CNN reported on this story in February of 2017, which was an announcement of a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association regarding research into migraine headaches. The research study, conducted by Ling Zhao, PhD, Jiao Chen, PhDD, and Ying Li, PhD, through the cooperation of Chengdu University in Sichuan, China, West China Hospital at Sichuan University, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, and Ningxia Medical University, showed considerable efficacy in the use of acupuncture for the relief of migraine pain.
CNN is quoted in saying: “Researchers in China found that properly administered acupuncture therapy may reduce the frequency of the most common types of migraines. The research, which builds on a body of knowledge from smaller studies, looked at how true acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture in reducing migraine attacks and symptoms in those who have been battling the condition for at least a year.
“All treatments were administered by trained and licensed acupuncturists who trained for at least five years and had four or more years of clinical experience. Recipients of ‘true acupuncture’ were treated in four acupoints chosen by clinical experts. The four points used for the ‘sham’ group were chosen to avoid migraine relief.”
The 24-week, randomized clinical trial included 249 patients with migraine without aura. Without aura is a description of what is also known as common migraine. WebMD states, “A migraine without aura is the most common type of migraine headache. They account for about 60% to 80% of all migraines. It doesn’t have the early symptoms, called an aura, that some people have before a migraine begins, like vision changes, dizziness, confusion, feeling prickling skin, and weakness.”
Migraine sufferers know how debilitating migraines can be. That these clinical trials stand on the documented success of acupuncture should give hope to migraine sufferers everywhere that seek to avoid pharmaceutical remedies.
Please see the full story at CNN, and the published study at JAMA.
