The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published it’s first guidelines this week on the diagnosis and management of headaches in young people and adults. Acupuncture is amongst the prophylactic treatments recommended for both tension-type headaches and migraines. The recommended course for both conditions is 10 sessions over a duration of 5-8 weeks. However, for migraines acupuncture is only advocated should topiramate and propranolol be uneffective or unsuitable.
The report also highlights the importance of accurate assessment, correct diagnosis and classifies headaches into 6 different types. The full NICE guideline is available at the link below.
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG150