Acupuncture for Cervicogenic Headache

Acupuncture for Cervicogenic Headache

To compare the efficacy difference between triple acupuncture method at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) and conventional acupuncture for cervicogenic headache. A total of 66 patients were randomly divided into a triple acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 33 cases in each one. The acupoints selected in the two groups were identical, including C1 to C7 of cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) as well as Baihui (GV 20), Qiangjian (GV 18), Naokong (GB 19), Fengchi (GB 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Tianzhu (BL 10), etc. The conven- tional acupuncture was performed at acupoints on the head in the two groups; triple acupuncture was performed at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) in the triple acupuncture group while perpendicular acupuncture was performed with a depth of 25 to 40 mm in the conventional acupuncture group. The treatment was given once a day. Five treatments were considered as one session and totally two sessions were required. The changes of simplified McGill scale before and after acupuncture were observed in the two groups, and the efficacy of the two groups was compared. After acupuncture, the simplified McGill scale was both reduced in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between the two groups after treatment (all P > 0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 75.8% (25/33) and the total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the triple acupuncture group, which were superior to 57.6% (19/33, P < 0.01) and 84.8% (28/33, P < 0.05) in the conventional acupuncture group respectively. The efficacy of triple acupuncture method at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) is superior to that of conventional acupuncture for cervicogenic headache.

Chu H, Hu B. Triple acupuncture method at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) for cervicogenic headache: a randomized controlled trial. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2016 Jan;36(1):29-32.