Many reports have shown acupuncture to be useful in the treatment
of migraines and other forms of headache. In a preliminary
trial, 18 of 26 patients suffering from migraine headaches
demonstrated an improvement in symptoms following therapy
with acupuncture, accompanied by a 50% reduction in the use
of pain medication (Baischer W). Previous preliminary studies
have demonstrated similar results (Boivie 1987; Loh 1984;
Spoerel 1976). These results have also been confirmed in placebo-controlled
trials (Vincent 1989, Lenhard 1983). Improvement has been
maintained at one and three years of follow-up Markelova et
al (1984) have shown that in migraine headache acupuncture
responders the therapeutic effect is achieved by normalization
of serotonin levels and not by analgesic effects from increased
endorphin production. In preliminary research, patients suffering
from chronic headaches of various types (including migraine,
cluster, or tension headaches) have also experienced an improvement
in symptoms following acupuncture treatment. (Cheng 1975)
In a study comparing acupuncture to traditional drug therapy,
a significantly greater cure rate was achieved in the acupuncture
group relative to the drug treatment group (75% vs. 34%).
(Shuyuan 1999) Dry needling involves insertion of acupuncture
needles into painful muscle areas (trigger points). A study
of 85 patients comparing dry needle acupuncture to conventional
drug therapy found a similar reduction in frequency and duration
of migraine attacks in both treatment groups. (Hesse 1994)
Allais G, De Lorenzo
C, Quirico PE, Airola G, Tolardo G, Mana O, Benedetto C. Acupuncture
in the prophylactic treatment of migraine without aura: a
comparison with flunarizine. Headache. 2002 Oct;42(9):855-61:
“Acupuncture proved to be adequate for migraine prophylaxis.
Relative to flunarizine, acupuncture treatment exhibited greater
effectiveness in the first months of therapy and superior
tolerability.” Comparison without placebo groups. 160
subjects.
Carlsson,
J., et. al., (1990) Health status in patients with
tension headache treated with acupuncture or physiotherapy.
Headache 30(9):593-9. 62 female patients with chronic
tension headaches were randomized to acupuncture or physiotherapy.
Both treatment groups showed improvement in overall function
and a significant decrease in intensity and frequency of headaches
although improvements with physiotherapy were greater.
Baischer
W. Acupuncture in migraine: long-term outcome and
predicting factors. Headache 1995 Sep;35:472–4.
Boivie
J, Brattberg G Are there long lasting effects on migraine
headache after one series of acupuncture treatments?
Am J Chin Med 1987;15:69–75.,
Loh
L, Nathan PW, Schott GD, Zilkha KJ. Acupuncture versus
medical treatment for migraine and muscle tension headaches.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1984;47:333–7
Spoerel
WE, Varkey M, Leung CY. Acupuncture in chronic pain.
Am J Chin Med 1976;4:267–79.
Vincent
CA. A controlled trial of the treatment of migraine
by acupuncture. Clin J Pain 1989;5:305–12.
Lenhard
L, Waite PME. Acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment
of migraine headaches: pilot study. NZ Med J 1983;96:663–6.
Cheng
AC. The treatment of headaches employing acupuncture.
Am J Chin Med 1975;3:181–5.
Shuyuan
G, Donglan Z, Yanguang X. A comparative study on the
treatment of migraine headache with combined distant and local
acupuncture points versus conventional drug therapy. Am
J Acupuncture 1999;27:27–30.
Hesse
J, Mogelvang B, Simonsen H. Acupuncture versus metoprolol
in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial of trigger point
inactivation. J Intern Med 1994;235:451-6