Traditional Acupuncture in Migraine: A Controlled, Randomized Study

Facco E, Liguori A, Petti F, Zanette G, Coluzzi F, De Nardin M, Mattia C · Pain Medicine · 2022 September 14

DOI 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.00916.x

Objective

To check the effectiveness of a true acupuncture treatment according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in migraine without aura, comparing it to a standard mock acupuncture protocol, an accurate mock acupuncture healing ritual, and untreated controls.

Conclusions

Traditional acupuncture (TA) was the only treatment able to provide a steady outcome improvement in comparison to the use of only Rizatriptan, while RMA showed a transient placebo effect at T1.

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Insights

True acupuncture treatment according to traditional Chinese medicine consistently improved migraine outcomes more than just medication or mock treatments.

In the prospective, randomized, controlled study, 160 migraine patients without aura were assigned to one of four treatment groups. These treatments included: traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture combined with Rizatriptan (TA); a ritualized non-penetrative acupuncture treatment combined with Rizatriptan (RMA); a standard non-penetrative acupuncture treatment combined with Rizatriptan (SMA); or Rizatriptan alone (R). The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire was completed before treatment, and again after three and six months. The study found that all patient groups experienced a decrease in Migraine Disability Assessment scores following treatment, indicating general improvement. However, the traditional acupuncture treatment group (TA) showed significant improvement in comparison to those who received only Rizatriptan. The ritualized non-penetrative acupuncture treatment group (RMA) showed temporary improvement, suggesting a placebo effect.