[Migraine without aura treated with balance acupuncture therapy:a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of balance acupuncture for migraine without aura.

METHODS: Blind evaluation was conducted. Forty patients with migraine without aura were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 19 cases in each one with 1 patient dropped out respectively. In the observation group, Toutongxue , the middle point was used in the hollow before the 1, 2 metatarsal combination, and in the control group, a sham point was applied in the hollow before the 3, 4 metatarsal combination. The manipulation in the two groups was the same. The treatment was given for 4 weeks, once a day, 5 times a week. The comprehensive score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used before and after treatment, as well as 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS: The comprehensive score and VAS score after treatment in the observation group decreased after treatment (both P <0.05), of which the total headache time and attack number for one month were lower than those before treatment (both P <0.05), but at follow-up the VAS score was higher than that after treatment ( P <0.05). The above indices in the control group were not significantly different from those before treatment (all P >0.05). All the indices in the observation group after treatment and at follow-up were lower than those in the control group (all P <0.05). The different values for the comprehensive score and VAS score before and after treatment, before treatment and at follow-up in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P <0.05). The different values after treatment and at follow-up had no significant difference between the two groups (both P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Balance acupuncture at Toutongxue achieves obvious effect for migraine without aura, which can relieve pain.