Acupuncture in Adult and Pediatric Headache: A Narrative Review
Doll, E., Threlkeld, B., Graff, D., Clemons, R., Mittel, O., Sowell, M. K. · Neuropediatrics · 2019 August 29
DOI 10.1055/s-0039-1695785
Objective
This article aims to summarize the currently available evidence with which to recommend acupuncture in children for the adjunctive treatment of headache.
Conclusions
In this article, the authors conduct a review of acupuncture in pediatric headache, including neurobiological mechanisms, adult headache studies, pediatric headache studies, safety, and use of acupuncture in other conditions in children. Acupuncture appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of migraine in children.
Critical Appraisal
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Insights
Currently, acupuncture is considered to be a safe, helpful, and available alternative option for patients who have not responded to or complied with conventional pharmacotherapy.
The authors conducted an exhaustive review of existing literature exploring the use of acupuncture to address migraine headaches in children. This review encompassed understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture, studies on adult headaches, pediatric headache studies, consideration of acupuncture's safety, and its application in other health conditions present in children.
The findings of this review suggested that acupuncture emerges as a safe and effective treatment option for migraine in children. Evidence proposes that it can be effectively integrated into the primary treatment regime to reduce the child's discomfort and pain. The effectiveness of acupuncture comes with the added advantage of being safe, with negligible risks, especially important when dealing with young patients. These insights support acupuncture to be seriously considered as an auxiliary treatment strategy for migraines in children.
