Is acupuncture effective for migraine

Migraine is a relatively common type of headache. This type of headache often causes patients to suffer severe pain, and sometimes the treatment effect is not particularly good. For patients, in addition to good treatment, they should also actively emphasize nutrition. Some methods of traditional Chinese medicine can be used for treatment. Sometimes it can achieve the effect of treating both the symptoms and the root causes. It is necessary to conduct syndrome differentiation treatment, and some acupuncture methods can also be used for treatment.

Is acupuncture effective for migraine?

The treatment principle of acupuncture is: during the attack period, focus on controlling headaches, and during the remission period, focus on preventing attacks.

Acupuncture treatment during the migraine attack period uses proximal and distal acupoints to clear the orifices, dispel evil and relieve pain. Proximal acupoints such as Baihui, Fengchi, Taiyang, Touwei, Jiaosun, and Shuigu are used to dredge the meridians and qi of the affected area. Distal acupoints such as Waiguan, Taichong, Xingjian, and Zulinqi are used to regulate the meridians and qi. The above acupoints are the basic prescriptions for treating migraine, and clinical treatment should also be combined with TCM syndrome differentiation and meridian differentiation methods.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment:

If the patient has hyperactivity of liver yang, add Zhongfeng, Xingjian and Yongquan to calm the liver and suppress yang; if the patient has phlegm and turbidity disturbing the liver, add Zhongwan, Fenglong, Zusanli, Neiting, Lidui and Taibai to move the middle and eliminate phlegm; if the patient has qi stagnation and blood stasis, add Geshu, Xuehai, Shaochong and Sanyinjiao to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis.

Treatment based on meridian differentiation:

For those with pain mainly in the forehead, use acupoints of the hand and foot yangming meridians as the main ones, such as Tou Linqi, Touwei, Yintang, Yangbai, Hegu, Yangxi, Quchi, Zusanli, Jiexi and Neiting; for those with pain mainly in the side of the head, use acupoints of the hand and foot shaoyang meridians as the main ones, such as Shuigu, Fengchi, Taiyang, Qubin, Tou Linqi, Waiguan, Zhongzhu, Zulinqi and Xiaxi; for those with pain mainly in the back of the head and neck, use acupoints of the hand and foot taiyang meridians as the main ones, such as Tianzhu, Yuzhen, Fengchi, Naohu, Houxi, Shaoze, Kunlun, Jinggu and Zhiyin; for those with pain mainly in the top of the head, use acupoints of the Du meridian, foot Jueyin meridian and Shaoyin meridians as the main ones, such as Baihui, Qianding, Houding, Tongtian, Taichong, Xingjian and Yongquan.

Of the above acupoints, 5 to 9 can be selected each time and pricked with filiform needles to apply drainage method. Moxibustion is generally not used, but electroacupuncture is often used, choosing high-frequency continuous waves to give medium to strong stimulation.