Tag: congressional hearings

Community, News & Research, Society, Treatment

Petition to Request Congressional Hearings on Migraine & Headache Disorders: Please Sign TODAY!

Kerrie Smyres

Tired of people telling you to take an aspirin and get over it? Wish that migraine and headache research wasn’t controlled by drug companies? Help get the word out the migraine and headache disorders are serious, disabling conditions by signing this petition to urge Congressional hearings on the impact of migraine and headache disorders. The deadline is TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 15.

You must include your full name (not just initials), email address, mailing address and ZIP code for Congress to accept your signature to be valid. Only your first name, last initial, city and state will be posted publicly and your information will not be shared or sold.

Please, please take the time to sign this and share it with friends and family and on Facebook. It is long past time that these debilitating disorders be taken seriously.

Treatment

Acupuncture for Migraine Only a Placebo?

Kerrie Smyres

The American Headache Society supports that Traditional & “Sham” Acupuncture Both Effective for Migraine Relief. In contrast, after reviewing the studies mentioned in the AHS press release, Steven Novella of NeuroLogica Blog claims that the American Headache Society Recommends Placebos for Migraine. He writes,

Studies show that sham acupuncture is as effective as true acupuncture, and Dr. Dodick concludes from this that both work. The proper scientific interpretation of this result is that the treatment (acupuncture) is no different than placebo (sham acupuncture) and therefore has only a placebo effect.

Novella’s argument is sound and I agree with his conclusions. What intrigues me is why the American Headache Society and its president, David Dodick, are touting the benefits for acupuncture when the science is weak. Is it that there are so few effective treatments for migraine that even those without strong evidence are considered worthwhile?

It reminds me of when I was considering Botox injections and was surprised to find that studies only showed minor reductions in headache days of participants. From headlines, you’d think Botox had eradicated migraine, but studies have had only modest results.

The paltry options for treating migraine and the lack of funding for migraine research are disheartening. Urge Congress to take notice by signing the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy’s petition.

 Thanks to reader C. Peterson for sharing NeuroLogica Blog’s post.