The combined effect of acupuncture and Tanacetum parthenium on quality of life in women with headache: randomised study

Ferro, E. C.

Biagini, A. P.

da Silva, I. E.

Silva, M. L.

Silva, J. R.

Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society

2012

30(4)

252-257

RCT

RCT

Headache Disorders

Acu Versus > 1 Control

Acupuncture

Herb, Single

TCM Acupuncture Style

Fixed Acupuncture Protocol

Restricted Modalities, Acupuncture Only

Restricted Modalities, Acupuncture + Other

CAM Control

Migraine

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of acupuncture (AC), Tanacetum (TAN) or combined treatment on quality of life in women with chronic migraine (CM). METHODS: A total of 69 women volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups: AC, acupuncture administered in 20 sessions over 10 weeks (n=22); TAN, at 150 mg/day (n=23); and AC+TAN (n=23). The primary outcome was Short-Form 36 (SF-36) quality of life assessment score. Secondary outcomes included the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score experienced after randomisation. RESULTS: AC+TAN was statistically significantly more effective than AC or TAN alone in overall health-related quality of life (SF-36; p<0.05), on MIDAS score (-35.1 (10.6) AC vs -24.8 (11.7) TAN vs -42.5 (9.8) AC+TAN; p<0.05) and in reducing the mean score of pain on VAS (-5.6 (2.4) AC vs -3.7 (2.1) TAN vs -6.4 (3.1) AC+TAN; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present work shows an improvement of the quality of life and better analgesic effect of acupuncture combined with TAN treatment on migraine pain in women when compared with acupuncture or TAN alone.

Headache Disorders

>1/WK

69

10 Weeks