Ring in acupuncture point eradicated migraines
Q. You’ve written about people using brain freeze to stop a migraine headache. I want to tell you another thing that worked for my daughter, who used to suffer two or three debilitating migraines every month. Imitrex stopped working and she could do nothing but sleep the migraine off for a couple of days.
She has a high-stress job in promotional products, and a loving boss lady, who is almost a second mom to her. My only child, now 59, has not had a migraine now for several years because her boss gave her a Christmas present.
The gift was a session at an acupuncturist near their office. The acupuncturist inserted a tiny metal ringtype earring in a particular spot in the cartilage of her ear. Blessedly, the migraines went away completely for about five years.
Then, the migraines started to creep back. I did some research online and sent her back to the same place where she got the earring. They added a small ball weight to the ring, and that did it. She’s not had a single migraine since then.
A. What a fabulous story! We were delighted to find that there has been some research on the use of “auricular therapy” for migraine. Auricular therapy refers to acupuncture of specific spots on the ear. One review summarized studies showing that auricular therapy has benefit for managing migraine (Current Pain and Headache Reports, May 2, 2024).
In addition, an analysis from China suggests that pain relief results from triggering the auricular vagus nerve (Zhen Ci Yan Jiu, April 25, 2024). This branch of the vagus nerve lies near the surface of the skin, making it accessible to stimulation (Frontiers in Neuroscience,
April 29, 2021). Research has indicated that stimulating this nerve can alleviate pain.
Q. I have a question about the ginraisin remedy for arthritis. If tart cherries also help ease joint pain, would it work to soak dried tart cherries in gin instead of raisins?
I’m not in the habit of drinking sweet beverages or fruit juice, so I often forget to drink the tart cherry juice I buy. I’ve found it easier to eat dried cherries. Would soaking them in gin up the ante?
A. You raise an intriguing idea. Although there are no studies of ginsoaked raisins for arthritis, scientists have studied tart cherries. Several trials show that tart cherries or cherry juice can reduce inflammation from gout (Arthritis Research & Therapy, Sept. 7, 2023).
A review found that tart cherries ease inflammation broadly (Ageing Research Reviews, March 2021). There is no research on gin-soaked cherries, but it might be an experiment worth trying.
You can learn more about ginsoaked raisins as well as tart cherries and cherry juice for joint pain in our “eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis.” This extensive online resource is available at the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
You will learn about some other non-drug approaches against inflammation including Knox Gelatine, pineapple, turmeric, ginger, stinging nettle and Certo and grape juice. Such remedies are less risky than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
If you try gin-soaked tart cherries, please let us know the outcome. That is the way we learn about new strategies for treating arthritis.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”