We studied the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine without aura both with a standardised protocol and with a protocol based on syndrome differentiation. We compared the results obtained with acupuncture with those obtained with drug therapy. Ninety migraneurs were randomised into three groups. Group A was treated in acupoints, classified according to the acupuncture. Group B was treated in different acupoints according to the following syndromes and related signs and symptoms. Exogenous syndromes were classified by attacks induced by: (1) wind-cold, (2) wind-heat, (3) wind damp. The migraneurs of group A and B were treated for six months with three sessions of acupuncture, with an interruption of 15 days between them. Group C was treated with one of the following drugs: flunarizine 10 mg, 1 tablet every day; nimodipine 30 mg, three tablets every day; dihydroergotamine 5 mg, two tablets every day. Migraneurs of group C were treated for twelve months with drug. No significant differences were observed between the two types of acupuncture. Drug therapy did not improve results. We conclude that the acupuncture demonstrates more benefits than the conventional pharmacological therapy.

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