Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis | migraine prevention
Question :
Is acupuncture treatment effective in migraine prophylaxis?
A migraine is a type of recurrent headache that is very painful. A treatment strategy in allopathic medicine involves taking a drug everyday to prevent migraines.
Research Articles :
Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis
This review article is an updated version of the 2001 Cochrane review. It looked at 22 randomized trials with a total of over 4000 patients (12 additional trials since 2001).
The authors conclude that acupuncture was of benefit compared to routine acute migraine treatment. Acupuncture was at least as effective compared to prophylactic drug treatment with fewer side effects. The authors could not ascertain if “true” acupuncture was better than “sham” acupunture.
Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine prophylaxis: a randomized clinical trial
This randomized trial included 66 patients. Acupuncture was more effective compared to the drug topiramate in reducing the mean monthly number of moderate and severe headache days. The incidence of side effects was much lower with acupuncture treatment; 6% in the acupuncture group and in the 66% of topiramate group.
Efficacy of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a single-blinded, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial
This randomized trial included 140 patients.Acupuncture was more effective compared to the drug flunarizine in reducing the days of migraine attacks. There was no difference in the measures of pain intensity reduction and quality of life improvement.