OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of manual acupuncture as a prophylaxis for frequent migraine. METHODS: Fifty frequent migraineurs were randomly allocated to receive 16 sessions of either real acupuncture (RA = 26) or sham acupuncture (SA = 24) during 20 weeks. The primary outcomes were days with migraine over four weeks, duration, and intensity of migraine and the number of responders with more than 50% reduction of migraine days. The secondary outcomes were the relief medication, quality of migraine, quality of life, and pressure pain thresholds. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable at baseline. At the end of the treatment, when compared with the SA group, the RA group reported significant less migraine days (RA 5.2 +/- 5.0; SA 10.1 +/- 7.1; p = 0.008), less severe migraine (RA 2.18 +/- 1.05; SA 2.93 +/- 0.61; p = 0.004), more responders (RA 19 versus SA 7), and increased pressure pain thresholds. No other group difference was found. Group differences were maintained at the end of the three-month follow-up, but not at the one-year follow-up. No severe adverse event was reported. Blinding was successful. DISCUSSION: Manual acupuncture was an effective and safe treatment for short-term relief of frequent migraine in adults. Larger trials are warranted.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher