Headaches & Migraines: Drug-Free Relief in Mineola
The short answer. Many headaches start in the neck, and migraines respond to prevention. Acupuncture has strong evidence for reducing how often migraines and tension headaches happen,¹˒² and chiropractic care helps the neck-driven (cervicogenic) headaches that painkillers never quite fix.³ Here's how.
Not all headaches are the same
Tension headaches — a tight, band-like ache, often from neck and shoulder tension.
Cervicogenic headaches — pain that actually starts in the neck and refers up into the head.
Migraines — throbbing, often one-sided, sometimes with light sensitivity or nausea.
The approach depends on the type — which is why we start with an exam, not a guess. (Sudden "worst headache of your life," headache with fever/stiff neck, or new neurological symptoms need urgent medical care.)
How chiropractic helps
For tension and cervicogenic headaches, the driver is often the neck. Chiropractic care restores motion to the upper-neck joints and releases the muscle tension that refers pain into the head; clinical guidelines support spinal manipulation and manual therapy for these headache types.³ We often pair adjustments with posture work and dry cupping of the upper shoulders.
How acupuncture helps
This is one of acupuncture's best-established uses. A Cochrane review found acupuncture prevents episodic migraine at least as well as commonly used preventive medications, with fewer side effects,¹ and a separate Cochrane review found acupuncture reduces the frequency of tension-type headaches.² That's high-quality evidence for using acupuncture to have fewer headaches, not just to treat one in progress.
Why doing both can work better
If your headaches are neck-driven and frequent, combining approaches makes sense: chiropractic addresses the neck source, acupuncture reduces the overall frequency. Our Combined Care visit delivers both together in one coordinated session.
What to expect
We identify your headache type, treat it, and build a prevention plan — including triggers, posture, and home strategies. Prevention is the goal, not just chasing each headache with a pill.
Get headache help in Mineola
The Point Chiropractic and Acupuncture P.C. serves Mineola and western Nassau County. We're in-network with Northwell Direct for chiropractic (adding more insurers). Book online — HSA/FSA accepted, superbills on request.
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. New, severe, or unusual headaches should be evaluated by a physician.
Sources
Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016.
Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016.
Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2011.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. nccih.nih.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture really help migraines? Yes — a Cochrane review found acupuncture prevents episodic migraine at least as well as standard preventive medications, with fewer side effects.
Can a chiropractor help headaches? Yes, especially tension and cervicogenic (neck-driven) headaches; guidelines support spinal manipulation and manual therapy for these types.
Which headache types do you treat? Tension, cervicogenic, and migraine. We identify the type first, then tailor care.
Is this a substitute for my neurologist? No — we complement medical care. New, severe, or unusual headaches should be evaluated by a physician.
Do you take insurance? In-network with Northwell Direct for chiropractic (adding more); acupuncture is cash-based. HSA/FSA accepted.
Related: Spine & Musculoskeletal Pain · Neck Pain & Tech Neck: Relief in Mineola
