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Auricular Therapy for Migraine

  • Non-pharmacologic Aspects of Pain, Migraine, and Headache (D Buse, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Migraine brings hours or even days of disability, affecting 15% of the US population and one billion people worldwide. Migraine treatments have improved over the years and there is now a range of non-pharmacologic therapies that can be administered as monotherapy, combined with pharmacologic therapy or combined with other non-pharmacologic therapies to give greater options for those who do not tolerate, do not respond to, or who wish to reduce or avoid pharmacologic treatments.

Recent Findings

We conducted a review of the literature on auricular therapy as acute or preventive treatment for migraine, searching the databases of MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov from 2013 to 2023. A total of 43 articles contained at least one search term, with three studies specific to acute or prevention of migraine (one for acute only, one for prevention only and one for both acute and prevention). The population was limited to, adults with migraine ages 18 or older, with the administration of auricular therapy as the intervention. While there have been studies on the use of auricular therapy for pain on two specific standardized auricular therapies, Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) and National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), neither of these protocols were utilized in any of the studies specific to migraine management. Each of the three studies used different techniques, with one using acupuncture needles and five specific points and two using semi-permanent needles (remained in for a few days) that were placed in areas that showed high activity. Each of these studies showed auricular therapy to have benefit for the management of migraine. However, the authors of each of the studies recommended further studies.

Summary

Auricular therapy may be a helpful adjunctive treatment to abort a current migraine attack or aid in reducing the frequency or severity of migraine attacks.

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Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Vera Gibb DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CCTP, AQH for her support in obtaining the research articles for this review.

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  1. KDW Health Management LLC, 10335 Gulf Beach Hwy Unit 1008, Pensacola, FL, USA

    Karen A. Williams

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Williams, K.A. Auricular Therapy for Migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01261-3

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