Be Well

According to a new analysis conducted by Duke University Medical Center researchers, acupuncture is more effective than medication in reducing the severity and frequency of chronic headaches.

In 17 studies comparing acupuncture to medication, the researchers found that 62 percent of the acupuncture patients reported headache relief compared to only 45 percent of people taking medication. These acupuncture patients also reported better physical well-being compared to the medication group.

Acupuncture is more effective than medication

In the 2008 Duke University Medical Center study, researchers analyzed more than 30 studies to arrive at the findings published in the December issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia. The studies included nearly 4,000 patients who reported migraines (17 studies), tension headaches (10 studies) and other forms of chronic headaches with multiple symptoms (four studies).

"We combed through the literature and conducted the most comprehensive review of available data done to date using only the most rigorously-executed trials. Acupuncture is becoming a favorable option for a variety of purposes ranging from enhancing fertility to decreasing post-operative pain because people experience significantly fewer side effects and it can be less expensive than other options. This analysis reinforces that acupuncture also is a successful source of relief from chronic headaches."Tong Joo (T.J.) Gan, M.D.

Dr. Gan also has conducted research to determine the effect of acupuncture on post-operative pain, nausea and vomiting. His research has found that acupuncture can significantly reduce pain and the need for pain medications following surgery. He also found that acupuncture can be as effective as medication in reducing post-operative nausea and vomiting. Read more about the study →

People who suffer from migraines benefit from acupuncture

Oriental medicine is a natural, safe, and proven-effective way to offer relief from migraine headaches. The number one reason conventional physicians refer their patients to Oriental medicine Doctors is for headache treatment. A great advantage Oriental medicine has over pharmaceutical medications for migraine treatment is there are no harmful side-effects. Also, headaches are included in the list of conditions for which acupuncture is effective by the world health organization (WHO).

A German study published in the September, 2008 issue of Cephalalgia shows that people who suffer from chronic migraines may benefit from acupuncture to reduce the severity and frequency of their headaches.

"Our study has shown that treating patients with headache in routine primary care in Germany with additional acupuncture resulted in a clinically relevant and persistent benefit. Therefore, acupuncture should be considered a viable option for patients with headache." Dr. Stefan Willich, Lead researcher

The study is one of the largest to date on using acupuncture to ease headaches. Researchers from Charité University Medical Centre in Berlin followed more than 15,000 adults who had been suffering from either migraine or tension-type headaches at least twice a month for a year or more. Of these patients, 1613 were assigned to receive acupuncture in 15 sessions over 3 months in addition to usual care, while 1569 continued with usual care alone. After 6 months, acupuncture patients reported significantly greater reductions in headache pain than those who continued with usual care. Headache frequency fell significantly in patients assigned to acupuncture, from 8.4 headache days over 3 months at the start of the study to 4.7 headache days over 3 months at the end.

Source: Cephalalgia, Volume 28 Issue 9, pgs 911-913

Migraine misery

What are migraines? A migraine is a recurrent, usually one-sided headache, characterized by sudden acute onsets of throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain. The more intense pain is usually concentrated around the temple(s) and commonly lasts from 6 to 48 hours. Migraines may be accompanied by visual or gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, loss of appetite, fatigue, seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines, temporary blind spots (loss of your peripheral vision or blurred vision), eye pain, and extreme sensitivity to light (called photophobia).

Migraines occur as a result of changes in the diameter of blood vessels to the brain and surrounding structures. Initially, the blood vessels constrict (narrow), reducing blood flow to their areas and leading to visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, a tingling sensation in one part of the body, or other similar symptoms. When these symptoms start before the actual headache, it is called an aura. Minutes to hours later, the blood vessels dilate, leading to an increased blood flow and a severe headache.

What causes migraines?

Western science is still investigating the causes of migraines. They suspect that there may be a genetic predisposition to the disease since many sufferers have a family history. The following are some common triggers for the attacks:

• Alcohol, caffeine, smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke.
• Foods, containing the amino acid tyramine (found in red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, some fruits (like avocado, banana, and citrus), foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG – an additive in many foods), onions, dairy products, meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats), and fermented or pickled foods.
• Stress, physical or emotional (the headache often occurs during the period of relaxation just following a particularly stressful time).
• Fluctuations in hormones (for example, menstruation).
• Low blood sugar (for example from missing meals).
• Certain odors (such as perfume), allergic reactions, bright lights and/or loud noises, sleeping too little or too much.
• Prolonged muscle tension (for example, a tension headache can lead to a mixed migraine-tension headache).

Clinical trials of acupuncture therapy support the effectiveness of its treatment. A randomized clinical study involving thirty participants was conducted in the Department of Neurology at the University College Hospital of London, England. The results showed that there was a significant reduction in pain intensity and medication intake for patients who received acupuncture treatments. In another study led by Dr. Baischer of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Vienna, the results showed that the improvements achieved by acupuncture therapy are stable over a long period of time. The frequency of migraine attacks was significantly reduced over a five-week observation period immediately after treatment, and also during a three year follow-up period.

The American Headache Society® (AHS) established the ACHE (the ACH Committee for Headache Education) website primarily as an educational resource for physicians, health care providers and patients who seek resources and educational information on headache and face pain. Educational information on headache topics such as migraine, headache treatments, diary cards, nonpharmacological management, and trigger avoidance can be found within the many pages of educational materials within this site. This portion of the AHS website is intended to be used as a resource that will help improve the understanding of headache and care of patients and families who are afflicted with the burden of head pain conditions.

http://www.achenet.org/