title: Efficacy of acupuncture for acute migraine attack: a multicenter single blinded, randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture for acute migraine attacks comparing with sham acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2007 to February 2009, 150 patients were randomly allocated to verum or sham acupuncture group in a ratio of 1:1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every patient received a verum or sham acupuncture treatment when having a migraine attack and, medications were allowed if the pain failed to be relieved two hours after the acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain ever).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VAS scores 24 hours after treatment decreased from 5.7 ± 1.4 to 3.3 ± 2.5 in the verum acupuncture group, and from 5.4 ± 1.3 to 4.7 ± 2.4 in the sham acupuncture group. Significant differences existed between the two groups (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This trial suggested that verum acupuncture group was superior to sham acupuncture group on relieving pain and reducing the usage of acute medication.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. wlp5558@sina.com
authors.forename: Lin-Peng
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Zhe
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Hui-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult