| Objective:To study whether specific acupoints of Shaoyang meridians achieve better effect than acupoits of Yangming meridians or non-acupoints, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to treat migraine.Methods:1. Study was designed as a multi-center, randomized controlled trial.180 patients meeting the inclusiong criteria,5 of them were randomly assigned incorrectly because mobile messaging was blocked during callback,175 of them completed the callback process and were randomized into three groups. One group received verum acupuncture while subjects in the other two groups were treated with sham acupuncture.There were 163 patients accomplished, whereas 12 patients were missing. Treatment group gave acupuncture at acupoints along Shaoyang meridian bilaterally. The two control groups were given sham acupuncture treatment. Each patient received one session of treatment and was observed over a period of 24 hours. The main outcome measure was the differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores before treatment and 0.5,1,2, and 4 hours after treatment.2. It was a multi-center, randomized controlled trial. There were 153 patients with migraine meeting the inclusion criteria, and they were randomized into three groups, 142 accomplished and 11 missing. Treatment group were define as specific acupoints of Shaoyang meridians; The two control groups were define as acupoints of other medrians and non-acupoints control group. Treatment group gave acupuncture at acupoints along Shaoyang meridian. The control group 1 were given gave acupuncture at acupoints along Yangming meridian. The control groups 2 were given sham acupuncture treatment. In each session all acupoints or non-acupoints were punctured by needles and filiformneedles unilaterally, and left and right side are alternatively. Each patient received 20 sessions of treatment totally over a period of 4 weeks, once a day, five times continuously with two days interval in a week. The outcome measure was the differences in the number of days with migraine and frequency of migaine attacks and (VAS) scores, MSQ during 4 weeks before randomization and 4,8, and 16 weeks after randomization.Results:1.①Significant differences in the VAS scores were found at 2h,4h after treatment among three groups(p＜0.05). Moreover, significant difference in the change of VAS scores from baseline were observed in the 1,2,4 hours after treatment among the three groups (P<0.05).②Significant differences were observed in pain relief, relapse, or aggravation within 24 hours after treatment as well as in the general evaluations among the three groups (P<0.05).③fter acupuncturing the acupoints and non-acupoints, each group had obvious pain-relief effect at 0.5,1,2, and 4 hours, however, no significant difference was found between the 2 sham acupuncture groups.2.①There was no significant differences in the number of days with migraine and headache symptoms, frequency of migaine attacks, VAS scores and MSQ scores at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after randomization between treatment group and control groups 1 (P>0.05).②Significant differences in the number of days with migraine were found at 8 weeks after randomization and frequency of migaine attacks at 16 weeks after randomization between treatment group or control groups 1 and sham acupuncture groups (P<0.05). Significant differences in the number of days with headache symptoms were found at 8,16 weeks after randomization between treatment group and sham acupuncture groups (P<0.05); Significant differences in the VAS scores and change from baseline were found at 16 weeks after randomization between treatment group and sham acupuncture groups (P<0.05).③Significant differences in the number of days with migraine and headache symptoms, frequency of migaine attacks, VAS scores and MSQ scores after randomization were found at 4,8, and 16 weeks after randomization after treatment in three groups versus before treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion:1. Verum acupuncture treatment is more effective than sham acupuncture in reducing the discomfort of acute migraine. Verum acupuncture is also clearly effective in relieving pain and preventing migraine relapse or aggravation. These findings support the hypothsis that there are specific physiological effects that distinguish genuine acupoints from non-acupoints.2. Sham acupoints can be selected in the middle of two meridians. However, the distal end of meridian acupoints is appropriate.3. Acupuncture treatment may be is one of the effective therapies to prevent migraine in reducing the number of days with migraine and frequency of migaine attacks and improving the migraine-specific quality of life. Verum acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture in reducing migaine headaches at 8 weeks after randomization. We need more evidence and investigation, to clarify whether acupuncture is more effective than other medrians (control groups 1) in migaine.4. Acupuncturing at acupoints along the meridians is effective for migraine. This preliminarily explained that acupoints has specific effects, and the effects are allied to the distribution of the meridians.
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