Acupuncture Works for Migraines
Dr. Lori Horan
Twenty-eight million Americans (approximately 1 in 10) suffer from migraines. Fortunately, research proves Chinese medicine helps stop migraines. In the March 2008 issue of the journal Headache, the results of a study were published that involved 160 migraine patients.
Researchers divided study participants into different groups, each of which received one of the following treatment protocols: real acupuncture plus migraine medication, mock acupuncture with migraine medication, and medication alone. Patients were evaluated three and six months after starting treatment. For patients receiving true acupuncture, each was treated twice a week for a total of twenty acupuncture treatments.
In patients receiving mock acupuncture, the protocol was the same as in the actual acupuncture group, but the needles were not inserted. Needles with blunted tips were pressed against but did not penetrate the skin. This allowed the patient to feel a superficial, light pricking-like sensation, thus simulating needle insertion. This procedure was used in order to check possible placebo effects.
Researchers found that of all the groups studied, only the group that received real acupuncture showed a significant improvement both in terms of migraine disability and reduced medication use, both at the three- and six-month follow-ups. If you suffer from migraines, consider putting this research to work for you with Dr. Horan.