Chronic headaches may be better treated through acupuncture than by taking medications like aspirin, according to a new study.

Approximately 4,000 patients took part in the research and of that number, 62 percent reported headache relief from acupuncture, Reuters reports. All participants suffered from migraines, tension headaches and other forms of chronic headaches.

Dr. Tong Joo Gan, who led the study, said acupuncture was rising as an option for people because of fewer side effects and can be routinely less expensive than other treatments, according to the article.

There is, however, one nagging roadblock to acupuncture.

"One of the barriers to treatment with acupuncture is getting people to understand that while needles are used, it is not a painful experience. It is a method for releasing your body’s own natural painkillers," Gan told Reuters.

Acupuncture is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and is being embraced by more people looking for a different way to treat their illnesses.

Jim Kreider from Kansas was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, a gastrointestinal disorder and a chronic pain condition, the Lawrence Journal reports. After combining CAM with herbal supplements, he found his daily pain lessen significantly.