The Mechanism of Acupuncture Therapy for Migraine: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies on Rats
Abstract
Background: Acupuncture has long been used for migraine treatment as it is convenient for use and has remarkable efficacy. The acupuncture-based comprehensive treatment plan has been widely recognized for migraine prevention and treatment. However, the mechanism underlying acupuncture efficacy in migraine treatment is not yet completely understood. Our goal is to systematically analyze and evaluate this efficacy mechanism in migraine treatment-related basic research. Methods: To retrieve animal experiments investigating the action mechanism of acupuncture in migraine treatment, We conducted a literature search in major databases, the search period was the inception of each database to April 1, 2024. Literature was screened and data were extracted independently based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The animal models, acupuncture points, and acupuncture methods specified in the included studies were statistically analyzed and summarized. Furthermore, the potential action mechanisms of acupuncture were discussed. Results: In total, 20 animal experimental studies were included in the present analysis, and all of these studies used rats. In the order of frequency of use, the migraine animal models employed in the searched studies were the dural stimulation model, the nitroglycerin model, and the cortical spreading depression model. The primary acupuncture points selected were Fengchi (GB20) and Yanglingquan (GB34), and electroacupuncture was the most frequently…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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