Heat-sensitive moxibustion for migraine without aura: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effect between heat-sensitive moxibustion and mild moxibustion for migraine without aura.@*METHODS@#A total of 54 patients with migraine without aura were randomized into an observation group (27 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (27 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The basic western medication treatment was adopted in the two groups. In the control group, mild moxibustion was applied at Shuaigu (GB 8), Fengchi (GB 20) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) on the affected side. In the observation group, the frequent acupoint areas of the affected side i.e. Shuaigu (GB 8), Fengchi (GB 20), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Taichong (LR 3), Yanglingquan (GB 34) were determined, 3 acupoints with strong heat-sensitive sensation were selected each time and mild moxibustion was adopted. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times of treatment was as one course and 2 courses were required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of migraine symptom, visual analogue scale (VAS), migraine specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQ) were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the scores of migraine symptom and VAS were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), while the MSQ scores were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01) in the two groups. After treatment, the scores of migraine symptom and VAS in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), while the MSQ score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 92.0% (23/25) in the observation group, which was superior to 72.0% (18/25) in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Both heat-sensitive moxibustion and mild moxibustion can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms, improve the headache degree and life quality in patients with migraine without aura, the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion is superior to that of mild moxibustion.

Effect and Safety of Penetrating Moxibustion in Treatment of Migraine without Aura: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of penetrating moxibustion on migraine without aura (MO) patients.@*METHODS@#Totally 60 MO patients from the Acupuncture Clinic of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine were collected from November 2015 to February 2017. All patients were assigned to a treatment group and a control group using a random number table, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with penetrating moxibustion, and the control group was treated with mild moxibustion, thrice a week for 4 consecutive weeks. The total effective rate, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, headache intensity, and Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ) scores of patients after treatment were compared between the two groups. The moxibustion sensation and reaction after moxibustion were observed, and the adverse reactions were evaluated. All patients were followed up at 4 and 16 weeks after treatment.@*RESULTS@#The total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (93.33% vs. 80.00%, P0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Penetrating moxibustion can significantly relieve pain and improve quality of life of MO patients. After penetrating moxibustion, flushing and sweating of patients were obvious, and the curative effect was superior to the mild moxibustion.

Análise combinada de casos homeopáticos de alta qualidade / Combined analysis of high-quality homeopathic cases

Um protocolo para Relato de Casos Clínicos Homeopáticos de Alta Qualidade (RCCHAQ) foi desenvolvido por C.N. Cámpora, tendo coerência interna como critério principal, além de categorizar a documentação clínico-patológica que fundamenta o diagnóstico e a pretensão de sucesso terapêutico. A análise conjunta de 4 estudos, no presente trabalho, permitiu elucidar como RCCHAQs podem ser utilizados para avaliar os efeitos da homeopatia hahnemanniana clássica em doenças crônicas de longa evolução. Todos os casos foram tratados de acordo com o método desenvolvido por Cámpora, denominado Fórmula Homeopática de Diagnóstico do Simillimum (FHDS). A duração média das queixas antes d tratamento homeopático foi de 5,4 anos e os casos foram acompanhados por 3 anos em média. Os casos estão completamente documentados em vídeo, atestados assinados, registros de testemunhas, resultados laboratoriais e escalas de dor e qualidade de vida. Todas as pacientes relataram mudanças substanciais, definidas como cura (melhora de mais de 90%) dos sintomas locais, gerais e mentais acompanhando uma profunda transformação de sua atitude vital, descrita como uma sensação de paz, liberdade ou felicidade, segundo a definição do Banco de Relato e Estudo de Casos Homeopáticos de Argentina (BRECHA]. Em todos os casos a medicação convencional prévia foi suspensa num período de 1 a 3 meses. Os resultados mostram que RCCHAQs contribuem a tornar os relatos de cais um recurso confiável no contexto da moderna medicina baseada em evidências, assim como podem ajudar a melhorar o desenho de estudos homeopáticos prospectivos, incluindo ensaios clínicos placebo-controlados.

A High Quality Homeopathic Clinical Case Report (HHQCR) Protocol exhaustively including requisites to constitute a reliable documented clinical report was developed by C.N. Cámpora. The protocol requires measuring homeopathic internal coherence and categorizes clinicalpathological backing documentation. Through joint analysis of 4 cases the present study elucidates how HHQCRs can be used to assess the effects of classical Hahnemannian homeopathy on longstanding chronic diseases. The mean duration of complaints before homeopathic treatment was 5.4 years and the duration of follow up 3 years on average. Cases are fully documented with complete video-recordings of consultations, signed certifications, third party recorded statements, laboratory results and pre-post treatment pain and quality-of-life scales. All the patients reported substantial change, defined as cure (>90% improvement) of local, general and mental symptoms accompanying a deep transformation their life attitude described as a feeling of peace, freedom or happiness. Also all of them were able to discontinue previous conventional treatment within the first 1 to 3 months of homeopathic treatment. The results show that HHQCRs contributes to make case reports a reliable resource within the context of modern evidence-based medicine and might help improving the design of prospective homeopathic studies, including randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Massaging over the greater occipital nerve reduces the intensity of migraine attacks: evidence for inhibitory trigemino-cervical convergence mechanisms

Activation of the trigemino-cervical system constitutes one of the first steps in the genesis of migraine. The objective of this study was to confirm the presence of trigemino-cervical convergence mechanisms and to establish whether such mechanisms may also be of inhibitory origin. We describe a case of a 39-years-old woman suffering from episodic migraine who showed a significant improvement in her frontal headache during migraine attacks if the greater occipital nerve territory was massaged after the appearance of static mechanical allodynia (cortical sensitization). We review trigemino-cervical convergence and diffuse nociceptive inhibitory control (DNIC) mechanisms and suggest that the convergence mechanisms are not only excitatory but also inhibitory.

Ativação do sistema trigemino-cervical constitui um dos primeiros passos na gênese da crise de migrânea. O objetivo do estudo foi descrever um caso clínico que sugere a existência de mecanismos de convergência trigemino-cervical (CTC) e que esses possam ser do tipo inibitórios. Nós descrevemos o caso de mulher de 39 anos com migrânea episódica que mostrou significante melhora em sua cefaléia frontal durante suas crises quando realizava massagem sobre o território do nervo occipital maior ipsilateral a dor. A melhora clínica só ocorria quando a paciente apresentava alodinia mecânica estática (sensibilização cortical). Neste estudo nós revisamos os conceitos de CTC e de mecanismos de controle inibitório nociceptivo difuso (MCIN), sugerindo que este último é um elemento comprobatório da presença de CTC do tipo inibitório durante as crises de migrânea.