ReviewJournal of pain research2025
The Mechanism of Acupuncture Therapy for Migraine: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies on Rats.
Review in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Efficacy of Sodium Channel-Selective Analgesics in Postoperative, Neuralgia, and Neuropathy-Related Pain Management: A Systematic Review and Literature Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of GV20-based wearable low-level laser acupoint therapy for pain on head.Lasers in medical science · 2026Trial
- Mechanisms of Acupuncture on the Neurovascular Unit in Migraine: A Narrative Review.European journal of neurology · 2026Review
- Non-Pharmacological Treatments of Migraine: Current Evidence and Clinical Practice.Current pain and headache reports · 2026Review
- Data Mining-Based Analysis of Acupoint Selection Patterns in Acupuncture Treatment for Lumbar Disc Herniation.Journal of pain research · 2026Review
- Integrated Multi-Omics Analyses Identify Acupuncture-Associated Changes in Gut Microbiota, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, and TNC Gene Expression in Chronic Migraine Rats.Journal of inflammation research · 2026Article
- Phase-specific sequential press-needle therapy for menstrual migraine: a randomized trial protocol.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Article
- Senkyunolides: a promising natural compounds for the treatment of migraine headaches.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- The Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture for Prophylaxis of Menstrually Related Migraine: Study Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of women's health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Acupuncture has long been used for migraine treatment as it is convenient for use and has remarkable efficacy. The acupuncture-based comprehensive treatment plan has been widely recognized for migraine prevention and treatment. However, the mechanism underlying acupuncture efficacy in migraine treatment is not yet completely understood. Our goal is to systematically analyze and evaluate this efficacy mechanism in migraine treatment-related basic research. Methods: To retrieve animal experiments investigating the action mechanism of acupuncture in migraine treatment, We conducted a literature search in major databases, the search period was the inception of each database to April 1, 2024. Literature was screened and data were extracted independently based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The animal models, acupuncture points, and acupuncture methods specified in the included studies were statistically analyzed and summarized. Furthermore, the potential action mechanisms of acupuncture were discussed. Results: In total, 20 animal experimental studies were included in the present analysis, and all of these studies used rats. In the order of frequency of use, the migraine animal models employed in the searched studies were the dural stimulation model, the nitroglycerin model, and the cortical spreading depression model. The primary acupuncture points selected were Fengchi (GB20) and Yanglingquan (GB34), and electroacupuncture was the most frequently used acupuncture method. The action mechanism of acupuncture underlying migraine treatment primarily involves regulating the descending pain modulatory system and inhibiting neurotransmitters such as CGRP, SP, and 5-HT, as well as microglial cell activation. It also reduces the levels of inflammatory cytokines, thereby mitigating neurogenic inflammation and improving central sensitization. Conclusion: Acupuncture exerts its therapeutic effect on migraine by regulating neurotransmitter release, inhibiting inflammatory responses, modulating central analgesic mechanisms, and suppressing glial cell activation. However, further in-depth exploration is needed in the study of the mechanisms underlying acupuncture treatment for migraine.
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Registered trials
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