Clinical effect of Xuanyang Jieyu Tongluo Zhitong acupuncture on migraine without aura and its influence on serum neurotransmitter levels

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Xuanyang Jieyu Tongluo Zhitong (clearing yang, relieving liver qi stagnation, promoting collateral circulation and stopping pain) acupuncture on migraine without aura (MwoA) and its influence on serum neurotransmitter levels. METHODS: Sixty patients with MwoA were randomly divided into a meridian‐point acupuncture group (acupuncture group, 40 cases) and a meridian‐point sham‐acupuncture group (sham‐acupuncture group, 20 cases) according to the ratio of 2∶1. In the acupuncture group, Xuanyang Jieyu Tongluo Zhitong acupuncture was operated. In the sham‐acupuncture group, the needles were not inserted into meridian points. The acupoints in the two groups included Baihui (GV20), and bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Shuaigu (GB8), Yanglingquan (GB34), Kunlun (BL60), Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LR3). The intervention was delivered once every two days, 3 interventions a week, for consecutive 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, and in follow‐up of 12 weeks after treatment completion, the number of headache episodes, headache days, score of visual analogue scale (VAS), score of the six‐item headache impact test (HIT‐6), and score of migraine specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQ) were observed in the two groups separately. Before and after treatment, the levels of the serum neurotransmitters (5‐hydroxytryptamine [5‐HT], dopamine [DA], β‐endorphin [β‐EP], and calcitonin gene‐related peptide [CGRP]) were detected in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment and in follow‐up, the number of headache episodes and headache days were reduced (P<0.05) and VAS scores were lower (P<0.05) in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups; and VAS score in the acupuncture group was lower than that of the sham‐acupuncture group after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment and in follow‐up, HIT‐6 scores were reduced (P<0.05) and the scores of each dimension of MSQ were elevated (P<0.05) in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups; and the score for emotional function of MSQ in the acupuncture group was higher than that in the sham‐acupuncture group after treatment (P<0.05). The levels of serum CGRP decreased in the acupuncture group compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Xuanyang Jieyu Tongluo Zhitong acupuncture therapy reduces the number of headache episodes and headache days, alleviates the severity of headache, improves the quality of life and regulates the emotional disorders in MwoA patients, which may be obtained by down‐regulating the level of serum CGRP.