Researchers undertaking a randomised, controlled trial in China, have found acupuncture to be significantly superior to control for the treatment of acute migraine.
Over a two year period, one hundred and fifty patients recruited from five hospital outpatient departments, were randomly allocated during their acute migraine episode, to receive either true acupuncture treatment or a sham control acupuncture session. Medication was permitted if the pain had not improved within two hours of receiving acupuncture. Mean pain scores 24 hours after treatment, were significantly different for the two groups: in the true acupuncture group, scores decreased by 2.4, whereas in the control group, scores decreased by only 0.7.
(Efficacy of Acupuncture for Acute Migraine Attack: A Multicentre, Single-Blinded, Randomised, Controlled Trial. Pain Medicine, May 2012.)
Author: Robin Costello
I offer traditional Chinese acupuncture in Exeter, from a tranquil clinic a mile from the city centre, and next to the University of Exeter. I graduated originally from the London School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine’s 3 year full time Acupuncture Diploma (DipAc) course. I am on the practitioners register of the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC), a regulatory and professional body with an entry standard of a full three year undergraduate degree level training.
I have worked in a hospital in south west China, deepening my knowledge and using acupuncture and Chinese massage (tuina) as the treatment of choice in its country of origin. I have taught Chinese medicine in colleges, the NHS and at university level. I also practise Qi Gong, and Chinese dietary therapy, that is the medicinal use of ordinary foods, chosen to help achieve particular therapeutic effects in different individuals.
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