Acupuncture for Migraines & Headaches in Middlesbrough

First, do whatever helps you cope right now: dark room, water, your acute medication if you have one. Acupuncture is most useful as a preventive course rather than an acute rescue. When you are well enough, ring 0800 593 2023 or book online. There is no pressure to read the rest of this page right now.

UK clinical guidance from NICE recommends a course of up to 10 sessions over 5 to 8 weeks for the prevention of chronic tension-type headache and migraine. We follow that frame, typically starting with weekly sessions and reviewing progress around session six to decide whether the full course is needed or whether to step back to maintenance. Some people notice a change within three to four sessions. Consistency over weeks matters more than any single visit, which is why we structure treatment around a course rather than one-offs.

Yes. Acupuncture is a complementary therapy and works alongside medication, not in place of it. Many of our patients are taking triptans, preventive medication, or beta blockers when they begin treatment. We do not ask anyone to come off medication. What patients sometimes find is that as treatment progresses and headache frequency reduces, they have a more informed conversation with their GP about whether their current medication regimen is still the right fit.

Hormonally-linked migraines are one of the patterns I see most often. Cycle-linked migraines that arrive the same day every month, perimenopausal headaches that started in your late thirties or forties, and migraines that began after pregnancy and never quite settled. My postgraduate training is in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which means I will look at your headache pattern alongside your cycle, your sleep, and your wider hormonal picture rather than treating the headache as if it exists on its own. For many women, this is the first time anyone has actually mapped the two together.

Yes, alongside your specialist care. Cluster headaches are a distinct, severe headache pattern usually managed through neurology services. Acupuncture is not a first-line treatment for cluster headache, and we would not ask anyone to step away from their NHS care to come to us. Several of our male patients with cluster patterns use acupuncture between cluster periods to support the nervous system and address contributing tension patterns. If cluster headaches are part of your picture, we will be straight with you about where the work can and cannot help.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear. Acupuncture needles are very fine, much thinner than the needles used for injections or blood tests. Most patients describe the sensation as a dull ache or warm pressure rather than a sharp pain. We always go at your pace and will use the lightest possible technique on your first session. You are welcome to ring beforehand and ask any questions you have.

In most cases yes, and migraine in pregnancy is one of the patterns we see often. Acupuncture has a well-established safety profile during pregnancy when delivered by a trained practitioner, and certain points are avoided in pregnancy as a precaution. My postgraduate training is in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which includes treating throughout pregnancy. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, mention it when you book and we will tailor the treatment plan accordingly.

Acupuncture is generally very safe. We take a full medical history at the initial consultation including all medications and conditions. Specific protocols apply for people taking blood thinners, but most can still receive treatment with adjustments. If we identify any reason it is not appropriate for you, we will say so and refer you back to your GP rather than treat.

Often, yes. Deanna is a BSc (Hons) qualified acupuncturist, a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC), and CNHC registered, which means treatment may be claimable on most UK health cash plans, including Simplyhealth, Westfield Health, BHSF, Medicash, and Benenden Health, up to your annual benefit limit. Some private medical insurance policies (Aviva, AXA, WPA) may also cover acupuncture, typically requiring a GP referral and excluding chronic or pre-existing conditions. Always check your specific policy before booking. We will provide a detailed receipt for any claim you would like to submit.

Yes. Our clinic is based at The House, 283 Acklam Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 7BP, and we see patients from across Teesside including Stockton, Yarm, Ingleby Barwick, Thornaby, Darlington, Redcar, Saltburn, Guisborough, Stokesley, Hartlepool, and Northallerton. There is free parking on site and we are easy to reach from the A19, A66, and A174.

No referral needed. You can book directly through our online booking system. If you would like to talk things through before booking, you are welcome to call us on 0800 593 2023 first.