The observation on different effectiveness between the embedding needle therapy and medication in the preventative treatment of chronic migraine

Objective

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of the embedding needle therapy in the preventative treatment of chronic migraine.

Methods

A total of 36 patients with chronic migraine were divided into an embedding needle therapy group and a flunarizine group according to random number table, 18 cases in each group. In the embedding needle therapy group, the thumb-tack needles were used at Sīzhúkōng (丝竹空TE 23), Hànyàn (颔厌GB 4), Wáng? (完骨GB 12) and Cuánzhú (攒竹BL 2) and the needles were embedded for 24 h. The embedding needle therapy was given three times a week. In the flunarizine group, flunarizine was prescribed, 10 mg a day. Separately, at the end of the 4-week treatment and in 4 weeks of the follow-up, the number of days of headache attack per month (days/month) and the headache duration (hours/month) in the cases with moderate to severe headache were observed in the two groups.

Results

The number of days of headache attack in the cases with moderate to severe headache was reduced after treatment as compared with the number before treatment in the two groups. The headache duration was reduced obviously after treatment in the cases of moderate to severe headache in the two groups. In the 4-week follow-up, all the indexes were still reduced as compared with the indexes before treatment, indicating the significant differences in the two groups (both P < 0.05). In the embedding needle therapy group, at the end of the 4-week treatment and in 4 weeks of the follow-up, the number of days of headache attack per month was (8.1 ± 2.4) days and (7.2 ± 1.6) days separately, which were significant difference as compared with (9.7 ± 2.3) days and (8.9 ± 1.4) days in the flunarizine group (both P < 0.05). Regarding the headache duration, at the end of the 4-week treatment and in 4 weeks of the follow-up, it was (105.6 ± 10.5) h/month and (92.1 ± 7.2) h/month respectively in the embedding needle therapy group, indicating the significant differences as compared with (135.4 ± 8.9) h and (116.1 ± 8.2) h in the flunarizine group respectively (both P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The 4-week treatment with the embedding needle therapy obviously reduces the number of days of headache attack and the headache duration, presents the preventative effects in the patients with chronic migraine.