If migraines or recurring headaches are affecting your work, sleep, plans or quality of life, you're not alone.

At HPS Wellness Space in Abbotsford, Holly Peyton Smith uses acupuncture, naturopathy and herbal medicine to support people experiencing migraine and headache patterns, with treatment tailored to the individual.

Migraine and headaches can have many contributing factors, and the pattern can look different from person to person. Treatment is based on your symptoms, health history and the factors that may be contributing to your particular presentation.

Supporting recurring migraines and headaches

We commonly support people experiencing:

Migraines are neurological conditions involving changes in nervous system function and sensory processing. Symptoms can be influenced by many factors, including hormonal fluctuations, sleep, stress, nutrition, musculoskeletal tension, and individual health history.

Understanding your unique migraine pattern is an important part of developing a practical treatment approach.

Your migraine pattern matters

Migraine doesn't look the same in everyone. Your treatment may take into account factors such as your menstrual cycle, sleep, stress, digestion, neck and jaw tension, allergies, hormonal changes and other symptoms occurring alongside your headaches.

Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol, treatment is tailored to the pattern you're experiencing.

Some people also notice connections between migraine patterns, allergies, digestive health, and food-related triggers. Where relevant, we may explore factors such as histamine sensitivity as part of a broader assessment.

How acupuncture may help

Acupuncture is used to support the nervous system and may help reduce the frequency, severity or impact of recurring headaches and migraine for some people.

Treatment may involve points on the head, face, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet depending on your presentation. You may also receive treatment in areas that don't seem directly related to your headache — this is part of the individualised approach used in acupuncture.

Acupuncture can be used alongside conventional medical care and prescribed migraine medications. It is not intended to replace medical assessment or treatment where this is required.

Naturopathy and herbal medicine

For some people, acupuncture is only one part of the picture. Naturopathic assessment can help explore factors that may be contributing to recurring symptoms, including nutritional status, hormonal changes, digestive health, sleep, stress and other aspects of your health history.

Where appropriate, herbal medicine and nutritional support may be recommended as part of your individual treatment plan.

Any recommendations are tailored to your circumstances and can be considered alongside existing medical treatment.

What to expect

Your initial consultation involves taking a detailed health history and discussing your headaches or migraine pattern, including when they occur, what they feel like, possible triggers and any associated symptoms.

We'll also look at your broader health rather than treating the headache in isolation.

Your treatment plan may include acupuncture, naturopathic strategies, herbal medicine or nutritional support depending on your needs.

You don't need to arrive with everything figured out. The purpose of the initial consultation is to understand what's happening and work out an appropriate approach from there.

When to seek medical attention

New, severe or significantly changing headaches should always be medically assessed.

Seek urgent medical attention for a sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache, a headache following significant head injury, or a headache accompanied by symptoms such as new weakness, loss of consciousness, confusion, difficulty speaking or other sudden neurological changes.

Acupuncture and naturopathy can complement appropriate medical care, but should not delay assessment of potentially serious symptoms.

Related articles & resources

• The link between histamine and migraines

• Migraine trigger checklist

Ready to discuss your migraines?

If you're experiencing recurring migraine or headaches and would like to explore whether acupuncture or naturopathy may be appropriate for you, book an initial consultation at HPS Wellness Space in Abbotsford.