Treatment of headache disorders with acupuncture: a 6-year retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: Existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that acupuncture has similar clinical effectiveness in the prevention of headache disorders (HDs) as drug therapy, but with fewer side effects. As such, examining acupuncture’s use in a pragmatic, real-world setting would be valuable. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture and prophylactic drug treatment (PDT) on headache frequency in patients with HDs, under real-world clinical conditions. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with HDs referred to a pain clinic, using electronic health record data. Patients continued with tertiary care (treatment of acute headache attacks and lifestyle, meditation, exercise and dietary instructions) with PDT, or received 12 sessions of acupuncture over 3 months, instead of PDT under conditions of tertiary care. The primary outcome data were the number of days with headache per month, and groups were compared at baseline and at the end of the third month of treatment. Results: Data were analysed for 482 patients with HDs. The number of headache days per month decreased by 3.7 (standard deviation (SD) = 2.9) days in the acupuncture group versus 2.9 (SD = 2.3) in the PDT group (p = 0.007). The proportion of responders was 39.5% versus 16.3% (p < 0.001). The number needed to treat was 4 (95% confidence interval = 3–7). Conclusion: Our study has shown that patients with HDs in tertiary care who opted for treatment with acupuncture appeared to receive similar clinical benefits to those that chose PDT, suggesting these treatments may be similarly effective of the prevention of headache in a real-world clinical setting.

Acupoints for Headache with Blood Stasis Syndrome: a Literature Study Based on Data Mining Technology

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Acupoints for Headache with Blood Stasis Syndrome: a Literature Study Based on Data Mining Technology

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Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury by regulating the SIRT-1/PGC-1α/mitochondrial pathway

“…or electroacupuncture therapy can effectively improve symptoms of PCS after mTBI, such as headache, depression, irritability, and insomnia. [31][32][33][34] Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) are common acupoints for the treatment of nervous system diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. [35,36] To explore how electroacupuncture can improve cognitive impairment after mTBI, we evaluated relevant metabolic changes in rat neurons before and after mTBI.…”

“…[ 30 ] According to clinicians and existing literature, acupuncture or electroacupuncture therapy can effectively improve symptoms of PCS after mTBI, such as headache, depression, irritability, and insomnia. [ 31 32 33 34 ] Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) are common acupoints for the treatment of nervous system diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. [ 35 , 36 ]…”

Effects of acupuncture in the treatment of occipital neuralgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, we must not overlook the mounting evidence that suggests placebo effects greatly alter the efficacy of any treatment. [44] Studies indicated that the concentrations of K+, Na+, and Ca + in neurons have been shown to alter after receiving acupuncture, suggesting that this treatment has an effect on nervous system function. [45] Besides, several hypotheses have been put out that stress the role of acupuncture in pain relief, such as its ability to induce an analgesic effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the endogenous opioid system.…”

“…Similar results were found in other meta-analyses concerning the use of acupuncture for the treatment of occipital neuralgia. [44,47,48] Since no obvious answer was discovered, this needs to be looked into further. Since our systematic review and meta-analysis study could not explain whether these factors are connected with the results, well-designed studies are also needed to analyze them, such as the combination of different acupuncture points, the acupuncture type, age, gender, and ethnicity.…”

Acupoints for Headache with Blood Stasis Syndrome: a Literature Study Based on Data Mining Technology

“……”

Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury by regulating the SIRT-1/PGC-1α/mitochondrial pathway

“…or electroacupuncture therapy can effectively improve symptoms of PCS after mTBI, such as headache, depression, irritability, and insomnia. [31][32][33][34] Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) are common acupoints for the treatment of nervous system diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. [35,36] To explore how electroacupuncture can improve cognitive impairment after mTBI, we evaluated relevant metabolic changes in rat neurons before and after mTBI.…”

“…[ 30 ] According to clinicians and existing literature, acupuncture or electroacupuncture therapy can effectively improve symptoms of PCS after mTBI, such as headache, depression, irritability, and insomnia. [ 31 32 33 34 ] Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) are common acupoints for the treatment of nervous system diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. [ 35 , 36 ]…”

Effects of acupuncture in the treatment of occipital neuralgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, we must not overlook the mounting evidence that suggests placebo effects greatly alter the efficacy of any treatment. [44] Studies indicated that the concentrations of K+, Na+, and Ca + in neurons have been shown to alter after receiving acupuncture, suggesting that this treatment has an effect on nervous system function. [45] Besides, several hypotheses have been put out that stress the role of acupuncture in pain relief, such as its ability to induce an analgesic effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the endogenous opioid system.…”

“…Similar results were found in other meta-analyses concerning the use of acupuncture for the treatment of occipital neuralgia. [44,47,48] Since no obvious answer was discovered, this needs to be looked into further. Since our systematic review and meta-analysis study could not explain whether these factors are connected with the results, well-designed studies are also needed to analyze them, such as the combination of different acupuncture points, the acupuncture type, age, gender, and ethnicity.…”

Acupoints for Headache with Blood Stasis Syndrome: a Literature Study Based on Data Mining Technology

“……”

Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury by regulating the SIRT-1/PGC-1α/mitochondrial pathway

“…or electroacupuncture therapy can effectively improve symptoms of PCS after mTBI, such as headache, depression, irritability, and insomnia. [31][32][33][34] Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) are common acupoints for the treatment of nervous system diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. [35,36] To explore how electroacupuncture can improve cognitive impairment after mTBI, we evaluated relevant metabolic changes in rat neurons before and after mTBI.…”

“…[ 30 ] According to clinicians and existing literature, acupuncture or electroacupuncture therapy can effectively improve symptoms of PCS after mTBI, such as headache, depression, irritability, and insomnia. [ 31 32 33 34 ] Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) are common acupoints for the treatment of nervous system diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. [ 35 , 36 ]…”

Effects of acupuncture in the treatment of occipital neuralgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, we must not overlook the mounting evidence that suggests placebo effects greatly alter the efficacy of any treatment. [44] Studies indicated that the concentrations of K+, Na+, and Ca + in neurons have been shown to alter after receiving acupuncture, suggesting that this treatment has an effect on nervous system function. [45] Besides, several hypotheses have been put out that stress the role of acupuncture in pain relief, such as its ability to induce an analgesic effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the endogenous opioid system.…”

“…Similar results were found in other meta-analyses concerning the use of acupuncture for the treatment of occipital neuralgia. [44,47,48] Since no obvious answer was discovered, this needs to be looked into further. Since our systematic review and meta-analysis study could not explain whether these factors are connected with the results, well-designed studies are also needed to analyze them, such as the combination of different acupuncture points, the acupuncture type, age, gender, and ethnicity.…”