A study by Dr Enrico Facco of the University of Padua in Italy has found that traditional acupuncture methods, as practised in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can be effective at reducing migraine symptoms.

The study entitled ‘Traditional Acupuncture in Migraine’ and published in the Journal of Head and Face Pain concentrated on 160 patients suffering from migraine.

It compared the effectiveness of a true acupuncture treatment according to TCM, with two different forms of ‘mock’ acupuncture, one using blunted needles, and untreated controls.

Researchers found regular treatments of ‘true’ acupuncture gave improved symptoms in 32 patients whose migraines had been resistant to preventative medication.

It is reported that acupuncture could ease migraine pain for a number of different reasons. Aside from theories on the circulation of qi, it could be that acupuncture alters the release of central nervous system chemicals.