Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025
The clinical efficacy of auricular acupuncture in the treatment of frequent episodic tension-type headache: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFrequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) is a significant public-health concern. Scientific research has demonstrated that acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms of FETTH. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture and sham acupuncture in treating FETTH.
methodsThis was a randomized controlled trial. Participants with FETTH were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive auricular acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 4 weeks, with follow-up lasting for up to 24 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the headache index and visual analog scale (VAS) score. Secondary outcomes included the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score, blood flow velocity in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) (V
resultsCompared with the sham acupuncture group, the auricular acupuncture group showed significant improvements in VAS score (2 (1.25, 2) vs. 3 (2, 3.5) at 24 h, P < 0.001; 2 (1.25, 2) vs. 2 (2, 3) at the 2nd week, P = 0.004; 2 (1, 2) vs. 2 (1.5, 3) at the 4th week, P = 0.015), headache index (4 (2, 7) vs. 7 (4, 9) at the 4th week, P = 0.016), HAMA score (11.69 ± 2.70) vs. (14.24 ± 3.20) at the 4th week, P < 0.001; (9.83 ± 2.71) vs. (11.95 ± 2.59) at the 8th week, P = 0.001; (9.67 ± 2.65) vs. (11.76 ± 3.00) at the 24th week, P = 0.002), HAMD score ((14.25 ± 2.68) vs. (15.89 ± 3.48) at the 4th week, P = 0.027,) V
conclusionThis study found that auricular acupuncture effectively improved the clinical symptoms of FETTH and had relatively fewer side effects.
trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered in the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR2025000363) on January 20, 2025.
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