Acupuncturist Services

Acupuncture for Headaches in Greenville, SC

Acupuncture for Headaches at IHP Greenville. Dr. Hendry, DAOM — NCCAOM-certified, 25+ yrs experience, hospital-credentialed. Call (864) 365-6156.

Headaches are among the most common conditions treated with acupuncture worldwide — and for good reason. Whether the presenting complaint is tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache (from neck and upper back dysfunction), cluster headache, or migraine, acupuncture's neuromodulatory and musculoskeletal effects address the multiple pathways that produce head pain. At Integrative Health Partners, Dr. Hendry evaluates headache type and pattern carefully before treatment, selecting the most effective acupuncture approach for your specific presentation.

How Acupuncture for Headaches Works

Headache treatment typically combines local points at the head, neck, and shoulders with distal points on the hands, feet, and lower legs — a classical Chinese approach that produces remote effects via meridian connections. Dr. Hendry may also use dry needling for cervicogenic headaches with clear trigger point contributions, and auricular acupuncture for neurological/stress-driven headaches. Chinese herbal medicine is often prescribed alongside acupuncture for headaches with clear constitutional patterns.

Conditions Treated with Acupuncture for Headaches

Your First Appointment

Bring a headache diary if possible — frequency, duration, location, severity, and associated symptoms (nausea, light sensitivity, neck stiffness). Tell Dr. Hendry about any medications used for headaches, including OTC analgesics, as medication-overuse headache is a common clinical pattern that requires specific management.

Why Dr. Hendry for Acupuncture for Headaches

Dr. Hendry's dual musculoskeletal (dry needling) and neurological (acupuncture, scalp acupuncture) expertise allows him to approach headaches from all relevant angles — structural, neurological, and constitutional — simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Acupuncture treats tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches (neck-origin), migraines, cluster headaches, and post-concussion headaches. Dr. Hendry identifies your headache type at the first appointment and selects the appropriate protocol.
Tension-type and cervicogenic headaches often show significant improvement within 3–5 sessions. Migraine prevention typically requires 8–12 sessions. Many patients report reduced headache frequency even before the complete course of treatment is finished.
For prevention, acupuncture has evidence comparable to prophylactic medications (topiramate, amitriptyline) without side effects. For acute headache, medication typically acts faster but acupuncture can significantly reduce acute headache severity when applied early.
Yes — particularly for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches driven by trigger points in the upper trapezius, SCM, suboccipitals, and temporalis muscles. Dr. Hendry uses dry needling as part of his headache protocol when trigger points are a primary driver.
Absolutely. Common dietary headache triggers include aged cheeses, wine, processed meats, aspartame, MSG, and blood sugar instability. Dr. Hendry reviews dietary patterns at your intake and may recommend an elimination protocol or specific nutritional interventions.
Integrative Health Partners, 319 Wade Hampton Blvd, Ste A, Greenville, SC 29609. Call (864) 365-6156.

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