Recovery from headache and ability to continue daily
activities 2 hours after medical treatment showed similar
improvement in both groups ( p > 0.05). Assessment of severity
of nausea did not significantly differ between two
groups during the follow-up period (Table 2).
Discussion
Findings of this study show that both YNSA and TCA can
effectively reduce the frequency and severity of migraine
attacks and improve the response to rescue treatments. Both
methods similarly reduced the need for rescue treatment and
work absence rate and improved daily activities of patients.
Regarding the efficacy and low complication rate of acupuncture
methods,3 this treatment may be appreciated as an
appropriate alternative choice for drug prophylaxis in patients
with migraine. The current results support the idea
that the acupuncture method has little effect on the outcome,
suggesting that point-specific effects play a small role in the
overall response.10 Finally, YNSA, which requires less
needling than TCA does, may be regarded as an efficacious
and feasible modality in experienced hands.
YNSA was introduced by Toshikatsu Yamamoto in 1973.
It is a microsystem of the scalp that uses anatomic and
channel points to treat disorders. YNSA differs from all
other microsystems in that it uses an extra palpatory diagnostic
system, YNSA neck diagnosis, to determine which
channel point should be manipulated. Using this additional
diagnostic tool makes the intervention more specific, with
less needling required.