[Electroacupuncture at Siguan points for migraine of liver hyperactivity: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of electroacupuncture at Siguan points and flunarizine hydrochloride capsule on migraine of liver hyperactivity.

Methods: A total of 110 patients with migraine of liver hyperactivity were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (55 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a western medication group (55 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was applied at Siguan points (Hegu [LI 4] and Taichong [LR 3]), with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency and current intensity of 0.1-1 mA, 30 min each time, once a day, 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Flunarizine hydrochloride capsule was given orally in the western medication group, 10 mg a day for 4 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the migraine attack days were observed before and after treatment, during follow-up of 1, 3 and 6 months, and the migraine symptom score was observed before and after treatment in the two groups.

Results: After treatment, during follow-up of 1, 3 and 6 months, the VAS scores and the migraine attack days in the two groups were decreased compared with before treatment (<0.05), and above indexes in the electroacupuncture group were lower than the western medication group (<0.05). After treatment, the migraine symptom scores in the two groups were decreased (<0.05), the change in the electroacupuncture group was greater than the western medication group (<0.05).

Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at Siguan points could effectively reduce headache intensity and migraine attack days, relieve migraine symptoms in patients with migraine of liver hyperactivity, and the efficacy is superior to oral flunarizine hydrochloride capsules.