Acupuncture Eases Tension Headache Pain
By Rita Jenkins, Thu Dec 8th

Copyright 2005 Daily News Central

The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has proven to be aneffective treatment for tension headache. It not only relievespain, but also cuts rates of recurrence by almost half, a recentstudy indicates.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy involves insertion ofneedles up to 3 inches deep into the body at prescribedacupuncture points, according to licensed acupuncturist RongZeng of the New York Good Health Clinic in Manhattan.

However, a new, randomized blind study in Germany involving 270patients with a similar severity of tension headache has shownthat a minimal course of acupuncture works almost as well as thetraditional method.

Fewer Headaches After Treatment

Researchers divided the patients into three groups. Over aneight-week period, one group was treated with traditionalacupuncture, another received minimal acupuncture (needlesinserted only superficially into the skin at non-acupuncturepoints), and the control group had neither treatment.

The subjects were monitored for four weeks after their period oftreatment. Those who had received traditional acupuncture caresubsequently experienced seven fewer headaches. The group thathad been given minimal acupuncture therapy had surprisinglysimilar results -- 6.6 fewer headaches.

The control group did not fare as well, with only 1.5 fewerheadaches.

Improvements in headache rates continued for months after theacupuncture treatment, though they began to rise slightly astime went on.

Results Subject to Interpretation

Such a negligable difference in results between traditional andminimal acupuncture treatments possibly indicates that thelocation of acupuncture points and depth of needle insertion donot make a major difference for treatment of tension headache,the authors of the study suggest.

However, they caution that the possibility of placebo effectsshould not be overlooked.

"Placebo effect is a factor in all types of medicine," Dr. Zengnoted. In western medicine, for example, blind tests may revealplacebo effects that are similar to responses to trial drugs,she explained.

In any case, it is clear that the patients who receivedacupuncture treatment experienced fewer headaches. Thepossibility that placebo effect plays a role in acupuncture doesnot detract from its efficacy.

About the author:Rita Jenkins is a health journalist for Daily News Central, anonline publication that delivers breaking news and reliablehealth information to consumers, healthcare providers andindustry professionals: http://www.dailynewscentral.com