Acupuncture's effect on quality of life for headache patients

Investigating the Impact of Acupuncture on the Quality of Life of Primitive Headaches Patients

Not applicable Interventional Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · NCT06398353

This study is testing if acupuncture can help people with headaches feel better and improve their quality of life.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorChang Gung Memorial Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Taoyuan, Select A State)
Trial IDNCT06398353 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving the quality of life and reducing headache severity in patients suffering from primary headaches. A total of 120 participants will receive acupuncture treatment at specific points based on traditional Chinese medicine, with their symptoms evaluated before and after treatment using professional questionnaires. The study employs a crossover design, allowing participants to experience both real and sham acupuncture to assess the true impact of the treatment. Pulse wave data will also be collected to analyze changes in symptoms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 who experience primary headaches more than twice a week with a severity score above 4.

Not a fit: Patients with headaches related to anatomical structural lesions or those currently pregnant will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a non-drug alternative for managing primary headaches, improving patients' quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While acupuncture has been recognized as a potential treatment for headaches, this study aims to provide scientific evidence for its effectiveness, making it a novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Willing to sign a written subject consent form
2. Male or female over 18 years old
3. Those who have headaches (for example: dizziness, heavy head, dizziness, head fullness, migraine), those who have headaches more than twice a week, and whose NRS score is ˃ 4.
4. Headache definition: Headache symptoms are classified according to the ICHD-3 headache classification of the International Headache Organization, and are mainly primary headaches.

Dr. Chang ,Y.-J. and Dr. Yang ,C.-C. help to exclude headache patients with the following exclusion conditions to reduce the risk to subjects.

Exclusin Criteria

1. Pregnant women
2. Various acute and chronic infectious diseases, various skin ulcers, sores, burns, etc.
3. The patient has injuries to the radial artery or wrist, or has steel nails, plates, or fractures.
4. Various types of headaches related to anatomical structural lesions
5. Headaches associated with taking or withdrawing from substances (drugs, food, or other chemicals)
6. Headaches related to non-head infections and metabolic diseases
7. People with painful cranial neuropathy, other facial pain and other headaches
8. People with secondary headaches according to ICHD-3 beta
9. Other patients who have been evaluated by physicians as not suitable for inclusion in the evaluation.

Where this trial is running

Taoyuan, Select A State

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Headache MigraineHeadacheMigraine
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.