Course Overview

This course is an in-depth, evidence-informed course designed to help acupuncturists confidently assess, understand, and treat migraine disorders using both modern neuroscience and acupuncture-based frameworks. Migraines are not simply headaches—they are complex neurovascular and neuroinflammatory events with distinct phases, subtypes, and systemic implications. This course begins by clarifying migraine diagnosis and differentiating migraines from other headache disorders, then walks through the four phases of migraine, including the underlying mechanisms of cortical spreading depression and central sensitization. Participants will explore the pathophysiology of migraine. Special attention is given to migraine subtypes such as hemiplegic, retinal, vestibular, and abdominal migraines, along with migraines as a risk factor for other conditions. The course covers conventional migraine medications, and addresses the often-overlooked issue of medication overuse (rebound) headaches. The use of acupuncture in a severe case of medication overuse headache is reviewed. Migraine assessment tools and neurological examination with examples are provided. Finally, the course bridges theory into practice with a deep dive into acupuncture research, treatment protocols, supported by real-world case studies. By the end of this course, acupuncturists will have a modern, clinically relevant framework for treating migraines safely, effectively, and with greater confidence.

Course Objectives

• Understand the modern pathophysiology of migraine, including cortical spreading depression, trigeminovascular activation, CGRP signalling, and hypothalamic involvement, in order to better differentiate migraine from other headache disorders.
• Learn how to accurately assess and classify migraine presentations, including the four phases of migraine and key subtypes such as hemiplegic, vestibular, ocular, and abdominal migraines.
• Become familiar with common migraine medications and recognize medication overuse (rebound) headaches, allowing for safer clinical decision-making and appropriate referral or co-management.
• Learn how to assess patients at the bedside and track clinical progress. Develop evidence-informed acupuncture treatment strategies for migraine supported by current research and real-world case studies.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 2 hrsDiagnosis: covers diagnostic criteria and key clinical features, the 4 phases of migraine. We discuss migraine as an increased risk for other disorders.

2 hrs - 4 hrsMigraine is not just a headache, but a fundamental shift in sensory processing. We cover acupunctures role as a neuro-modulatory therapy, medications and medication overuse headaches with an acupuncture case study.

4 hrs - 4.5 hrsThis segment explores photophobia as a central sensitization of pain, and explores the effects of weather on migraines, and why TCM can explain such phenomena better than anyone else.

4.5 hrs - 6.5 hrsWe will cover migraine sub-types including vestibular migraine, abdominal migraine, and cyclical vomiting syndrome. Then we will discuss functional gastrointestinal disorders that often occur with chronic migraine.

6.5 hrs - 7.25 hrsAssessment Tools: Patient-friendly migraine tracking tools and subjective in-office assessments will be covered, with copies of 3 assessment tools provided as part of the course.

7.25 hrs - 9.25 hrsObjective functional neurological exam skills pertinent to migraine states are covered, with videos to illustrate. Cervical dystonia is included in this section.

9.25 hrs - 10 hrsTreat approaches and strategies for migraines including acute abortive therapies, long-term prevention strategies and lifestyle factors. Acupuncture strategies will be emphasized.