[Acupuncture at points of the liver and gallbladder meridians for treatment of migraine: a multi-center randomized and controlled study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture at points of The Liver and Gallbladder Meridians for treatment of migraine.


METHODS
Multi-central, randomized and controlled trial was used and 253 cases of migraine were divided into an acupuncture group and a western medicine group. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at points of The Liver and Gallbladder Channels with Taichong (LR 3), Yang-lingquan (GB 34), Fengchi (GB 20), Ququan (LR 8) selected as main points, and the western medicine group with oral administration of Flunarizine tablets for 4 therapeutic courses. The total therapeutic effects 3 and 6 months after the treatment, the scores of various symptoms of migraine before and after treatment, and the stability of therapeutic effect in one-year following-up survey were observed in the two groups.


RESULTS
After treatment, mean times and duration of the headache attack were significantly improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01) with the acupuncture group better than the western medicine group (P < 0.05). The total effective rates for stopping pain after treatment, 3 months and 6 months after treatment in the acupuncture group were 93.0%, 93.0% and 87.7%, respectively, which were better than 85.6%, 86.5% and 69.2% in the western medication group (all P < 0.01). One year later, the stability of the therapeutic effect in the acupuncture group was better than that in the western medicine group (P < 0.05); the adverse reaction and the compliance in the acupuncture group were significantly superior to those in the western medicine group.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture at points of The Liver and Gallbladder Meridians for treatment of migraine is safe, effective, and with stable long-term therapeutic effect.
Zhong
Guang-Wei
GW
Institute of Combined Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. zgw7512@sina.com
Li
Wei
W
Luo
Yan-Hong
YH
Wang
Su-E
SE
Wu
Qing-Ming
QM
Zhou
Bo
B
Chen
Jun-Jun
JJ
Liu
Ben-Li
BL
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology; D006261:Headache / Q000517:prevention & control; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D005444:Flunarizine