ABSTRACT
[Introduction] We report a case of patient with migraine that improved after acupuncture and additional treatment for comorbidities of dry eye.[Case presentation] Subject was a 59-year-old female patient who was 156 cm tall and 49 kg in weight (BMI: 20.1). Her blood pressure was 122/69 mmHg, and her pulse was 70 beats per minute. She had suffered from headaches for about ten years and had been previously diagnosed with migraine. Due to the worsening of the headaches, she began acupuncture treatments. Since the onset of the headaches, she was also diagnosed with dry eye.[Treatment] At the initial visit, the subject's Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) score was 65. Manual acupuncture in her back and neck area and C2 peripheral nerve field stimulation with electroacupuncture were performed for migraine. At week four of treatment, the HIT-6 score was 60 and the headaches appeared 14 times a month, which improved to 48 and 7, respectively, at week 12. However, her headaches worsened after treatment interruption. At week 40, the HIT-6 score and headache frequency worsened and increased to 60 and 13, respectively. Acupuncture treatment for migraine was resumed, and treatment for comorbidities of dry eye, that included manual acupuncture around the orbits and self-care, was also performed. Subsequently, her headaches ameliorated significantly. At week 56, the HIT-6 score was 48 and the headaches appeared only five times a month. Migraine relief persisted and the symptoms of dry eye also improved.[Discussion and Conclusion] The additional dry eye treatment had a positive effect in improving the symptoms of migraine. It has been speculated that the pathogenesis of both diseases is related to central sensitization of the optical and trigeminal nervous systems. If so, the improvement of dry eye symptoms may have had an effect on migraine relief as well.
ABSTRACT
[Objective] To report reduction in frequency of headaches and use of medication and improvements in quality of daily life via C2 peripheral nerve field stimulation using electroacupuncture (EA-C2-PNfS) in a patient with migraines triggered by weather changes. [Case] A woman in her 60s complaining of headache.[Clinical History] Her headaches began to worsen in X-41 years. The OTC drug became ineffective from around X-15 years, and subject was diagnosed with migraine and overuse of headache medication by a neurosurgeon. Her headache was alleviated by the appropriate medications. She began a new job from August, X-1 year and headaches and over-medication increased in frequency. The acupuncture treatment was started in May, X year. The frequency of headaches was 8 times mo (month).[Subjective Symptoms] Throbbing pain occurred mainly in the frontal and occipital regions, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and optic/auditory hyperesthesia. The main trigger was weather changes.[Family History] Father, maternal grandmother and brothers have a history of headaches.[Diagnosis] Migraine.[Evaluation] Headache Diary (frequency of headache and medication), Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) (Quality of daily life).[Treatment] EA-C2-PNfS was performed once a week. Interval of the treatment was adjusted depending on the patient's condition. [Results] Though weather- related transient aggravations were occasionally observed, the frequencies of the headache and use of medication gradually decreased; The frequency of the headache was 8 times/mo at the start of the treatment, 6 times/mo after 12 weeks, 8 times/mo after 24 weeks, 3 times/mo after 36 weeks, once a mo after 48 weeks, 4 times mo after 54 weeks. The frequency of medication was 8 times/mo at the start of the treatment, 2 times/mo after 12 weeks, 6 times/mo after 24 weeks, 3 times mo after 36 weeks, once a mo after 48 weeks, 4 times/mo after 54 weeks. The score of HIT-6 also improved from 68 to 57. The treatment was concluded with patient satisfaction.[Discussion] In this case, migraine triggered by weather changes was remarkably alleviated. Recently an activation of the spinal trigeminal nucleus was implicated in the pathology of weather-associated headaches. EA-C2-PNfS may inhibit the abnormal activity of spinal trigeminal nucleus.
ABSTRACT
[Introduction] During the 10-year period between 2006 to 2016, the number of acupuncture-moxibustion clinics has increased by 59%. There have been some nationwide surveys on the business conditions of massage-acupuncture-moxibustion clinics, but there have been no studies focusing on acupuncture-moxibustion clinics. It is necessary to investigate their actual business conditions as part of the basic data required for considering the future of such clinics. In this paper, we focus and report on the business conditions of the clinics from our nationwide survey data base.[Method] A survey was conducted on a total of 20,000 massage-acupuncture-moxibustion clinics in Japan extracted with a stratified random sampling, including 15,000 private management clinics, 2,000 corporate clinics and 3,000 house call service suppliers. The survey was mailed out in October 2016. Replies from active acupuncture-moxibustion licensees were extracted and the questionnaires on the following items were analyzed; the number of patients, treatment fees, annual income, business type, and licenses. The calculated values are expressed as real values, percentiles, median values, and interquartile range.[Results and Conclusion] The average number of patients per month: 98, average treatment fee: 3,000 yen, and average annual income: 3,240,000 yen were shown to be the standard features of the business conditions for acupuncture-moxibustion clinics in Japan. The distribution of the aggregate values showed a large dispersion. Extreme bipolarization is shown in the annual income. It seemed to affect the low rate for receiving acupuncture-moxibustion treatments, and the unnecessary expenditure for judo therapies. More detailed analysis is required to clarify the actual business conditions of acupuncture-moxibustion clinics.