• 703-532-4892
  • New Patients
  • Patient Portal
  • Conditions
    • Long-COVID Syndrome
    • Celiac Disease & Gluten Intolerance
    • Lyme Disease
    • Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Heavy Metal Toxicity
    • Hormonal Imbalances
    • Mold Toxicity
    • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
    • Neurotoxicity
    • Thyroid Disorders
    • All Conditions
  • Services
    • Long-COVID Recovery Services
    • Acupuncture
    • Detoxification Protocol
    • Herbal Remedies & Nutritional Supplements
    • Hormone Replacement Therapy
    • IV Therapy
    • Niagen+ (NR) IV Therapy
    • Nutritional Testing, Counseling & Coaching
    • Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
    • Physical Therapy
    • Psychotherapy, EMDR & Guided Meditation
    • Telemedicine
    • All Treatments
  • Providers
    • Gary Kaplan
    • Lisa Lilienfield
    • Rebecca Berkson
    • Jeanne Scheele
    • Patricia Alomar
    • Jessica Briscoe Coleman
    • Jodi Brayton
    • Chardonée Donald
    • Nidhi Reva
    • Laura Elizabeth Dorsett
    • All Providers
  • About
    • Why Kaplan Center?
    • Integrative Medicine
    • Dr. Gary Membership
    • Our Support Team
    • Financial FAQs
    • Provider Fees
    • Our Goal
    • Patient Testimonials
  • Resources
    • Health & Wellness Blog
    • Events
    • Featured Press
    • Videos
    • Featured Interviews and Podcasts
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • Professional Resources
    • Research
  • Store
  • Contact
  • 703-532-4892
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog Articles
Woman with a migraine on sofa.

Acupuncture for Headaches: A Holistic Approach to Lasting Relief

June 30, 2025/in Kaplan Links, Migraine, Treatments/by Rebecca Berkson, L.Ac, Dipl.OM

Nearly everyone experiences a headache at some point, but for those who suffer from frequent or chronic headaches, the impact can be truly debilitating. Whether it’s the dull, persistent ache of a tension headache, the intense throbbing of a migraine, or pain associated with an underlying health condition, identifying the root cause is essential for lasting relief.

Headaches can stem from a wide range of factors, including stress, hormonal imbalances, musculoskeletal tension, neurological sensitivities, or illness. That’s why an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis is so important. At the Kaplan Center, we reject the notion that you simply have to “live with it.” Our team is committed to helping patients identify the underlying causes of their headaches and develop personalized, effective treatment plans.

One highly effective and increasingly popular treatment we offer is acupuncture. This ancient therapy, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and practiced for over 2,000 years, is now backed by modern scientific research for its effectiveness in managing and preventing various types of headaches.

The Science Behind Acupuncture

Recent clinical studies, including those published in prestigious medical journals such as The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and JAMA Internal Medicine, show that acupuncture can significantly reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of migraines and tension-type headaches. These improvements are often sustained over time and can be more effective than medication alone, without the side effects commonly associated with pharmaceuticals.

Acupuncture is thought to work by stimulating specific points on the body (called acupoints) to regulate the central nervous system, promote the release of endorphins and serotonin, reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and balance the body’s stress response. For headache sufferers, this means more than temporary relief—it can lead to fewer attacks, better sleep, and improved overall well-being.

In one major study, those who received true acupuncture had significantly better outcomes than those receiving standard care or sham (placebo) acupuncture. These findings have led organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Migraine Foundation to recognize acupuncture as a viable, evidence-based treatment option.

How We Can Help

Our acupuncture treatments are delivered by highly trained practitioners in a calming, patient-centered environment. Most patients find the sessions relaxing and even rejuvenating. Over time, many report dramatic improvements not only in their headache patterns but also in their energy levels, mood, sleep, and stress resilience.

If you or someone you love is living with chronic headaches, know that lasting relief is possible. Call the Kaplan Center today—703-532-4892—to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward a pain-free, empowered future.

We are here for you, and we want to help.

Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2

References

Jena, S., Witt, C. M., Brinkhaus, B., Wegscheider, K., & Willich, S. N. (2008). Acupuncture in patients with headache. Cephalalgia, 28(9), 969–979.

Linde, K., Allais, G., Brinkhaus, B., Manheimer, E., Vickers, A., & White, A. R. (2016). Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD007587.

Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., … & Linde, K. (2018). Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. The Journal of Pain, 19(5), 455–474.

World Health Organization. (2002). Acupuncture: Review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials.

Zhao, L., Chen, J., Li, Y., Sun, X., Chang, X., Zheng, H., … & Liang, F. (2017). The long-term effect of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 177(4), 508–515.

You might also like
Chronic Pain: Integrative Strategies for Relief Chronic Pain: Integrative Strategies for Relief
woman getting an acupuncture treatment 5 Things You Didn’t Know Acupuncture Could Treat
concussion Concussion: Signs, Symptoms, and What To Do
Chronic Back Pain with Acupuncture Relieve Your Chronic Back Pain with Acupuncture
Paying attention to what you eat and drink may help prevent headache or migraine attacks. What to Eat and What to Avoid If You Get Migraine Headaches
Integrative_Med_for_migraine 3 Steps to Preventing a Migraine
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Resources

  • Health & Wellness Blog
  • Events
  • Featured Press
  • Featured Interviews and Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Books
  • eBooks
  • Professional Resources
  • Research

Do you have questions about The Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine?
Call Us Today!

703-532-4892, Ext. 2

Subscribe

Are you looking to improve your overall wellness?

Contact Us Today

Personalized care you can trust.

Our integrative, non-surgical treatment approach is highly successful in maintaining wellness and also treating chronic pain and illness. For more than 30 years, we have delivered superior, cutting-edge health care in the Washington, DC area.

QuickLinks

  • Integrative Medicine – McLean, VA – Kaplan Center
  • Conditions
  • Providers
  • Services
  • About
  • Resources
  • Store
  • Contact

Contact Information

Tel: 703-532-4892
Fax: 703-237-3105

6829 Elm Street, Suite 300
McLean, Virginia 22101
Map It

Hours of Operation
Mon – Thu : 8 am – 5 pm, ET
Fri : 8 am – 12 pm, ET

Copyright 2025 The Kaplan Center. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Patient Portal | The Foundation for Total Recovery
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
Link to: Ferritin: More Than Iron—A Diagnostic Power Tool Link to: Ferritin: More Than Iron—A Diagnostic Power Tool Ferritin: More Than Iron—A Diagnostic Power ToolLow ferritin value can indicate inflammation in the body.
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top