Efficacy of Acupuncture for Migraine Relief

Acupuncture is a safe and effective modality utilised in the management of migraines.  The cause of a migraine can be very wide, so considering the causation factors like genetics, muscular, vascular and neurogenic, can help guide the prescription and application of this non-traditional approach to pain relief of acupuncture in any one session.

Usually in medical practice the first line of treatment for an acute migraine, is to employ the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and sometimes beta blockers – of which there are many types. This is a standard Western medicine approach. Since we are discussing the Eastern medicine approach, this is where acupuncture intervention comes in to target the modification of pain in the brain.

 A 2020 clinical trial done by Chen Y. Y. Et. Al in China comparing the beta blocker Propranolol and acupuncture.  The conclusion of the work found that acupuncture was helpful in reducing the amount of migraine days, the frequency of getting a migraine, and the occurrence of any adverse effects.

The actual acupuncture session is meant to be a calming one employing the senses, where the needles are introduced at specific points to effect the theory of affecting the pain gate of the brain.  A prescription of at least ten sessions over the course of eight weeks is recommended (by the migrainetrust.org) to review for effectiveness of the technique for any individual.

If you have any questions, or may want to try acupuncture for migraine pain management, you can contact us at Physiocare Inc. to help you to decide.  Contacts are listed below.

Whatsapp 246-230-4819, Call 246-424-7845, www.physiocarebarbados.com

Reference

Y.Y. Chen, J. Li, M. Chen, L. Yue, T.W. She, H. Zheng.

Acupuncture versus propranolol in migraine prophylaxis: an indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis.

J Neurol., 267 (2020), pp. 14-25