Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines
The role of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine by Albrecht Molsberger, MD;
…“A German randomized controlled trial (n = 302) showed that acupuncture is more effective than no acupuncture. Another German randomized controlled trial (n = 794) showed that 11 acupuncture treatments given within a six-week period was at least as effective as a β-blocker taken daily over a six-month period.3,4 As a consequence of these and 20 other high-quality trials involving 4419 participants, the 2009 Cochrane review by Linde and colleagues5 found that there is consistent evidence that acupuncture is beneficial in the treatment of acute migraine attacks and that the available studies suggest that acupuncture is at least as effective as prophylactic drug treatment and has fewer adverse effects. Therefore, acupuncture should be considered an option for patients willing to undergo this treatment.5 “….
Acupuncture and Migraine: Finding a combination that sticks, July 25, 2017
The research
Based on a recent systematic review of 22 clinical trials involving 4985 people, there is evidence that acupuncture reduces the frequency of headache in individuals with migraine, and that the effect may be similar to that observed with preventive medications. The frequency of headache is dropped by 50% or more in up to 59% of individuals receiving acupuncture and this effect can persist for more than 6 months.
Patient Experiences
As is the case with most migraine treatments, acupuncture patients have experienced mixed success. Jane Elliot, a BBC news reporter who thought nothing could cure her migraine, had huge success and is now migraine free.
Overall, the American Migraine Foundation agrees with the conclusion that a course of Acupuncture of at least six treatment sessions can be a valuable treatment option for those individuals willing to undergo the procedure. However, long-term effectiveness beyond one year is uncertain and requires further research.
Acupuncture shows promise in migraine treatment, study says By Robert Jimison, CNN
February 21, 2017
(CNN)… A study published Monday in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine said acupuncture may be helpful in reducing the frequency of migraines and preventing attacks.
