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This systematic review assessed research on acupressure for migraine. Of 250 screened records, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria: 10 randomized controlled trials, one cohort study and one case report. Six randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Some studies reported improvements in migraine intensity, frequency, duration and nausea, but substantial differences between studies and methodological limitations meant the authors could not draw firm conclusions. They called for larger, more rigorous studies. This review evaluates acupressure interventions generally; it does not evaluate the 4BrainPain device.

This double-blind randomized controlled trial enrolled 76 people with migraine without aura and compared self-administered acupressure with sham acupressure. Participants were trained to apply pressure three times a week at bedtime for four weeks. The study measured sleep quality and fatigue; after adjustment for baseline scores, it found no significant between-group difference in sleep quality, while fatigue decreased more in the acupressure group than in the sham group. It did not measure headache frequency or intensity, and it did not evaluate the 4BrainPain device.

This small randomized controlled trial involved 28 people with chronic headache. It compared one month of acupressure with muscle-relaxant medication and measured self-rated pain and headache-related quality of life at baseline, after treatment and at a six-month follow-up. The article reported lower post-treatment pain scores in the acupressure group than in the medication group, with differences also reported at follow-up. The study used trigger points including BL2, GV20, GB20, TH21 and GB5. It did not study the 4BrainPain device or a hand-based LI4 acupressure device.

This comprehensive network meta-analysis examined 39 studies involving 4,379 patients across various acupuncture-related therapies. The research highlighted the particular effectiveness of acupoint injection for migraine treatment. The findings provide a hierarchical evaluation of different acupuncture-based approaches in migraine management.

The study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in April 2017 by Zhao et al. investigated the long-term effects of true acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture and a waiting list control group for migraine prophylaxis. The 24-week randomized clinical trial included 249 participants who suffered from migraines without aura. The findings revealed that true acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency of migraine attacks compared to sham acupuncture and the waiting list group, suggesting that true acupuncture can offer a long-term reduction in migraine recurrence.

This systematic review examines the safety and efficacy of acupuncture for migraine treatment through the analysis of randomized controlled trials. The findings suggest that acupuncture, when compared to sham acupuncture or medication, may reduce migraine frequency and intensity with fewer side effects, making it a viable alternative or supplement to conventional treatments. The review highlights acupuncture's high safety profile, bolstering its recommendation as a treatment option for migraine sufferers.

This comprehensive review examines acupuncture's evolution from traditional practice to modern medical intervention. The study presents compelling evidence for reducing both migraine frequency and severity. Notable findings include acupuncture's favorable comparison to conventional treatments with fewer side effects.