[Tactics of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis]

In order to provide some more scientific and practical advice and tactics for acupuncture in prevention of migraine in clinic, a computer-based information search was conducted in MEDLINE database, and the current reports of clinical trials were summarized and a comparison of Western and Chinese research designs was made. The significant role of acupuncture for prevention of migraine has not been applied in wide range in China until the present day. However, it has been paid great attention in Western countries. This situation might be related to the differences of efficacy assessment of acupuncture between China and Western countries; meanwhile, in the past traditional acupuncturists put much stress on the therapeutic approaches for acute attacks of headache but less on prevention. It is necessary for Chinese doctors to learn from research method in the West and emphasize more on acupuncture for preventing migraine and conduct high-level clinical trials as well. The author recommends that Chinese doctors should select acupuncture points mainly according to meridian syndrome differentiation and apply long term intermittent interventions.