Migraine headache relief
Our combination of gentle acupuncture and specialized herbs treats the
root cause of migraine headaches for long-term relief.
No pharmaceuticals, no injections.
What We Do and Why We’re Different
(With real success stories from real patients)
WE ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE
Our process includes finding and resolving the actual root CAUSE of your migraines. This is why so many have found relief with our therapies, even though other treatments didn’t work. Even those with a long family history of migraines or migraines that only responded to the most powerful medications and procedure have experienced significant, even permanent relief.
“I began going to Alexa after searching on the internet. I must admit I was a bit skeptical when she mentioned acupuncture for my migraines. I've had migraines for over 30 years and have never had much luck with any treatment. After several rounds of acupuncture and Chinese herbs with Alexa, I am now migraine free for the first time since high school.” -T.J.
“I want you to know how much you have done for me. You really care, you listen, you seriously know your stuff and you have tremendous confidence and so I cannot help but feel the same... Before seeing you I could barely eat and what I ate was bread and oatmeal. Now I eat a wide variety of foods. My stomach pain is occasional where it used to be chronic and ditto on the migraines.” -L.B.
WE KEEP IT SIMPLE
Healing your migraines does not have to be difficult. Simple, targeted lifestyle and diet changes combined with our personalized natural therapies provide a clear, efficient way to help your body resolve the migraines on its own.
WE AWAKEN YOUR BODY’S NATURAL SELF-HEALING
Your body is not “broken” and it IS possible to heal your migraines. Your body never forgets how to heal itself, it just needs the right support. Your body makes its own anti-inflammatory substances and painkillers, and is fully capable of self-regulating its hormonal pathways. Our therapies help it do those things more powerfully and consistently.
“When I write my magical-realist memoir, I will not need to exaggerate my experience in order to demonstrate that Alexa Gilmore is a sorceress. I am a scientifically minded, over-analytical skeptic. I did not expect ANY of this to work, but the effects of Alexa’s treatments are indisputable: I feel like I traded in my previous body for a much better model.” - A.C.
“I had been struggling with chronic muscle pain in my neck and upper shoulders for at least 2 years maybe longer. This pain often led to dehabilitating headaches that kept me from enjoying daily life - even from performing my job forcing me to miss work....After my very first treatment, I felt a calmness, and relief that I had lost hope of ever finding. I felt lighter, as though a very heavy weight had been lifted both physically and mentally....The healing benefits have been so amazing for me.” -G.A.
A SOLUTION YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT
Your doctor may have told you that you have to live with your migraines or “this is as good as it gets.” That doesn’t mean there is no treatment, it just means your doctor has run out of ideas or there aren’t conventional treatments available. We find that people who haven’t responded well to conventional treatment often respond very well to our natural approach.
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
Our powerful blend of natural therapies works for many types of severe headache and migraine, including:
Hormonal Migraines
Cluster Headaches
Visual Migraine
Daily Migraines
Stress-Related Migraines
Migraines With Nausea/Vomiting
Chronic Tension Headaches
Migraines With Aura
Treatment-Resistant Migraines
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
Our Methods
CUSTOMIZED CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
Sophisticated Chinese herbal formulations correct imbalances while simultaneously strengthening what led to those imbalances in the first place. This dual action is unique to herbal medicine, and makes it particularly well suited to treat hormonal conditions, including hormonal migraines.
DIET & NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
When your cells, glands, and tissues are fully nourished with the specific nutrients they need, they will naturally function at a very high level. You’ll feel your best when when your body’s key systems are optimized through proper nutrition. There is no one-size-fits-all food plan, and we’ll expertly guide and support you in making the best choices for your particular body, in your particular state of health, at your particular time of life.
GENTLE ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is a powerful way to stimulate your body's innate healing capacity, and each session sends a targeted message to your system about how it could more efficiently and productively manage itself. Your body responds in kind, getting right to work repairing and restoring proper function in your cells and tissues. In short, acupuncture directs your body’s in-born intelligence to heal itself, from the inside out.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND STRESS RELIEF
When your nervous system is calm, the rest of you is calm. This means a more focused mind, more resilient immune system, less inflammation, better circulation, and optimal nutrient absorption. We’ll guide you in the small, targeted lifestyle changes and stress-reduction techniques that are most likely to have a BIG impact on your stress, tension, and hormonal health — and thus on your headache or migraine.
“What happens here is just astounding. I walk into this clinic and suddenly all is right with the world.”
– K.E.
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
Our Process
Free Initial Consultation
At your free initial consultation you’ll meet with your clinician to discuss your case, your medical history, and most importantly your goals. We want to be certain that our program is going to meet your needs and that there is a high probability of success for you – before we move forward to the next step.
Detailed root cause Assessment and Treatment Plan
Once your free consultation is complete and we agree to move forward, we set up your two-part on-boarding process. Your first appointment is all about information gathering, and includes a detailed intake and Chinese medicine examination. Often the actual problem isn’t “in your head” (as you may have already surmised). There can be hormonal, immune, environmental, even emotional roots to your migraines and we’ll be sure to listen carefully to you (not just look at lab tests) to figure this out.
Time permitting, your first acupuncture session will be performed at this time.
Your second appointment will be scheduled for several days later. At this visit you will be presented with a comprehensive treatment plan and exact, easy-to-follow instructions. Your plan will include acupuncture visits, dietary and lifestyle adjustments, key supplements, and individualized herbal medicines to address the root of your specific migraine.
Active Treatment for Symptom Resolution
In most cases you'll start with once-weekly office visits to get control of the pain. We want you get relief fast relief as your body is strengthens and begins to exit the “migraine loop.”
We track symptoms closely to make sure your treatment plan is yielding the expected results in the expected time frame
Stable Improvement and Transitional Care
Once we see stable improvements we begin to reduce the frequency of office visits — usually within 8 to 12 visits. First we’ll transition to every other week, then to once a month, and then you will no longer need regular treatments.
We’ll be here if you want a tune-up or to address other health concerns.
Of course, many of our patients choose to continue with “ongoing maintenance” because acupuncture makes them feel so good, and we are happy to work that out with you, should that be your wish.
Taking Care Of Your Friends and Loved Ones
We pride ourselves on the fact that 80% of our new patients are referred to us by other patients or people in the community who have witnessed their friends and loved ones receive life-changing benefits from our work.
We look forward first to helping you, and then to helping your friends, family, and loved ones on their journey to a more joyful, energetic, purposeful life.
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
Common Questions & Answers:
+ Does the acupuncture hurt?
The needles are extremely thin — far different from needles that give shots — and cause little to no pain.
+ Will I have to keep coming forever?
The vast majority of patients don’t need long-term maintenance. Once their condition is resolved, it stays that way.
+ Will I have to spend a lot of time coming in for treatments?
This is case-dependent, but most of our patients are able to get great results with once-weekly visits. We will discuss this in more detail at your free consultation.
+ Can natural medicine REALLY help my migraine or headaches?
Absolutely. Natural medicine actually helps your body make more of its own medicine, which is more powerful and potent than any man-made medicine.
+ Will I have to do some kind of horrible, super-restrictive detox or elimination diet?
Absolutely NOT. You may have to clean up your diet, but our program is all about setting you up to succeed. We usually find 2 or 3 key leverage points in your diet and lifestyle and work on those.
+ How long does it take to see results?
People often feel a shift after the very first treatment and significant results may begin to show in just a few weeks.
“I had been having severe migraine headaches for 4 months. I saw Alexa and after my first treatment I was migraine free. I felt immediately more relaxed and held less tension in my neck. I am thrilled with Alexa's treatment and can't wait to go back.”
– L.P.
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
It’s not a job, it’s a calling.
We love what we do.
Alexa Gilmore, LAc, MAcOM
Alexa is founder and clinical director at The Origin Center. Her greatest passion is helping you feel better in your body and your life. Her transformational approach to care is rooted in the premise that you are already in possession of perfect health and your best self — you just need some help uncovering it.
Her gift is in helping women of all ages connect to their body’s innate wisdom, strength, and healing capacity.
Her tools include acupuncture, clinical herbal medicine, personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations, bodywork, energy work, energy exercises, and targeted meditations — an accumulation of almost 20 years of clinical practice, study, and exploration.
Her superpower is sharing it all with levity, laughter, and a fierce commitment to you and your best self.
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
Convenient Portland, Maine Location
55 Bell Street, 2nd Floor | Portland, ME 04103 | 207.756.4301
Treatment starts with a free consultation with our founder and lead clinician.
or call us at 207.756.4301
*Individual results may vary. No guarantee or specific results warranted or implied. (Full disclaimer.)
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