Suffer from headaches? Acupuncture can help.

A tension headache is the most common type of primary headache accounting for about 90% of all headaches. The pain is bilateral and the head is like being squeezed. A tension headache can be episodic or chronic.

More recently Granato et al analysed the current data about the effectiveness of acupuncture on tension-type headache. There were 11 trials involved in 2317 patients. Two trials compared acupuncture wit routine care only or treatment of acute headache only with a 3 month follow-up. Both studies measured responder rate, headache frequency, pain intensity and pain killer intake. They suggested that effect of acupuncture was better controls. There were five trials compared effect of acupuncture with that of sham acupuncture. Four trials had 6 month follow-up and one trial had 12 months follow-up. Numbers of headache days were significantly decreased in acupuncture group. Headache intensity and frequency of taking pain killers was significantly reduced in acupuncture group compared with sham acupuncture group. Three of the four trials compared the effect of acupuncture with physiotherapy, relaxation. Their conclusion is that there was short term benefit by adding acupuncture to routine care and acupuncture could be a nonpharmacological tool for treating patients with tension-type headache.

Schieapparelli P et al also support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating primary headache particular tension-type headache and migraine. They suggested that acupuncture is an effective and valuable option for patients suffering from frequent tension-type headache and migraine; also acupuncture is cost-effective treatment.

Hao XA et al analysed five high quality trials. They found that the electro-acupuncture might bemore efficacious; needle retention with 30 minutes was better than no needle retention; twice a week treatment was better than once a week treatment. They suggested that acupuncture stimulation mode, needle retention and treatment frequency could be important factors contributing to the outcome of acupuncture for tension-type headache.

Recent research has suggested that acupuncture is effective for tension-type headache

Acupuncture is used to treat tension-type headache and many people who used this treatment have benefit from it. However its effectiveness is questioned by other people. Recently research from Germany has shown the updated data.

In this review, at least eight weeks of observation period is required and twelve trials are included. There were 2349 participants. In two large high quality trials with 1265 and 207 participants, acupuncture was compared with routine care or treatment of acute headaches. Results have shown that the proportion of participants experiencing at least 50% reduction of headache frequency was much higher in groups receiving acupuncture than in control groups. In seven good quality trials acupuncture group had high reduction of headache frequency compared with sham acupuncture. Withdrawals were low: 1 of 420 participants receiving acupuncture dropped out due to adverse effects.

The conclusion from the data suggested that acupuncture is effective for treating frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headaches, but further trials - particularly comparing acupuncture with other treatment options - are needed.

References

Granato A et al Neuroepidemiology (2010) 35:160-2

Schiapparelli P et al Neurol Sci (2011) 32 Suppl 1:S15-8

Hao XA et al J Alterm Complement Med (2012)