A recent study has shown that acupuncture in Jacksonville is an effective remedy for headaches related to traumatic brain injury
Widely known as an ancient Chinese practice, acupuncture is used by millions of people around the world not just for restoring or maintaining the balance of the energy of the body known as qi, but also for treating a wide number of diseases. A study featured in the Medical Acupuncture Journal shows that the practice of acupuncture has led to the treatment of headaches caused by TBI or traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, makes up, at least, approximately 30% of deaths related to injury in the US. About 2.7 million people each year suffer from this serious issue.
In addition, about 79% TBI-diagnosed servicemen have manifested instances of recurring or chronic headaches. This has prompted researchers to determine if these headaches can be decreased by two forms of acupuncture – Chinese acupuncture and auricular acupuncture.
The study’s authors visited three military treatments facilities located in Washington D.C.where they talked to 43 military men showing cases of TBI and who were previously deployed. Their ages ranged from 18 to 69 and they have a history of mild to moderate headaches and traumatic brain injuries.
To guarantee the efficacy and safety of the therapy, the researchers utilized the services of practitioners with a master’s degree in acupuncture as well as licensed acupuncturists affiliated with institutes in Virginia or Maryland.
The subjects were grouped into three. One group was given the usual care administered by healthcare practitioners. The second group was treated with 10 to 60 minute sessions of acupuncture. The last group was given ten 45-minute treatments via AA.
TheAA intervention group was given around six to nine needle points and was evaluated after each treatment. The group treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture underwent 22 needle points and was also evaluated after each treatment. They were all dependent on the pain level the headache caused each participant.
Six weeks after, in the group that was treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture, results revealed a significant reduction in their HIT or Headache Impact Test. Compare that to the group given usual care whose score was at positive 0.8 percent. Meanwhile, the AA group scored -10.2% while the traditional Chinese acupuncture group scored -4.6%.
The researchers noted that the only differencein the secondary result was in the NRS or global pain levels among the servicemen. Compared to the UC group, the TCA and AA groups experienced lower incidences of NRS. Moreover, when the TCA and AA were combined, even greater outcomes manifested for both primary and secondary results.
The study concluded that acupuncture can definitely relieve headaches resulting from traumatic brain injury. In addition, acupuncture was found to be more effective than conventional or usual care treatments that sufferers where given in medical facilities.