A Preliminary Comparison of Efficacy of Needle-Embedding Therapy with Acupuncture for Chronic Tension-type Headache Patients

Abstract

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Needle-Embedding Therapy with Acupuncture for Chronic Tension-type Headache (CTTH) patients. Methods : The study recruited Chronic Tension-type Headache patients. A total of twenty-six patients were divided into 2 groups. 13 subjects were placed into a needle-embedding therapy group and 13 subjects into an acupuncture therapy group by a randomization table. The needle-embedding therapy group was treated with needle-embedding at Fengchi (GB20), while the acupuncture therapy was acupunctured at Fengchi (GB20). Then, a comparative analysis was conducted by comparing the results with those measured by a Blood pressor, Heart rate variability (HRV), Henry Ford Headache Disablity Inventory (HDI) Internet Headache Impact Test (HIT), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results & Conclusions : As a result of evaluation by using the self-rating headache index (VAS, HDI, HIT), pain score declined in both groups. But they were not difference between the two groups.

A Review of Acupuncture Treatment for Primary Headache Disorders in Korea

“…Thread-embedding acupuncture first originated from the idea of holding acupuncture needles steady because to treat a chronic disease it is necessary to place the needle in deeper and keep it there longer [49]. Bae et al [36] divided chronic tension headache patients into a thread-embedding acupuncture group and the acupuncture group, and performed acupuncture on the left and right of Fengchi (GB20) in the Wangu (GB12) direction. The study reported that since thread-embedding acupuncture showed similar pain-relieving effects to traditional acupuncture treatment, and had a longer-lasting effect, it could be applied efficiently for treatment intervals and frequencies.…”

“…Except for 2002, 2014, 2015, and 2016, studies had been conducted consistently. Out of the 41 studies, there were 18 case reports [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23], 9 case series [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32], 9 randomized controlled trials [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41], and 2 non-randomized controlled trials [42,43] (Tables 1-5).…”

“…One study used thread-embedding acupuncture in the chronic tension headache group. Bae et al [36] divided participants into the thread-embedding acupuncture group and acupuncture group, and the acupoints were left and right Fengchi (GB20) in the Wangu (GB12) direction. Effectiveness in reducing headaches was observed in both groups, and the authors reported that threadembedding acupuncture (which has a long-lasting acupoint effect with only 1 acupuncture session), could be performed effectively in a patients' busy day.…”

Effects of Embedding Therapy on Frozen Shoulder : A Prospective Study

“…Lee's embedding therapy study 11) was reported about Improvement Against Facial Wrinkles, Han 12) reported the efficacy of embedding therapy to facial palsy, Yoon's embedding therapy study 13) was reported about Androgenetic alopecia in woman, Bae's embedding therapy study 14) was reported about chronic tension type Headache, Lee's embedding therapy study 15) was reported about lumbar disc herniation and Lee's embedding therapy study 16) was reported about shoulder pain in behcet disease. Like this, embedding therapy was reported used in not only cosmetic surgery but also musculoskeletal diseases.…”

Effect of Needle-embedding & Acupuncture Therapy on Shoulder Pain in Behcet Disease Patient: A Case Report

“…이렇게 매선요법의 광범위한 적 응증에도 불구하고 최근 국내의 매선요법에 대한 연구는 미용 성형분야의 관심이 높아짐에 따라 성형 또는 비만 치 료에 관련된 연구가 주로 보고되었다[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . 그 외에 만성 두 통 환자20) 나 치매 환자 21) 에게 적용한 case도 있었으나, 근 골격계나 기타 동통성 질환에 응용된 경우는 Lee et al 13) 의 요추 추간판 탈출증에 응용한 경우와 Lee et al 14) 의 발목인 대 손상에 응용한 경우 외에는 확인하지 못하였다. 본 증례에서는 어깨 관절통을 주소로 한 베체트병 환자 에게 침치료와 함께 매선요법을 병행하여 통증 감소와 운 동범위의 호전 효과가 있었다.…”