Effectiveness and safety of scalp acupuncture for treating migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveMigraine is a prevalent and disabling neurological disorder affecting a significant proportion of the global population. Although medications are the primary treatment option, their efficacy remains unclear. Thus, alternative therapies such as scalp acupuncture have gained momentum; however, evidence for the effectiveness of scalp acupuncture remains insufficient. Therefore, this review provides evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of scalp acupuncture for the treatment of migraines. DesignPubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, Korean Medical Database, NDSL, Citation Information by NII, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched from their inception to September 2022 to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) without language restrictions. Data were collected and analysed independently by two reviewers. The RoB 2.0 tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias, and a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan software (V5.4). SettingEight RCTs including 874 patients were selected. ResultsScalp acupuncture had a higher total effective rate (relative risk [RR]:1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.08–1.43; P < 0.01) than that of ordinary acupuncture. The headache index decreased significantly (standardised mean differences [SMD]:−1.27; 95% CI:−2.06 to −0.48; P < 0.01), and the total effective rate was higher (RR:1.20; 95% CI:1.06–1.37; P < 0.01) with scalp acupuncture than with medications. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of scalp acupuncture was not robust. No adverse events were reported. ConclusionScalp acupuncture appears to be more effective than other treatments for migraines. However, their safety remains uncertain. PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022348879