Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Acupuncture?
        
(Message started by: hilbily on Nov 22^nd, 2004, 11:36am)

Title: Acupuncture?
Post by hilbily on Nov 22^nd, 2004, 11:36am

Anyone ever tried Acupuncture for these blasted headaches? Just one of those randoms thoughts that go thru da head during a 4 am bout with the beast! [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Acupuncture?
Post by floridian on Nov 22^nd, 2004, 11:44am

Several people here have tried it with no luck. There is one scientific study I am aware of that said that acupuncture in clusterheads increased the levels of ~~endorphins~~ enkephalins (the body's natural painkillers) but had no effect on the headaches.

Quote:

Headache. 1989 Sep;29(8):494-7.

Low CSF met-enkephalin levels in cluster headache are elevated by acupuncture.

Hardebo JE, Ekman R, Eriksson M.

Significantly lower met-enkephalin levels were found in CSF from cluster headache sufferers as compared to age-matched healthy volunteers, whereas it was not possible to demonstrate any clear-cut difference for beta-endorphin. CSF opioid levels may rise following manual or electroacupuncture. It was studied whether traditional Chinese (manual) acupuncture affected CSF levels of met-enkephalin or beta-endorphin in these patients, and to what extent this treatment would be beneficial for the headache. A significant rise in lumbar CSF met-enkephalin levels was found, whereas no clear change in beta-endorphin levels was obtained. The treatment was, however, of little value in preventing the headache.

Here is a link to an article in a medical acupuncture journal; this was a case study where the headaches cleared up after several months of acupuncture. With only one person studied, It is impossible to determine if this really was from the treatment, or was just the type of remission that can happen with clusters.
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol14_1/case1.html

Title: Re: Acupuncture?
Post by nani on Nov 22^nd, 2004, 11:51am

Had it. Didn't help. She helped me with other health issues, but it didn't touch the CH. :(

Title: Re: Acupuncture?
Post by pubgirl on Nov 22^nd, 2004, 1:24pm

It might make you feel better, but don't let anyone take your money off you claiming it will help your CH

Wendy

Title: Re: Acupuncture?
Post by don on Nov 22^nd, 2004, 3:24pm

It will help the acupuncturist make his next car payment. Thats about it.

Title: Re: Acupuncture?
Post by AussieBrian on Nov 23^rd, 2004, 1:25am

She-who-must-be-obeyed has an auntie who realised she could no longer afford to smoke AND gamble, so got accupuncture to quit the awful weed.

Dead loss, of course, and was back to a pack a day almost straight away.

It was months before anyone realised she'd been nowhere near a betting shop.

A. Sceptic