Woman in orange top holding her temples with her eyes closed as if suffering from a headache or stress.

Study on brain activity during acupuncture treatment of migraine

Ling Zhao et al.

June 2014

Migraine

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Ling Zhao of the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and several research colleagues analyzed the brain activity caused by the treatment of active (AA) and inactive acupuncture points (IA) in migraine therapy as part of the randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted of 80 migraine patients who received an eight-week treatment with either AA or IA. 20 patients from each group were randomly examined before and after treatment using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

The results showed that long-term AA treatment elicited a stronger brain response than IA treatment, mostly localized in the pain matrix, lateral or medial pain system, default mode network and cognitive components of pain processing. The study demonstrates a difference in brain activity between AA and IA therapy and suggests that the former is particularly suitable for regulating migraine pain and establishing psychophysical homeostasis.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Migraine
Institution: Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Title: Study on brain activity during acupuncture treatment of migraine
Brief description: Study shows that AA acupuncture shows stronger brain activity and regulates migraine pain more effectively than IA acupuncture.
Original title: Effects of long-term acupuncture treatment on resting-state brain activity in migraine patients: a randomized controlled trial on active acupoints and inactive acupoints
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24915066/