A Review of Acupuncture Treatment for Primary Headache Disorders in Korea

Abstract

This study was performed to review clinical research studies involving acupuncture treatment for primary headache disorders to provide a basic reference for future studies. Clinical studies of primary headache disorders treated with acupuncture were retrieved from 3 Korean electronic databases (NDSL, OASIS, and RISS). The studies were classified by year of publication, type of study, type of acupuncture, outlined acupoints, methods used for filiform needles, pharmacopuncture, auricular acupuncture, and thread-embedding acupuncture. Thirty-eight trials were reviewed, of which 33 used filiform needles, 6 pharmacopuncture, 1 auricular acupuncture, and 1used thread-embedding. Most of the studies reported that acupuncture treatment was effective in treating primary headache disorders. Some studies reported statistically significant effects, but the results overall were inconsistent. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support the treatment of acupuncture to resolve headaches. On the basis of these results, further studies should be performed to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for primary headache disorders.

Daith piercing: Revisited from the perspective of auricular acupuncture systems. A narrative review

“…The ear lobe auricular points (AT, LO, Eye1, Eye2) are associated with the head and face, while the upper part of the auricular region, including scapha and superior antihelix crus, correspond to the extremities (SF, AH) (Figure 3). The basic auricular sites for headaches are Shen Men, gallbladder, liver and spleen, heart, antitragus (AT1 = forehead; AT2 = temple; AT3 = occiput), 24,25 and gallbladderthree located at the ear lobe (Figure 3). 27 The utilization of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), as employed by Romoli et al to investigate brain stem auricular acupoint (BSAA), has demonstrated the potential to investigate other auricular points on the outer ear, such as the tragus, antitragus, and ear lobe.…”

A Case Report of Complete Atrioventricular Block Treatment with <italic>Samulanshin-tang-gamibang</italic> and Acupuncture

“…또한, GV20(百會), PC6(內關) 등 혈위 에 대한 침 자극은 항진된 교감신경계의 활성을 줄 이고 중추신경계의 norepinephrine 분비를 줄이는 작 용을 하며, 뇌내 gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) 수치를 높이는 등의 작용으로 불면에 효과가 있다 19 . 두통의 침 치료에 관한 연구에서는 EX-HN5(太陽), GB20(風池), TE17(翳風), 등 혈위가 두통과 관련한 통증 유발점(trigger point)과 연관이 있어 이들 혈위 에 대한 침 치료가 관자근(temporalis muscle), 등세 모근(trapezius muscle), 목빗근(sternocleidomastoid muscle) 등 근육의 긴장을 줄여 두통을 해소할 수 있을 것으로 보았다 20…”