A Case Report of Craniosacral Therapy and Acupuncture for Chronic Migraine

Article information

J Korean Med. 2023;44(3):140-149

Publication date (electronic) : 2023 September 1

doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.23037

Su-jin Lee ¹

, Seong-Uk Park ²^,³

, Jung-Mi Park ²^,³

, Chang-Nam Ko ²^,³

, Seung-Yeon Cho ²^,³^,

¹Department of Cardiology and Neurology of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul

²Stroke and Neurological Disorders Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong

³Department of Cardiology and Neurology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University

Correspondence to: Seung-Yeon Cho, Stroke and Neurological Disorders Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Tel: +82-2-440-6209, Fax: +82-2-440-6076, E-mail: sy.cho@khu.ac.kr

Received 2023 April 17; Revised 2023 August 19; Accepted 2023 August 22.

Abstract

Objectives

This case report aims to describe the effects of craniosacral therapy and acupuncture in a patient with chronic migraine.

Methods

A 33-year-old man with chronic migraine was treated with 20 sessions of craniosacral therapy and acupuncture for 8 weeks. The number of migraine and headache days were monitored every month. The pain intensity of headache was measured on the visual analog scale (VAS). Korean Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) and Migraine Specific Quality of Life (MSQoL) were also used.

Results

The number of headache days per month reduced from 28 to 7 after 8 weeks of treatment and to 3 after 3 months of treatment. The pain intensity of headache based on VAS reduced from 7.5 to 3 after 8 weeks and further to < 1 after 3 months of treatment. Furthermore, the patient’s HIT-6 and MSQoL scores improved during the treatment period, which was maintained or further improved at the 3 month follow-up. No side effects were observed during or after the treatment.

Conclusion

This case indicates that craniosacral therapy and acupuncture could be effective treatments for chronic migraine. Further studies are required to validate the efficacy of craniosacral therapy for chronic migraine.

Keywords: Craniosacral therapy; Manual therapy; Chronic migraine; Acupuncture; Korean traditional medicine

Fig. 1

Craniosacral therapy

Fig. 2

Changes in the number of migraine days and headache days per month

Fig. 3

Changes in pain intensity of headache measured on visual analog scale (VAS)

Fig. 4

Changes in Korean headache impact Test-6 (HIT-6) Journal of Korean Medicine 2023;44(3)

Fig. 5

Changes in migraine specific quality of life (MSQoL)

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