HeadWise Volume 3, Issue 3 | Page 29

acupuncture because it can cause premature labor. However, there are no scientific reports indicating this occurs. A 2002 Australian study on the safety of acupuncture for nausea in early pregnancy confirmed that there is no increased risk of congenital anomalies, miscarriage, stillbirth, placental abruption, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, premature birth, or other problems when women receive acupuncture during pregnancy. The study was conducted during the first trimester of pregnancy when fetal development is most vulnerable. In summary, acupuncture is a useful alternative to drug therapy in patients experiencing migraine, sinus, and tension-type headaches. The use of acupuncture in migraine treatment has the most evidence in regards to efficacy and safety. It has been used effectively and safely, but it is time consuming and relatively expensive. If the headache specialist does not incorporate acupuncture into the management of the headaches, the patient can request a referral. The patient can also review a list of acupuncturists online. Forty-three states require licensure for acupuncture therapists. If your state has this requirement, you could check online to determine if your therapist is licensed. Case Report A 70-year-old woman was referred to a headache clinic by her primary care physician due to recent onset of daily headaches for one month. She could not identify an obvious trigger for her headaches. The headaches started in the front of her head and often radiated to the rest of the head. She described a few episodes of mild nausea which occurred when the headache was severe. An MRI scan of the brain and blood tests were normal. She had tried gabapentin for the prevention of these headaches, but she felt tired and dizzy while on this drug. Also, she tried a course of steroids, other preventives, and Botox injections without relief. A combination drug containing butalbital, caffeine, and acetaminophen seemed to work well, but she needed to take it on a daily basis. Because daily intake of this type of drug is known to exacerbate headaches (so called medication-overuse headaches) and no other drugs had helped, the patient agreed to try acupuncture. The patient underwent eight weekly acupuncture treatments with needles placed in her ears, arms, and legs. She reported a dramatic relief of her headaches. During the subsequent 5 years, the patient continued to experience occasional headaches, which never became daily or frequent. Interestingly, 2 years after the onset of her headaches, the patient developed a very painful outbreak of shingles, which was more effectively helped by acupuncture than by narcotic pain killers. HW www.headaches.org Arthur H. Elkind, MD (President of the National Headache Foundation) noted: Acupuncture is difficult to establish with a definite scientific proof as to its effectiveness. The placebo effect is noticeable. In patients who are not helped by standard therapies, it is “worth a try.” I would emphasize it is an invasive procedure. The subject/patient must be sure disposable needles are used and one should seek licensed qualified physicians to administer the injections with the long needles. Although fortunately, serious complications are very rare, these adverse effects have been encountered. The use of contaminated needles could expose the patient to Hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. | National Headache Foundation 29