Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines in Naperville IL by Dr Jennifer Wise at Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic in Naperville IL 4931 Illinois Rte 59 Suite 121 Naperville IL 60564 (630) 355-8022

Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines in Naperville IL

You know the pattern too well. The tension starts creeping in behind your eyes or at the base of your skull. Within hours, you’re dealing with throbbing pain, light sensitivity, maybe nausea—and the only option anyone’s given you is another prescription that leaves you foggy and exhausted. Or worse, you pop over-the-counter painkillers so often that they’ve started causing rebound headaches on top of the ones you already had.

If you’re searching for acupuncture for headaches and migraines in Naperville, you’re looking for something different. Something that actually addresses why your headaches keep coming back.

I’m Dr. Jennifer Wise—a Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate, acupuncturist, and founder of Synergy Institute in Naperville. After 25+ years of treating headache patients, here’s what I can tell you: most headache treatments fail because they only target the pain. They ignore the structural, neurological, inflammatory, and even nutritional factors that are driving it. That’s exactly what we do differently.

In this article, I’ll break down the different types of headaches, explain how acupuncture works for each one, and show you why combining acupuncture with treatments like MLS laser therapy, Stimpod neuromodulation, chiropractic care, and nutritional assessment gives you a far better chance at lasting relief than any single treatment alone.

Headache and Migraine Quick Facts

What You Should Know The Details
How common Over 50% of adults experience headaches annually; migraines affect roughly 12% of Americans
Most affected Women are 3x more likely to get migraines than men; peak ages 25–55
Often misdiagnosed Up to 50% of cervicogenic headaches are misdiagnosed as tension headaches or migraines
Acupuncture effectiveness Cochrane review found acupuncture at least as effective as preventive migraine medications—with fewer side effects
Treatment timeline Most patients see meaningful reduction in headache frequency within 4–8 sessions
When to worry Sudden “worst headache of your life,” headache with fever/stiff neck, or headache after head trauma—seek emergency care

Understanding Headaches and Migraines: They’re Not All the Same

Here’s what most clinics miss: not all headaches are the same, and treating them all the same way is a big reason people don’t get better. The treatment that works for a tension headache won’t necessarily work for a migraine, and neither will work for a headache that’s actually coming from your neck.

I see three main types of headaches in my Naperville practice:

Tension Headaches

The most common type. You feel a dull, squeezing pressure—like a band around your head. These are often driven by muscle tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw, made worse by stress, poor posture, and hours spent at a computer. Tension headaches respond extremely well to acupuncture because we can directly release the trigger points and muscle tension that cause them.

Cervicogenic Headaches: The Neck Connection Most Clinics Miss

This is the type almost everyone overlooks. Cervicogenic headaches originate from problems in your cervical spine—your neck. Misaligned vertebrae, herniated discs, compressed nerves, or tight suboccipital muscles (the small muscles at the base of your skull) can all refer pain into your head, temples, behind your eyes, and even across your forehead.

Here’s the problem: cervicogenic headaches are frequently misdiagnosed as tension headaches or migraines. Research suggests that up to 20% of all chronic headaches are cervicogenic in origin—and in my clinical experience, that number is conservative. If you’ve been treating your headaches with medication for years without lasting improvement, there’s a real possibility that your neck is the actual source.

This is where my dual credential matters. As a Doctor of Chiropractic, I can evaluate your cervical spine, review your imaging, and identify structural issues that an acupuncture-only provider would miss entirely. Then, as a licensed acupuncturist, I can treat the pain and inflammation directly. You get diagnosis AND treatment from the same provider.

Migraines

Migraines are a neurological condition—not just a bad headache. They involve intense, often one-sided throbbing pain, and frequently come with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes aura—visual disturbances like flashing lights or blind spots that warn you an attack is coming.

What drives migraines is complex. Research points to a combination of nervous system hypersensitivity, blood vessel changes in the brain, inflammatory cascades, and genetic factors. But here’s what I want you to understand: common triggers like stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, sleep disruption, and nutritional deficiencies don’t cause migraines by themselves—they overwhelm an already-sensitized nervous system.

That’s why treating migraines requires calming the nervous system, reducing systemic inflammation, AND identifying your individual triggers. Acupuncture does the first two exceptionally well. Our nutritional assessment and food sensitivity testing help with the third.

🚨 Seek Immediate Medical Care If You Experience:

  • Sudden, severe headache unlike anything you’ve experienced (“worst headache of your life”)
  • Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or seizures
  • Headache after a head injury or trauma
  • Headache with vision loss, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking
  • Progressively worsening headache over days or weeks

These symptoms may indicate a serious neurological condition and require emergency evaluation.

How Acupuncture Treats Headaches and Migraines

The research on acupuncture for headaches is some of the strongest in all of complementary medicine. A major Cochrane systematic review—the gold standard of medical evidence—analyzed 22 clinical trials and concluded that acupuncture is at least as effective as preventive migraine medication, with significantly fewer side effects.

Here’s what’s happening when I place acupuncture needles for your headaches:

Endorphin and serotonin release. Acupuncture stimulates your nervous system to release endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers) and serotonin—a neurotransmitter involved in blood vessel regulation and mood. Low serotonin is directly linked to migraines, which is why many migraine medications target serotonin pathways. Acupuncture does this naturally.

Inflammation reduction. Chronic headaches involve ongoing inflammatory processes. Studies show acupuncture downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and calms the inflammatory cascade that contributes to both tension headaches and migraines.

Nervous system regulation. Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system—your body’s “rest and repair” mode. For migraine patients whose nervous systems are essentially stuck in overdrive, this is critical. It’s also why many patients feel profoundly relaxed during treatment.

Trigger point release. For tension and cervicogenic headaches, I target specific trigger points in the neck, suboccipital region, jaw, and upper back that refer pain to the head. Releasing these tight bands of muscle can provide immediate relief.

Vascular regulation. Acupuncture helps normalize blood vessel tone—reducing the vasoconstriction and vasodilation patterns associated with migraines.

The result isn’t just pain relief during a headache. With consistent treatment, acupuncture reduces the frequency, duration, and intensity of headaches over time. Research shows these effects persist for months after a course of treatment ends. That’s prevention, not just symptom management.

Electroacupuncture for Migraines: Why It Makes a Difference

For migraine patients specifically, I often use electroacupuncture—attaching small clips to the acupuncture needles and delivering a gentle electrical current between them. Research published in JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrated that true acupuncture with electrical stimulation produced significant reductions in migraine frequency compared to sham treatment.

Why electroacupuncture works so well for migraines:

  • Deeper nerve activation — The electrical current reaches nerve fibers that manual needling alone may not fully engage, triggering a stronger pain-modulating response
  • More sustained endorphin release — Electroacupuncture at specific frequencies (2 Hz and 100 Hz) has been shown to release different types of endorphins, providing both immediate and prolonged pain relief
  • Enhanced nervous system calming — For migraineurs whose nervous systems are hypersensitive, the rhythmic electrical stimulation helps “reset” overactive pain signaling

Most patients describe the sensation as a gentle pulsing or tapping—comfortable and often deeply relaxing. I don’t use electroacupuncture on every headache patient, but for chronic migraines that haven’t responded well to other approaches, it can be the breakthrough that makes the difference.

The Cervical Spine Connection: Why Your Neck May Be Causing Your Headaches

Here’s what I want every headache sufferer to understand: your neck and your headaches may be directly connected, even if no one has told you that before.

The upper cervical spine (C1, C2, C3) shares nerve pathways with the trigeminal nerve—the primary nerve responsible for headache pain. When structures in your upper neck are dysfunctional—misaligned vertebrae, tight muscles, compressed nerves, or inflamed joints—those signals get interpreted by your brain as head pain.

This connection explains why:

  • Your headaches always start at the base of your skull and radiate forward
  • Neck stiffness and headaches always seem to come together
  • Your headaches are worse after long periods of sitting or looking at screens
  • Medications reduce the pain temporarily but never stop headaches from returning

If the cause is in your neck but you’re only treating the symptom in your head, you’ll never break the cycle.

At Synergy Institute, I evaluate your cervical spine as part of every headache assessment. If I find structural issues contributing to your headaches—and I frequently do—we can address them directly with chiropractic adjustments, cervical decompression, and targeted acupuncture. No other acupuncture clinic in Naperville can offer this combination because they don’t have the diagnostic training to identify the problem in the first place.

Synergy’s Integrative Approach to Headache Treatment

Here’s what sets us apart from every other headache treatment option in Naperville: we don’t rely on a single treatment. Headaches are multi-factorial—they have structural, neurological, inflammatory, and nutritional components. Treating just one dimension is why so many people struggle with headaches for years without lasting improvement.

At Synergy Institute, I build customized treatment plans that may include any combination of:

Acupuncture + Electroacupuncture

Reduces pain signaling, releases endorphins, calms the nervous system, and releases trigger points in the neck and head. This is the foundation of headache treatment for most patients.

MLS Laser Therapy

I use MLS laser directly on trigger points in the neck, suboccipital muscles, and upper trapezius. The dual-wavelength laser penetrates deep into tissue, reducing inflammation and muscle spasm faster than manual therapy alone. For patients with chronic tension patterns driving their headaches, laser on trigger points combined with acupuncture is a powerful combination.

Stimpod Neuromodulation

Stimpod delivers targeted pulsed radiofrequency energy along peripheral nerves. For headaches with a significant nerve component—especially occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headaches—Stimpod can calm overactive nerve signaling in a way that other treatments don’t reach. It’s especially valuable for patients whose headaches involve that shooting, electrical pain pattern.

Chiropractic Adjustment

Corrects cervical spine misalignments that contribute to cervicogenic headaches. I use precise, gentle techniques appropriate for the upper cervical region—this isn’t aggressive “cracking.” Proper alignment restores normal nerve function and reduces the mechanical irritation that triggers headaches.

Cervical Decompression

For patients with disc issues in the neck contributing to neck pain and headaches, our Back On Trac decompression system gently creates space between vertebrae, reducing nerve compression. We were one of the first clinics in Illinois to offer spinal decompression therapy, starting in 2002.

Nutritional Assessment + Food Sensitivity Testing

Here’s what most headache clinics completely ignore: what you eat—and what your body can’t properly process—may be fueling your headaches. Research shows strong connections between headaches and deficiencies in magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), CoQ10, and vitamin D. Low magnesium alone is found in up to 50% of migraine sufferers.

We also see patients whose migraines are triggered by foods they don’t even suspect. At Synergy Institute, we offer nutritional assessment and food sensitivity testing to identify hidden inflammatory triggers and nutrient gaps. Correcting these factors doesn’t just reduce headache frequency—it improves your overall health.

Treatment Comparison

Treatment How It Helps Headaches Best For Invasiveness
Acupuncture Releases endorphins, reduces inflammation, calms nervous system All headache types Low
Electroacupuncture Amplifies pain relief, resets nerve signaling Chronic migraines, resistant headaches Low
MLS Laser on trigger points Reduces muscle spasm and deep tissue inflammation Tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches None
Stimpod neuromodulation Calms overactive peripheral nerves Occipital neuralgia, nerve-driven headaches Low
Chiropractic adjustment Corrects cervical misalignment Cervicogenic headaches Low
Cervical decompression Relieves disc-related nerve compression Headaches with disc involvement Low
Nutritional assessment + food sensitivity testing Identifies deficiencies and inflammatory food triggers Migraines with dietary triggers, chronic inflammation None

The specific combination depends on what’s driving YOUR headaches. That’s why every treatment plan starts with a thorough evaluation—not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Is Acupuncture for Headaches Right for You?

You May Be a Good Candidate If:

  • You get headaches or migraines more than twice a month
  • Medications only partially help or cause side effects you don’t want to live with
  • You’ve noticed your headaches are connected to neck tension or stiffness
  • You want to reduce headache frequency, not just manage pain after it starts
  • You’ve been told “it’s just stress” or “take more ibuprofen” and you know there’s more going on
  • You suspect food, sleep, or nutritional factors may play a role
  • You want a drug-free approach that addresses root causes

You May NOT Be a Good Candidate If:

  • You have cluster headaches (acupuncture has limited evidence for this specific type)
  • Your headaches are caused by a condition requiring surgical intervention (tumor, aneurysm)
  • You’re looking for a single-visit cure (headache treatment works cumulatively over a series of sessions)
  • You have a pacemaker or implanted electrical device (electroacupuncture is contraindicated; traditional acupuncture may still be appropriate)

“If I don’t think we can help you, I’ll tell you directly. I’d rather refer you to someone who can help than waste your time and money.”

What to Expect at Your First Headache Treatment Visit

Your first visit at Synergy Institute is thorough. I need to understand what type of headache you’re dealing with, what’s causing it, and which combination of treatments gives you the best chance of real improvement.

Your evaluation includes:

  • Detailed headache history—frequency, duration, location, triggers, what makes it better or worse
  • Cervical spine examination—range of motion, palpation of neck muscles and joints, neurological screening
  • Review of any imaging (MRI, X-rays) you have
  • Discussion of your diet, sleep, stress levels, and any nutritional concerns
  • Honest assessment of what I think is driving your headaches and whether we can help

Your first treatment typically includes acupuncture targeting your specific headache pattern, plus any additional treatments (laser, chiropractic, Stimpod) that are appropriate based on your evaluation. Many patients feel noticeably better after their first session—though lasting results build over a series of treatments.

Typical treatment plan: 8–12 sessions over 6–8 weeks for chronic headaches. Acute headache patients may need fewer. As your headache frequency decreases, we space sessions further apart and transition to maintenance care if needed.

Why Choose Synergy Institute for Headache and Migraine Treatment in Naperville

Dual-credentialed provider. I’m both a Doctor of Chiropractic and a licensed acupuncturist. I can identify cervicogenic headaches that acupuncture-only clinics miss, and I can treat the structural AND soft tissue components of your headaches in the same visit.

Technology that no other local acupuncture clinic has. MLS laser on trigger points, Stimpod neuromodulation, cervical decompression, SoftWave therapy—these aren’t available at any other acupuncture practice in Naperville. We were the first clinic in Illinois to offer spinal decompression (2002) and the first in Naperville for SoftWave (2021).

Nutritional approach. We look at the whole picture—including magnesium levels, B vitamin status, inflammatory markers, and food sensitivities. Most headache clinics don’t even ask about nutrition.

25+ years of experience. I’ve treated thousands of headache patients. That pattern recognition—knowing which combination of treatments a specific headache presentation needs—can’t be learned from a textbook. It comes from decades of clinical practice.

Honest assessment. I won’t tell you acupuncture will fix everything. If your headaches need a neurologist, medication, or imaging we can’t provide, I’ll tell you and help you find the right provider.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines

Can acupuncture really help with migraines?

Yes—and this isn’t just my opinion. A 2016 Cochrane systematic review of 22 trials concluded that acupuncture is at least as effective as preventive migraine medications for reducing migraine frequency, with significantly fewer side effects. A separate study published in JAMA Internal Medicine confirmed these findings with nearly 18,000 patients. In my clinical experience, most migraine patients see a meaningful reduction in frequency and intensity within the first 4–8 sessions.

How many acupuncture sessions do I need for headaches?

For chronic headaches and migraines, I typically recommend 8–12 sessions over 6–8 weeks as an initial course of treatment. Many patients notice improvement within the first 3–4 sessions. Acute headache patients or those with a clear cervical spine component sometimes respond faster. After the initial treatment series, we reassess and determine whether maintenance sessions are needed.

Can neck problems really cause headaches?

Absolutely. Cervicogenic headaches—headaches that originate from dysfunction in the cervical spine—are far more common than most people realize. Research estimates they account for 15–20% of all chronic headaches. The upper cervical vertebrae share nerve pathways with the trigeminal nerve (your primary headache nerve), which is why neck problems can produce pain that feels like it’s coming from your head, temples, or behind your eyes.

What types of headaches does acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture is effective for tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraines—the three most common types. It has the strongest evidence base for migraine prevention and tension headache relief. For cervicogenic headaches, I combine acupuncture with chiropractic care to address both the pain and the underlying structural cause.

What is electroacupuncture and does it help with migraines?

Electroacupuncture adds a gentle electrical current between paired acupuncture needles. Research shows it activates deeper nerve pathways and triggers a stronger release of pain-relieving neurotransmitters than manual acupuncture alone. For migraine patients specifically, electroacupuncture has demonstrated significant reductions in headache frequency in clinical trials. The sensation feels like a mild pulsing or tapping—most patients find it comfortable.

How does MLS laser therapy help with headaches?

I use MLS laser directly on trigger points in the neck, suboccipital region, and upper trapezius muscles. The dual-wavelength laser reduces deep tissue inflammation and muscle spasm that drive tension and cervicogenic headaches. It’s especially effective when combined with acupuncture—the laser addresses the tissue inflammation while acupuncture addresses the neurological component.

Can food sensitivities cause migraines?

Yes. Research shows that food sensitivities can trigger inflammatory responses that lower the threshold for migraine attacks. Common culprits include processed foods, aged cheeses, wine, artificial sweeteners, and foods high in histamine—but everyone’s triggers are different. That’s why we offer food sensitivity testing at Synergy Institute. Identifying and eliminating your specific triggers can significantly reduce migraine frequency for patients whose headaches have an inflammatory or dietary component.

What nutritional deficiencies are linked to headaches?

Several nutrient deficiencies are strongly associated with headaches and migraines. Magnesium deficiency is found in up to 50% of migraine sufferers, and supplementation has been shown to reduce migraine frequency. Riboflavin (vitamin B2), CoQ10, and vitamin D are also linked to headache susceptibility. At Synergy Institute, our nutritional assessment can identify these gaps so we can address them alongside your acupuncture treatment.

Is acupuncture for migraines covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans now cover acupuncture for pain conditions, including headaches and migraines. Coverage varies by plan—some cover a specific number of sessions per year, others require certain diagnosis codes. Our office can verify your benefits before your first visit so you know exactly what’s covered.

Can acupuncture prevent migraines or just treat them?

Both—but prevention is actually where acupuncture shines. The Cochrane review specifically looked at acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis (prevention) and found it significantly reduces the number of headache days per month. These preventive effects persisted for months after treatment ended. This is one of acupuncture’s biggest advantages over acute medications, which only help once a headache has already started.

How does Stimpod neuromodulation help with headaches?

Stimpod delivers pulsed radiofrequency energy along peripheral nerves to calm overactive pain signaling. For headaches involving occipital neuralgia or significant nerve irritation, Stimpod can reduce that sharp, shooting, electrical pain pattern that other treatments don’t fully reach. It’s a valuable addition to the treatment plan when the nerve component of headaches is prominent.

Why see a chiropractor-acupuncturist for headaches instead of just a headache specialist?

A headache specialist is excellent at diagnosing headache type and prescribing medication. But if your headaches have a structural component—cervical spine dysfunction, muscle tension patterns, postural issues—medication alone won’t fix the underlying cause. As both a chiropractor and acupuncturist, I can identify structural problems, treat them with adjustments and decompression, and simultaneously use acupuncture and laser therapy to address the pain, inflammation, and nerve dysfunction. You get comprehensive treatment, not just a prescription.

Take the First Step Toward Fewer Headaches

Headaches don’t have to control your life. Whether you’re dealing with weekly migraines, daily tension headaches, or pain that starts in your neck and radiates across your skull, there are real answers—and they don’t all come in a pill bottle.

At Synergy Institute in Naperville, Dr. Jennifer Wise and our team have helped thousands of patients find lasting relief through our integrative approach. If I don’t think we can help you, I’ll tell you directly—and help you find someone who can.

Call or text (630) 454-1300 to schedule your consultation.

What to expect at your first visit:

  • Complete headache and cervical spine evaluation
  • Review of your MRI or imaging
  • Honest assessment of your treatment options
  • Same-day treatment if appropriate

Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic 4931 Illinois Route 59, Suite 121 Naperville, IL 60564

Serving Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Oswego, and surrounding communities.

References

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  8. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Acupuncture: What You Need to Know. NCCIH. 2024. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-what-you-need-to-know
  9. Zhao ZQ. Neural mechanism underlying acupuncture analgesia. Progress in Neurobiology. 2008;85(4):355-375. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18582529/
  10. Schoenen J, et al. Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 1998;50(2):466-470. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9484373/
  11. Sun Y, Bhatt DK, et al. Acupuncture and related techniques for headache: a Cochrane umbrella review. Journal of Headache and Pain. 2022;23(1):35. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35236298/
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Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions. Individual results may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

Last reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Wise, DC — February 2026