncture is common, temporary, and often a sign that something important is recalibrating beneath the surface.

If you’re ever unsure about what you’re experiencing, reach out to your acupuncturist. Acupuncture is a collaborative process, and your feedback matters.

How Does Acupuncture Support Fertility?

Learn more about how our Houston acupuncture clinic uses traditional Chinese medicine to balance hormones, regulate cycles, and naturally support fertility.

If you’ve been trying to conceive and it feels like nothing is working, you’re not alone. Many patients come to our Houston clinic feeling tired, discouraged, or confused about what their bodies need. The fertility journey can be an incredibly taxing, emotional experience, and if you haven't yet tried traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), keep reading to learn how it can support both your physical and mental health throughout the process of growing your family.

What is TCM & How Does it Work?

TCM is a beautiful diagnostic tool that offers a different lens—one that understands

health and fertility as the natural expression of a body that is balanced, well-nourished, and deeply supported. Think of a garden. This is the way Eastern medicine views your body and constitution; not as a machine that can develop broken parts to be fixed, but rather, as an entire, interconnected ecosystem. When some areas of the garden need attention, what must the gardener do? Perhaps they nourish the soil with nutrient-dense compost or adjust the watering schedule. Maybe certain plants require pruning while others need an adjustment in their level of sunlight. It’s a delicate balance, but with careful attention, the gardener helps the entire garden thrive.

Your body is the very same way. Please hear me when I say: You are not broken.

Many of the challenges we face with fertility—like poor circulation, chronic inflammation, or hormone imbalances—aren’t just “biological accidents.” They often reflect how our bodies respond to the pace and pressures of modern life. Long work hours, processed foods, stress, and constant stimulation can push the body out of balance, creating conditions that make conception more difficult. In TCM, we view these symptoms and patterns as signals from the body, like weeds sprouting in a garden, showing where care and cultivation are needed. With acupuncture, herbal support, and mindful lifestyle adjustments, we can help the body restore harmony, improve circulation, calm inflammation, and create the optimal environment for fertility to thrive.

Fertility Support with Acupuncture

Acupuncture for fertility works by:

• Regulating the nervous system (bringing the body into a more regular rest-and-digest state, where true healing can naturally occur)

• Improving blood flow to the reproductive organs

• Supporting healthy cycles and addressing individual hormone imbalances

• Calming the stress response in the body (which often plays a quiet but significant role in hormone imbalance)

Over time, patients notice better sleep, improved digestion, more stable moods, and more predictable menstrual cycles—all signs that the body is moving toward balance.

In TCM terminology, fertility depends on the strength of Kidney Jing (which includes adrenals, reproductive organs and our hormone balance), the smooth flow of Liver Qi, and the nourishment of Blood. When any of these elements become depleted or stagnant—due to stress, overwork, irregular eating, trauma, chronic inflammation, or long-term hormonal imbalance—the body has a harder time prioritizing reproduction. Acupuncture gently guides the body back into harmony so it can do what it was designed to do.

One friendly reminder: true healing takes time. Our culture emphasizes instant results and quick fixes, but the body works at its own pace. Imbalances often develop gradually over years due to stress, lifestyle, and environmental factors, and it can take weeks, months, or more to restore balance. It’s normal to feel impatient or frustrated along the way. Gentle, consistent care that nurtures your body, mind, and spirit—paired with nourishing practices—gives you the best chance to support long-term health and fertility.

Lifestyle Support for Fertility

Beyond acupuncture, I often remind patients that small, consistent lifestyle choices can make an enormous difference. A few foundational practices:

• Prioritizing rest and regular rhythms. Aim for lights out before 11 pm. Turning off all screens an hour prior to bedtime can be helpful, as well as sipping a cozy, sleep-supportive tea, like chammomile, lavender or lemon balm.

  
  

• Warming the body. Cold (temperatures, foods, and beverages) can slow circulation and digestion over time. It might seem a little strange, but Eastern wisdom has a clear understanding of the connection between "cold" elements and their effects on many aspects of our health, including the reproductive organs. It's best to avoid iced drinks, raw foods, and cold smoothies—especially during your luteal phase, just after ovulation. Try wearing warm socks or slippers inside the house if you have tile or wood floors, and incorporate more warm baths or foot soaks.

• Gentle movement. Walking, stretching, tai chi, or yoga encourage healthy energy and blood flow without taxing your system. If you lead a generally stressful life, it can actually be helpful to cut back on "high intensity" workouts. If you tend to run warm, please eliminate "hot" pilates or yoga. Opt instead for restorative, hatha or yin yoga over more fast-paced classes, like vinyasa yoga.

• Nervous system regulation. Breathwork, meditation, and even simple pauses throughout the day send a message to your brain and nervous system that your body is safe. This is an essential state for conception.

• Herbal medicine. Chinese herbal formulas can be a helpful tool alongside acupuncture to further hormonal balance and potential nutritional deficiencies. Centuries-old and well-balanced for specific constitutional patterns, customized herbal formulas have minimal side effects when used properly.

TCM Food Therapy for Fertility

Food and nutrition are often the missing pieces in many fertility cases. In Chinese

medicine, Blood and Yin nourishment are key for healthy ovulation and implantation (in cases of low ovarian reserve, nourishing yin is paramount!). These simple changes build a strong foundation for healthier follicles, thicker uterine lining, and more balanced hormones.

I recommend focusing on:

• Warm, cooked meals, like soups, stews, and broths (& limiting cold or raw foods and drinks)

• Kidney-supportive foods, like black sesame, black beans, Chinese yams, asparagus, bone broth, blackberries, blueberries, walnuts and pistachios

• Nutrient-rich seeds that support hormone balance, like flax, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds.

• Blood-nourishing foods, like leafy greens, beets, eggs, dates, seaweed, avocados, blackstrap molasses, and grass-fed meats

• Whole grains to support digestion and boost qi, like millet, rice, oats, and barley

• Warming spices to move qi, like ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and garlic

Supporting your body with the right vitamins and supplements can play a key role in preparing for conception. Find our general fertility supplement recommendations, plus a suggested schedule here. And keep in mind—creating a healthy pregnancy is a team effort. Your partner’s stress, diet, and habits can all affect sperm quality. Here are our recommendations for fertiltiy support for men.

We have modified protocols for issues like low ovarian reserve, PCOS, endometriosis or a history of miscarriage. Please feel free to reach out, or book an appointment if you need more help with any of these issues.

If you're seeking fertility acupuncture in Houston, we'd love to support you. Whether you’re preparing to conceive naturally, working with IVF/IUI, or simply wanting to improve the health of your menstrual cycle, TCM offers a deeply supportive path forward.