HomeLifestyleHealth & FitnessAn Old Natural Treatment Reduced Chronic Headaches In Half

An Old Natural Treatment Reduced Chronic Headaches In Half

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Tension-type headaches are one of the most common types of headaches, and individuals who have them often may look for an alternative to drugs.

A new study published in the online issue of Neurology today found that acupuncture may help people with chronic tension-type headaches feel better.

The most common symptom of tension-type headaches is mild to moderately intense pressing or tightening sensation on both sides of the head. These headaches don’t get worse when you move around, and they don’t make you feel sick. When they happen at least 15 times a month, tension headaches are called chronic.

According to study author Ying Li, MD, PhD, of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chengdu, China, tension-type headaches are one of the most prevalent types of headaches, and those who suffer a lot of these headaches may be looking for alternatives to medicine. 

“Our study found that acupuncture reduces the average number of headache days per month for those struggling with these painful and disruptive headache attacks.”

The study included 218 patients who had chronic tension-type headaches. They reported chronic tension-type headaches for an average of 11 years and suffered headaches 22 days per month on average. Participants were given either real acupuncture or superficial acupuncture.

True acupuncture treatments involve getting a “deqi” feeling by putting a needle in the body and moving it around until you feel tingling, numbness, or weight. To prevent achieving the deqi sensation, the superficial treatments had a lower depth in the body. Both groups received two or three sessions a week for a total of 20 sessions over the course of two months, after which they continued to be observed for another six months.

The primary outcome examined in the trial was a reduction of headache days by at least 50 percent. Every four weeks, all participants went to the clinic. Additionally, they kept headache diaries to note their symptoms and acute medication intake.

At the conclusion of the trial, 68 percent of those receiving real acupuncture compared to 50 percent of those receiving superficial acupuncture reported a monthly headache decrease of at least 50 percent.

Researchers discovered that the number of monthly headache days gradually decreased following treatment, in both groups. True acupuncture patients experienced a reduction in headache days from 20 per month at the start of the research to 7 per month by the end. The number of headache days for those who underwent superficial acupuncture fell from 23 per month at the start of the trial to 12 per month at its conclusion.

The therapy’s primary side effects were minor and did not necessitate treatment.

“While this study showed that acupuncture can reduce headaches, more research is needed to determine the longer-term effectiveness of acupuncture and how it compares to other treatment options,” Li added. “In comparing treatment options, cost-effectiveness is another important factor to evaluate.”

Due to the fact that the research was conducted at a single hospital, the results may not be applicable to all populations.

Image Credit: Getty

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