News update from Berkhamsted clinic: Acupuncture for headaches
On the subject of acupuncture for headaches, Mark Bovey the research manager for The British Acupuncture Council has written an interesting piece for the publication Advances in Neuroscience and Clinical rehabilitation.
In his article Mark highlights that the only treatment NICE (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence) could recommend in the prevention of tension type headache was acupuncture, and in addition how favorably acupuncture fares in comparison to topiramate – the medication currently recommended as front line migraine prophylaxis. In the trial referenced in the article, acupuncture not only outperformed the drug but was also found to be associated with significantly less side effects which is potentially interesting information for anybody that suffers with headache and is curious about what results they may be able to achieve with acupuncture.
In the rest of the article Mark draws attention to the complex nature of assessing a highly individualized intervention like acupuncture, and the potential pitfalls of misinterpreting the conclusions of clinical trials without due care to the nuances of the treatment. It’s a good article by one of the most informed practitioners about the current state of research.
If you’re seeking further research into either acupuncture for headache or acupuncture for migraine relief, The British Acupuncture Councils fact sheets provide a range of information from a collection of research and evidence on the subject, to brief explanations of acupuncture’s mechanism and mode of action.
You can find that their fact sheets here: acupuncture for headache and acupuncture for migraine
In 2012 The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence extended their endorsement of acupuncture to now include it as a recommended treatment for tension headaches and migraine. If you suffere from either of these conditions and have any questions about what acupuncture treatment involves, please feel free to contact me on 07717 515 013.