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. 2012 Sep;11(3):192-201.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2012.02.003.

Combination of acupuncture and spinal manipulative therapy: management of a 32-year-old patient with chronic tension-type headache and migraine

Bahia A Ohlsen  1
Affiliations

Combination of acupuncture and spinal manipulative therapy: management of a 32-year-old patient with chronic tension-type headache and migraine

Bahia A Ohlsen. J Chiropr Med. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this case study is to describe the treatment using acupuncture and spinal manipulation for a patient with a chronic tension-type headache and episodic migraines.

Clinical features: A 32-year-old woman presented with headaches of 5 months' duration. She had a history of episodic migraine that began in her teens and had been controlled with medication. She had stopped taking the prescription medications because of gastrointestinal symptoms. A neurologist diagnosed her with mixed headaches, some migrainous and some tension type. Her headaches were chronic, were daily, and fit the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria of a chronic tension-type headache superimposed with migraine.

Intervention and outcome: After 5 treatments over a 2-week period (the first using acupuncture only, the next 3 using acupuncture and chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy), her headaches resolved. The patient had no recurrences of headaches in her 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion: The combination of acupuncture with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy was a reasonable alternative in treating this patient's chronic tension-type headaches superimposed with migraine.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Acupuncture analgesia; Headache disorders; Migraine headaches; Tension-type headaches.

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Figures

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Fig 1
Location of gallbladder (GB) meridian 1 and 8.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Location of gallbladder (GB) meridian 20.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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