[Effect of acupuncture on pain and cerebral hemodynamics in patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect between acupuncture combined with medication and simple medication on migraine and cerebral hemodynamics.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with migraine were randomized into an acupuncture plus medication group (60 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a medication group (60 cases, 6 cases dropped off). In the medication group, flunarizine hydrochloride capsule was given orally before sleep, 10 mg a day. On the basis of the treatment in the medication group, acupuncture was applied at Sizhukong (TE 23), Shuaigu (GB 8), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Fengchi (GB 20) and etc. in the acupuncture plus medication group, 30 min each time, once a day. Treatment for 4 weeks was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, indexes of cerebral hemodynamic [blood flow velocity of anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA)] and total TCM syndrome score were observed, and the clinical therapeutic effect and the incidence of the adverse events were evaluated in both groups.

Results: Compared before treatment, the VAS scores, the blood flow velocity of ACA, MCA, PCA, VA, BA and the total TCM syndrome scores were decreased in both groups (<0.05). After treatment, the VAS score, the blood flow velocity of ACA, MCA, PCA, VA, BA and the total TCM syndrome score in the acupuncture plus medication group were lower than those in the medication group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.5% (55/57) in the acupuncture plus medication group, which was superior to 90.7% (49/54) in the medication group (<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (>0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with flunarizine hydrochloride capsule can effectively relieve the pain in patients with migraine, reduce the cerebral blood flow velocity, the efficacy is superior to simple flunarizine hydrochloride capsule.