Wet cupping therapy and acupuncture applications in migraine patients: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim: Although there are numerous complementary treatments for migraine, comparisons among themselves are relatively rare. This study aimed to investigate and compare the effectiveness of wet cupping therapy (WCT) and acupuncture applications in treating migraine patients.

Materials and method: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted between 01.03.2022 and 01.10.2023 in the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Center of a tertiary hospital. Patients diagnosed with migraine were included in the study and randomized into three arms. The WCT group received cupping 3 times, once a month. The acupuncture group received 10 sessions of acupuncture once a week. The waiting list was assigned as the control group. VAS and MIDAS scales were applied to all groups at the beginning and the end of the treatment, and the results were compared.

Results: All three groups were similar regarding age and sex. Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores decreased significantly in both treatment groups after the applications, while they remained similar for the same period in the control group. Additionally, the post-treatment values of MIDAS and VAS in both the WCT and acupuncture groups were significantly lower compared to controls, while they were similar when compared in between.

Conclusion: Both of these applications were found to be similarly effective in improving disability status and pain intensity in patients with migraine.

Keywords: Acupuncture; MIDAS; Migraine; Traditional and complementary medicine; Wet cupping therapy.