Are migraines destroying your life?

About one in seven people in the UK suffers from migraines, which costs the country about £2.25 billion a year, according to Migraine Action. The condition affects twice as many women as men, and on average, sufferers experience 13 attacks a year, with each lasting between 4 and 72 hours.

Until there is a cure for migraine, finding pain relief and controlling attacks is key. There are a wide range of treatments available, from acute and preventative medications to complementary treatments. 

Acupuncture has been endorsed by the British Medical Association as an effective treatment for headache and migraine. Its treatment consists of small fine sterile needles being inserted into your skin at certain points; they may be left in for just a few seconds or for several minutes.

Traditional Chinese acupuncturists will position the needles at various points along the body's energy meridians, according to their assessment of each individual (i.e. different migraineurs could have differently positioned needles).