A groundbreaking study* was just published showing that acupuncture brings long-term relief to migraine patients. This randomized clinical study confirms what we have known for years – acupuncture is the best treatment for migraines. This article describes how research shows acupuncture resolves migraines.
The Study
Key question:
What is the long-term effect of acupuncture for treatment of migraine headaches?
The Findings:
The study was a 24 week, randomized clinical trial with 249 participants who suffered from migraine headaches. It found that true acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency of migraine attacks, compared with sham (fake) acupuncture and no acupuncture (people who were put on a waiting list for treatment but did not receive treatment).
Meaning of Results:
True acupuncture is associated with long-term reduction in migraine recurrence compared with sham acupuncture or waiting list.
The Participants:
The study included 4 weeks of treatment followed by 20 weeks of follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or a waiting-list control group. The trial was conducted at 3 clinical sites. A total of 249 participants 18 to 65 years old with migraine headaches based on standards of the International Headache Society, with migraine occurring 2 to 8 times per month.
Treatments Received:
Participants in the true acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups received 20 acupuncture sessions. Participants in the waiting-list group did not receive acupuncture but were told that they would receive 20 sessions of acupuncture at the end of the trial.
Outcomes and Measures:
Participants used diaries to record their migraine attacks. The primary outcome was the change in the frequency of migraine attacks from baseline to week 16. Secondary outcome measures included the migraine days, average headache severity, and medication intake every 4 weeks within 24 weeks.
Conclusions and Relevance:
Among patients with migraine headaches, true acupuncture shows long-term reduction in migraine recurrence compared with sham acupuncture or assigned to a waiting list.
Research Shows Acupuncture Resolves Migraines
At Raleigh Acupuncture Associates we have been effectively treating migraines for years. A study like this thrills us because it validates what we know from experience. The public will gain a sense of comfort with acupuncture as more research studies are published.
What To Expect
When you come for treatment we conduct an intake exam. We ask you questions about your migraines as well as questions about other aspects of your health. We also feel your pulse and look at your tongue. All of this information allows us to understand the root issue responsible for your migraines.
We create a Chinese medicine diagnosis for your condition. Your migraines may have a different root cause than someone else’s migraines. Your treatment will be custom designed for you and your needs.
All needles are sterile, single-use and hair thin. You will hardly feel them. Treatments are relaxing. Many of our patients fall asleep during their sessions.
Next Steps
BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online. Or call us at 919-819-8113 and we will schedule an appointment for you. Research shows acupuncture resolves migraines. Come on in and see for yourself.
Watch a short video describing our migraine treatment:
To learn more about all the pain conditions we treat click PAIN CONDITIONS WE TREAT.
For a list of all the conditions we treat with acupuncture click ALL CONDITIONS WE TREAT WITH ACUPUNCTURE.
*The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Intern Med. 2017;177(4):508-515.
What our Clients are Saying
I saw Dr. Jade to treat my migraine headaches. I was a skeptic about acupuncture. But now, I’m a true believer in the treatment. Dr. Jade worked miracles in relieving my migraines!! She’s worth her weight in gold!! Thank you Dr. Jade!
Raleigh Acupuncture was recommended by a friend after I mentioned my insomnia and dependency on a sleeping pill. My apprehension was short lived because of the results of my visits to Dr. Mark. With acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs I was able to begin sleeping well and continue to do so. Dr. Mark is a good listener and encourages his patients in all health issues as well as the original purpose for treatment. Consequently, my knees are stronger and I’m walking better and with more confidence. I haven’t had the need for a cortisone shot in a year and a half. Occasionally, I would use a cane and it’s now somewhere gathering dust. Also, I had a persistent headache that my primary physician had no solution for, and after two acupuncture treatments it’s a thing of the past. Hot flashes were another issue that was treated successfully. I am so grateful to have found a knowledgeable and caring person to treat my ailments, many of which I thought would only grow worse as I aged. Generally, I feel healthier.
I suffered a serious concussion last year riding my mountain bike. After the accident I was getting severe headaches every day. They were so bad I couldn’t drive. I found Raleigh Acupuncture online. I liked their website and they said they treated post-concussion headaches. They got rid of the headaches and helped me with a number of other post-concussion issues like blurred vision, anxiety and insomnia. They really understood what was going on with me. I’m very grateful.
I’ve gotten migraine headaches for the past thirty years. They started as a teenager and have come once or twice a week since then. Pain medication used to work for the first ten or fifteen years, but since then nothing seemed to help. I mentioned to my doctor that I wanted to try Acupuncture and he recommended Raleigh Acupuncture. That was the best decision I’ve ever made. They not only cured my migraines, but got rid of a chronic neck pain at the same time. They gave me Chinese herbs as well, which I took for the eight weeks that I received acupuncture. They were highly professional, easy to talk to, and very informative. They explained everything they were doing and how it was working. Once the headaches stopped, I didn’t have to continue the herbs. It’s been two years and they have not returned. I go back for maintenance once a month. I’ll happily do that forever, not having to deal with migraines any more. I recommend this practice to anyone suffering from migraines.
My 14 year old daughter started getting migraines when her period started last year. They were aweful. A friend of mine suggested we try acupuncture. She went to Raleigh Acupuncture, so we made an appointment. The doctors there were so kind to my daughter. They made her feel safe and comfortable during the treatments. They cured her migraines in just eight treatments! She does not get them anymore. And her periods are so much easier than before. Thank you Raleigh Acupuncture! We are very grateful to you!