Alternative Health Blog

If chronic headaches is an issue in your life—and, whoa, what an issue—you might find relief from acupuncture. That’s the conclusion of two new research reviews published by the professional clearinghouse, the Cochrane Library.

The reviews showed that people with migraine headaches experienced fewer and milder episodes when acupuncture treatments were added to existing care, which typically means medications to treat acute pain. About half of such patients said acupuncture resulted in 50 percent fewer headaches. That’s an improvement people who suffer from migraines can truly appreciate. Acupuncture therapy led to similar results among individuals with tension headaches.

In four clinical trials acupuncture was compared to preventive drugs for migraines. The acupuncture-only patients fared better with fewer headaches and side effects than a control group taking prescription drugs.

A key factor about this research: Acupuncture’s effects appear to hold for six to 12 months. Past studies have not extended beyond that time frame.

An intriguing factor about this research: The researchers found that a placebo version of acupuncture—using blunt needles that do not pierce the skin—or even needling on non-acupuncture points on the skin appears to be just as effective as acupuncture itself. Skeptics might wave off the whole concept of acupuncture reducing headaches, but the validity here is underscored by the success of acupuncture (in full form) when compared to preventive drugs.

Skepticism might be healthy at times, but migraine and other chronic headache sufferers would gladly welcome methods that prevent episodes of pain before they occur.

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.