A recent study looked at the effect of adding acupuncture to a standard migraine medication Rizatriptan protocol. The study had four groups (all groups received the Rizatriptan) 1) a group that received TCM acupuncture 2) a standard mock acupuncture protocol 3) an accurate mock acupuncture healing ritual 4) no acupuncture.
After six months, only the group “1” receiving traditional acupuncture showed lasting improvement in migraine disability measured on a standardized scale. The groups using only the medication and the mock acupuncture plus Rizatriptan showed only temporary or transient improvement. With little risk of acupuncture side effects and an improvement in score acupuncture should certainly be looked at as a first line or complementary therapy for migraines.
In Health
George Mandler
Acupuncture, Nutrition, Herbal Medicine
