Acupuncture Helps Headaches

Topic:
Acupuncture May Effectively Reduce Intensity and Frequency of Chronic Headaches
CHRONIC HEADACHES - Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Traditional East Asian Medicine, Needling
Reference:
"Acupuncture for the Management of Chronic Headache: A Systematic Review," Sun Y, Gan TJ, et al, Anesth Analg, 2008; 107(6): 2038-2047. (Address: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA. E-mail: Gan00001@mc.duke.ed ).
Summary:
In a systematic review of 31 randomized, controlled trials examining the effects of acupuncture in patients with chronic headaches - including migraines, tension-type, or both - actual acupuncture was found to be superior to medication therapy in improving the intensity (weighted mean difference: -8.54 mm) of headaches, frequency of headaches (standard mean difference: -0.70), as well as physical function (weighted mean difference: 4.16) and response rate (RR=1.49). Actual acupuncture was also found to be superior to sham acupuncture during early follow-up (RR=1.19) and late follow-up (RR=1.22). These results suggest that acupuncture therapy may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with chronic headaches.