Acupuncture (up to 15 sessions over 12 weeks) was compared with metoprolol (a standard migraine prophylaxis medication) for effectiveness and tolerability in 113 patients randomised to one of two groups. The number of days with Migraine decreased by 2.5 days in the acupuncture group compared to 2.2 in the medication group and those experiencing 50% or greater reduction in attacks was 61% for acupuncture and 49% for medication. Severe adverse effects occurred only in the medication group.
(12th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care, 19-21 September 2005, Exeter, UK).
Acupuncture Benefits Headaches & Migraines
In a randomised, controlled trial, 74 patients with chronic daily Headache were randomly assigned to receive either medical management alone (headache medication) or medical management plus acupuncture (10 treatments over six weeks). The patients receiving acupuncture were reported 3.7 times less suffering due to headaches at six weeks, and further showed improvements in the Headache Impact Test and mental state, and reduced limitation of daily activities and social functioning. The medication only group showed no improvement in any of the measures studied.
(Headache 2005;45:1113-1123).