This review evaluates acupuncture for **migraine prevention**. It states that acupuncture is used as a preventive treatment, with studies assessing whether it reduces the frequency of migraine attacks over time.

This Cochrane review of 22 trials with 4419 participants evaluated acupuncture for **migraine prophylaxis**. It states: "After 3 to 4 months patients receiving acupuncture had higher response rates and fewer headaches" compared with no prophylactic treatment or routine care. The authors conclude: "there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provides additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks only or to routine care" and that "available studies suggest that acupuncture is at least as effective as, or possibly more effective than, prophylactic drug treatment, and has fewer adverse effects." The focus of the review is preventive (reducing headache frequency), not on use during an acute attack.

The American Headache Society update addresses both **acute** and **preventive** migraine treatment. It states that several modalities, including some non-drug therapies, may be appropriate for either acute and/or preventive treatment, while the document is framed as practical guidance for integrating migraine treatments into practice.

This Cochrane review of 22 randomized trials (4985 participants) states: "The available evidence suggests that a course of acupuncture consisting of at least six treatment sessions can be a valuable option for people with migraine." It explains that trials "compared an acupuncture intervention with a no-acupuncture control (no prophylactic treatment or routine care only), a sham-acupuncture intervention, or prophylactic drug" in participants with episodic migraine. The authors summarize: "The available evidence suggests that adding acupuncture to symptomatic treatment of attacks reduces the frequency of headaches" and that acupuncture "may be at least similarly effective as treatment with prophylactic drugs."

This systematic review evaluates acupuncture as a treatment for **preventing episodic migraine**. The review compares acupuncture with sham treatment, usual care, and other preventive interventions, focusing on changes in migraine frequency.

This network meta-analysis includes **migraine prevention** as a core outcome and assesses acupuncture among preventive interventions. Its focus is on whether acupuncture reduces headache frequency and improves related outcomes.

This randomized clinical trial in patients with episodic migraine compared acupuncture with pharmacologic prophylaxis (flunarizine). The authors report that "acupuncture was more effective than flunarizine in decreasing days of migraine attacks" and that "the migraine days in a month decreased significantly after treatment, without differences between the two groups." They conclude that "data suggested that acupuncture could be adopted as migraine prophylaxis" and that it was at least non‑inferior to conventional drug treatment in reducing migraine frequency and acute medication use.

The NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that acupuncture has been studied for several conditions, including **migraine**. The page explains that acupuncture is commonly used for pain-related conditions and summarizes evidence for its role in symptom management.

In this randomized clinical trial of adults with migraine, participants received true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or were placed on a waiting list. The abstract notes that "true acupuncture may be associated with long-term reduction in migraine recurrence compared with sham acupuncture or assignment to a waiting list." The trial evaluated migraine prophylaxis outcomes over several months, indicating a preventive role of acupuncture in reducing future migraine attacks rather than treating pain during an individual attack.

The introduction notes "A large corpus of evidence has reported encouraging results for acupuncture as a prophylaxis therapy for migraine." In this RCT, episodic migraine patients were randomized to acupuncture vs pharmacological prophylaxis; the authors report that "This study suggests that in a population of patients with episodic migraine, acupuncture was as effective as a pharmacological treatment in decreasing migraine frequency." They conclude: "Data suggested that acupuncture could be adopted as migraine prophylaxis and seem to be slightly superior to pharmacological treatment in compliance and rate of adverse events."

In this Cochrane review update (indexed on PubMed), the authors state: "We included 22 trials, with 4985 participants, in this update." They report that acupuncture added to symptomatic treatment "reduces the frequency of headaches" compared with usual care alone and that acupuncture is "at least similarly effective as treatment with prophylactic drugs" for episodic migraine. They also note that acupuncture is associated with fewer adverse events compared with some standard preventive medications, supporting its use as a preventive (prophylactic) option.

The NHS describes migraine treatment as including medicines for **acute attacks** and, for some people, **preventive treatment** to reduce how often migraines happen. The page distinguishes treatment taken during an attack from treatment aimed at prevention.

This network meta-analysis compared multiple acupuncture-related interventions, analgesic drugs, and placebo for migraine. The authors state that "these results provide preliminary evidence that acupuncture-related therapy could be recommended as one of the effective treatments for migraine." They report that conventional acupuncture "had a better effect than placebo on the reduction of frequency of migraine attacks" and improved "the number of migraine days, duration of migraine, and frequency of migraine attacks." They also cite experimental work indicating acupuncture can "relieve pain during acute migraine attacks" in animal models, though most included clinical outcomes relate to prevention and overall attack burden rather than immediate treatment during a single attack.

This systematic review and meta-analysis included 9 randomized trials (1,484 patients) comparing acupuncture with pharmacological prophylaxis for chronic or episodic migraine. The authors state: "We found moderate quality of evidence that acupuncture is mildly more effective than any pharmacological prophylaxis in reducing the days with migraine per month" and that it had a "moderate effect in the reduction of pain intensity" and a large reduction in dropout rates due to adverse events. Their conclusion: "Based on moderate certainty of evidence, we conclude that acupuncture is mildly more effective and much safer than medication for the prophylaxis of migraine."

This systematic review summarizes evidence on prophylactic therapies for **episodic migraine**, citing the 2016 Cochrane update by Linde et al. It states: "A Cochrane Systematic Review published by Linde et al. in 2016 found moderate evidence suggesting that acupuncture is 'at least non-inferior' to conventional prophylactic drug treatments (flunarizine, metoprolol, and valproic acid) for episodic migraine prophylaxis." The review focuses on reduction in headache frequency at follow-up and explicitly refers to acupuncture as prophylactic, not as a treatment applied during an acute migraine attack.

The American Headache Society says its updated guidance concerns **migraine prevention**. The release describes first-line preventive options and makes clear the statement is about reducing future migraine burden rather than treating an attack already in progress.

The American Migraine Foundation summarizes evidence from clinical trials and systematic reviews, stating that "there is evidence that acupuncture reduces the frequency of headache in individuals with migraine, and that the effect may be similar to that observed with preventive medications." They report that "the frequency of headache is dropped by 50% or more in up to 59% of individuals receiving acupuncture and this effect can persist for more than 6 months." The article describes acupuncture primarily as a **preventive** (prophylactic) treatment over a course of sessions, rather than as a rapid-acting therapy used only during an acute migraine attack.

This systematic review examined randomized trials comparing acupuncture with standard preventive medications in adults with chronic or episodic migraine. The authors note: "Out of the 706 search results, 7 clinical trials, with a total of 1430 participants, met inclusion criteria for trials comparing the effectiveness of acupuncture to standard pharmacologic treatment." They report that "Several of the studies showed acupuncture to be more effective than standard pharmacological treatments for migraine prevention" and conclude: "There is growing evidence that acupuncture is just as effective and has fewer side effects than many of the standard pharmaceutical agents that are currently used."

This systematic review and meta-analysis (often cited in guidelines) evaluated randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for **preventive** treatment of migraine. The abstract states that acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in migraine frequency compared with no acupuncture/waiting list and was at least non-inferior to prophylactic drugs, with fewer adverse events. The focus of the included trials is on migraine **prophylaxis** over weeks to months, not on immediate relief during a single migraine attack.

This article summarizes the American Headache Society’s new guidance on **migraine prevention**. It explains that the guidance is about preventive therapy and not about acute treatment of an active migraine attack.

In this randomized controlled trial of patients with migraine, participants received true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or standard care. The abstract reports that true acupuncture resulted in a greater reduction in the number of migraine days and the frequency of migraine attacks over the treatment period compared with sham and control. The endpoints are prophylactic (change in attack frequency over time), supporting the use of acupuncture as a **preventive** therapy rather than as an on-demand treatment during individual attacks.

This NIHR commentary summarizes the Cochrane review of 22 RCTs on episodic migraine: "Acupuncture was about as effective as long term medication in reducing the number of migraines" and "Acupuncture at least halved the frequency of migraines in 41% of people, compared to 17% amongst those receiving no acupuncture" and in 50% vs 41% for sham acupuncture. It notes that "NICE 2015 guidelines recommend that acupuncture can be used to prevent migraines (with or without aura) when the first choice medications topiramate and propranolol have either been ineffective or are otherwise unsuitable."

This evidence summary describes randomized trials comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture, no treatment, and prophylactic drugs for migraine prevention. It notes that acupuncture is associated with a moderate reduction in the frequency of headaches and migraine days, and that its effects are comparable to prophylactic medications with fewer adverse effects. The discussion emphasizes acupuncture as a **prophylactic** intervention delivered over multiple sessions, not as a single-session treatment for acute migraine pain.

Summarizing the Cochrane review, this clinical summary states: "There is moderate-quality evidence that whole-body acupuncture is effective for **migraine prevention**." It quantifies that, compared with usual care, "acupuncture is more effective at reducing headache frequency by at least 50% (number needed to treat [NNT] = 4)." It also notes that acupuncture reduces headache frequency compared with sham acupuncture and with prophylactic medication at 3 months. The article explicitly addresses prevention and frequency reduction; it does not describe acupuncture as a standard intervention given during an active migraine attack for immediate relief.

This systematic review and meta-analysis pools randomized controlled trials evaluating acupuncture for migraine. The authors report that acupuncture significantly reduced migraine frequency and days compared with sham or no acupuncture and was comparable to standard prophylactic medications. They specify that most included studies looked at acupuncture as a **preventive** treatment given in repeated sessions, and they highlight that evidence for acupuncture as a treatment for **acute** migraine attacks is more limited and heterogeneous than for prophylaxis.

NCCIH summarizes evidence for acupuncture across conditions and states: "Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease **chronic pain**, such as low-back pain, neck pain, and **pain from tension-type headaches and migraines**." It further notes that acupuncture is often used as part of a pain management plan and that for headaches it is typically given as a series of sessions aiming to lessen pain and improve function over time. The NIH overview discusses benefits for headache and migraine primarily in terms of reduced frequency and severity, and does not characterize acupuncture as an evidence-based, immediate-acting intervention for acute migraine attacks.

This randomized controlled trial enrolled patients presenting with an **acute migraine attack** and randomized them to true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or standard pharmacologic therapy. The results section reports that a higher proportion of patients in the true acupuncture group achieved clinically meaningful pain relief within 24 hours compared with sham, and that fewer progressed to a full moderate-to-severe migraine. These outcomes support the use of acupuncture as an intervention applied during an active attack, although onset of complete relief may be slower than with standard triptan therapy.

This protocol explains the rationale based on existing evidence: "In 2016, a Cochrane review suggested that acupuncture reduces migraine attacks more effectively than prophylactic drug treatment." It adds that current guidelines in some countries recommend acupuncture: "Guidelines for acupuncture on migraine prophylaxis indicate that acupuncture may be a prophylactic treatment for patients who cannot tolerate drug treatment or whose treatment is ineffective." The protocol aims to update evidence on acupuncture used specifically for migraine prophylaxis.

This randomized clinical trial investigated acupuncture for migraine without aura. In the abstract, the authors state that the trial "assesses the efficacy of acupuncture for pain and disability reduction" in migraine patients and report that true acupuncture produced greater reductions in migraine days and intensity than sham or wait-list control during the treatment period. The trial evaluates acupuncture as a preventive intervention over several weeks, focusing on changes in attack frequency and disability, rather than use solely as an acute-onset treatment.

The ICHD-3 document defines migraine and distinguishes between **acute treatment** and **preventive (prophylactic) treatment** approaches in headache medicine. While it does not specifically endorse acupuncture, it clarifies that prophylaxis aims to reduce attack frequency and intensity, whereas acute treatment is given during an attack for rapid relief. This context is relevant because the acupuncture trials referenced in systematic reviews are designed as prophylactic interventions measured by changes in attack frequency, not as acute treatments administered at the time of an ongoing migraine.

In a discussion of preventive treatments, this review notes that nonpharmacologic options, including acupuncture, "have demonstrated efficacy in **reducing migraine frequency** in selected randomized clinical trials" and are considered as adjuncts or alternatives to drug prophylaxis. The article situates acupuncture firmly within the realm of migraine prophylaxis and does not describe it as a standard acute treatment for attacks.

This physician-assistant systematic review evaluated three randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for **acute migraine**. The author reports that "all three of the studies demonstrated that acupuncture is an effective treatment for an acute migraine" and that two studies "showed that acupuncture effectively eliminated migraine pain within 24 hours as compared to sham acupuncture." Another trial found "statistically significant fewer patients progressed to a full migraine, 48 hours following acupuncture, compared to a Sumatriptan placebo." The conclusion states that acupuncture was associated with "complete absence of pain, or avoiding a full migraine" within 24–48 hours after needling during an attack.

Mayo Clinic’s patient guidance on acupuncture and headache notes: "Studies show that acupuncture may help reduce the frequency and intensity of **chronic headaches, including migraines**." It explains that acupuncture is typically delivered in a series of treatments and is used to decrease how often headaches occur and how severe they are. The page presents acupuncture as a preventive or long-term management option; it does not describe it as a commonly used rapid-acting treatment administered at the onset of an acute migraine attack for immediate pain relief.

Reporting on an overview of systematic reviews published in *Pain Research and Management*, this piece notes that the authors "concluded that 'acupuncture has the advantage for acute and preventive treatment of migraine in pain improvement and safety'" but also that "the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analysis are less than ideal." The summarized data indicate that across trials, acupuncture was superior to drug treatments, sham acupuncture, or placebo in several studies for both acute migraine pain improvement and reduction in frequency of migraine attacks, suggesting use in both **acute** and **preventive** contexts.

This evidence-based practice article for primary care summarizes RCT data: "Acupuncture appears to be at least as effective as, or possibly more effective than, prophylactic drug treatment for migraine" and notes that it has fewer adverse effects. It explains that most studies evaluated outcomes including "number of migraine attacks" and "number of migraine days" over several months, indicating use as a preventive therapy rather than solely for acute pain relief. The article concludes that acupuncture is a reasonable option for migraine prevention, particularly for patients who prefer nonpharmacologic treatments or cannot tolerate drugs.

This clinical review describes evidence for both prophylactic and acute use: it notes that a meta-analysis of 22 randomized trials on migraine prophylaxis found acupuncture "at least as effective as, or possibly more effective than prophylactic drug therapy and has fewer adverse effects." Regarding acute treatment, the authors state: "The authors concluded that there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provided additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks." They also remark that evidence for a specific effect over sham in acute settings is limited, even though adjunctive benefit was observed.

This professional association page says a growing base of evidence supports acupuncture for **migraine and headache**. It states that patients report acupuncture can help reduce the **frequency, duration, and intensity** of painful episodes, which aligns with a preventive role.

The broader migraine literature includes acupuncture mainly as a **preventive** option; major evidence reviews and guideline discussions focus on reducing future attack frequency rather than as a standard treatment for an acute migraine attack. Acupuncture is not typically presented as a first-line abortive therapy for an active attack in major headache guidelines.