OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in timely effectiveness of immediate analgesia on acute migraine between electroacupuncture (EA) at shaoyang meridian points and non-meridian points.

METHODSThe randomized controlled trial method was adopted. One hundred and ten cases of acute migraine were randomized into two groups. 55 cases in each one. In the observation group, EA was applied to Fengchi (GB 20), Waiguan (TE 5), etc. In the control group. EA was applied to non-meridian points. Only one treatment was given, and the nee dies were retained for 30 min in the two groups. Separately. at 10 time points, named before acupuncture, in 5 min, 10 min. 20 min and 30 min (at the moment of needle removal), 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 8 h after acupuncture, the pain intensity numerical rating scale (PI-NRS) was adopted to evaluate the pain severity and the adverse reac tion was recorded.

RESULTS(1) The effective rate of imnmediate analgesia was 87. 3% (48/55) in the observation group. significantly higher than 52.7% (29/55) in the control group (P<0.01). (2) NRS of each group was re duced at each time point, from 5 min to 8 h after acupuncture (all P<0.01). (3) NRS score at 30 min after acu puncture in the control group was obviously lower than that in the observation group (P<0.05), but the scores in 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 8 h after acupuncture in the observation group were lower apparently than those in the control group (all P<0. 01). The differences in the scores in 5 min, 10 min, 20 min and 1 h after acupuncture were not significant (all P>0. 05). (4) For the reducing amplitude of NRS score at the same time point after acupuncture, the results in 20 min, 30 min and 1 h in the control group were higher apparently than those in the observation group (all P<0. 05). But, in 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 8 h, the results in the observation group were higher apparently than those in the control group (all F<0.05). The differences in 5 min and 10 min after acupuncture were not significant (both P>0. 05). (5) In 24 h after acupuncture, the recurrence rate of migraine was 12. 7% (7/55) in the observation group, which was lower obviously than 34. 5% (19/55) in the control group (P<0. 05). The adverse reaction was not found in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONEA at the shaoyang meridian points achieves the definite immediate analgesia effect on acute migraine and presents the time effectiveness of analgesia.