Clinical observation of electroacupuncture with different frequencies for migraine without aura

Abstract

To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) with different frequencies in treating migraine. Ninety patients with migraine were divided into a low frequency electroacupuncture (LF-EA) group, a high frequency electroacupuncture (HF-EA) group and a variable frequency electroacupuncture (VF-EA) group by the random number table method. Shuaigu (GB 8), Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TE 5), Taichong (LR 3), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Fengchi (GB 20) and Ashi points were selected for all three groups. After achieving needling sensation (Deqi), the LF-EA group received 2 Hz continuous wave EA stimulation; the HF-EA group received 100 Hz continuous wave EA stimulation, and the VF-EA group received 2 Hz/100 Hz sparse-dense wave EA stimulation. The EA stimulation lasted for 30 min in all the three groups, once a day, 10 times as a course, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after 2 consecutive courses of treatment. After treatment, the total effective rates in the LF-EA group, HF-EA group and VF-EA group were 77.7%, 83.3% and 93.3%, respectively. The difference in total effective rate between the LF-EA and HF-EA groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05), but the total effective rate was significantly higher in the VF-EA group than in the LF-EA and HF-EA groups (both P 0.05), while the score was significantly lower in the VF-EA group than in the LF-EA and HF-EA groups (both P<0.01). VF-EA (2 Hz/100 Hz), compared with LF-EA (2 Hz) and HF-EA (100 Hz), shows superior clinical efficacy in treating migraine.