14/05/2026
Recently, I treated a client in her early 30s who had been struggling with frequent migraines and tension headaches, alongside constant tightness in her shoulders and occasional jaw clenching.
Her headaches had gradually become a weekly occurrence — sometimes every few days — and were starting to affect her energy, focus and overall quality of life. Like many people I see, she felt as though her body had become stuck holding stress.
During our consultation, a few different pieces of the puzzle started to come together, including muscular tightness, hormonal influences and nervous system overload. Treatment focused on helping calm the nervous system and ease tension through the head, neck and shoulders.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, this kind of presentation can sometimes reflect an imbalance connected to the Wood element, which is commonly associated with emotional pressure and feeling overstretched. I sometimes describe it as being a bit like a pressure valve that hasn’t had a chance to release properly — eventually the body starts showing signs that it’s struggling to regulate and settle itself.
On examination, I also noticed some redness at the edges of the tongue, which in TCM can sometimes be a sign that the body is feeling overstimulated or “running hot” over a longer period.
Alongside acupuncture, I used cupping to help release deeper fascial tightness through the upper back and neck.
After treatment, she reported fewer migraines, less frequent tension headaches, and a noticeable reduction in tightness through her neck, shoulders and jaw.
Every person is different of course, but many people seek acupuncture to support headaches, jaw tension and the physical effects of feeling overwhelmed — especially when symptoms have started to become persistent.
If you’re curious about whether acupuncture might be suitable for you, I also offer free informal chat appointments, which can be booked via Fresha. https://f.mtr.cool/zekyrsyuie
Gosia
Acupuncturist
anaturalbalance.co.uk
