Abstract: Objective To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of chronic headache.Methods The following databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on the use of acupuncture for chronic headache: Medline(1966~2011), CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Scopus. Studies were included if they enrolled adults with chronic headache and were randomized to receive needling acupuncture treatment or sham acupuncture. The data on headache intensity, frequency and response rate were extracted for analysis. Results Seventeen trials were included in this review. The majority of included trials showed a trend in favor of acupuncture. The combined response rate in the acupuncture group was significantly higher as compared with sham acupuncture either at the early follow-up period〔risk ratio(RR)=1.19, 95% confidence interval(CI):1.08~1.30〕 or late follow-up period(RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.04~1.43). Conclusion Needling acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in management of chronic headache.

Key words: acupuncture, chronic headache, randomized controlled trial