The UK’s Top Migraine Charity is about to reveal an effective, drug-free treatment for Migraine . . .

Did you know that there are 190,000 migraine attacks everyday in the UK? Or that an estimated 25 million days are lost from work or school every year because of migraine? 1 How about that preventative treatments for migraines include antidepressants, antihistamines, anticonvulsants and, for the 5% of migraineurs who are eligible, Botox injections? You can find all of this out and more from the Migraine Trust, the ‘health and medical research charity for migraine’ in the UK.

What you won’t find out from their website or any of their handy Factsheets is that NICE recommends a safe, effective and affordable treatment for anyone with chronic migraines who has either tried topiramate and propranolol with no joy or for whom these meds are inappropriate. This treatment was found to be just as effective with fewer side effects than standard medication according to the most recent Cochrane Systematic Review2, considered the highest level of evidence available. It has less than a third the rate of side effects as Botox 34 at about half the cost.5

What’s more, NICE have made one of their top priorities the management and prevention of medication overuse headache – the unfortunate scenario where headache meds actually cause headaches. But since this treatment is not only just as effective as medication but is completely drug free, it can play a key role in the success of the NHS and Migraine Trust strategies to achieve the reduction of this debilitating drug-induced headache condition.

The treatment I’m talking about is acupuncture. And the Migraine Trust are excited to finally share this treatment option, available on the NHS as enshrined in the constitution, to all migraine sufferers and carers alike.

Acupuncture is safer and less expensive than botox for the prevention of migraines

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Why did they stay hushed for so long?

So why is there absolutely no mention of acupuncture as a treatment for migraine on the Migraine Trust website today?

It’s hard to say. NICE have only officially recommended acupuncture for the prevention of migraine for three years – in fact, it came out in the same set of guidelines as the ones that recommend Botox for a smaller subset of patients. While the Trust have provided information about Botox in their general section on treatments as well as having published an additional Botox Factsheet, they haven’t gotten around to doing the same to inform patients and healthcare providers about acupuncture, a treatment option that’s relevant to more people, costs less and has fewer side-effects.

The cynics amongst you may wonder if money has anything to do with it. The Migraine Trust aren’t shy about sharing that they are primarily funded by pharmaceutical companies including Allergan, the makers of Botox. These contributions are likely motivated by something other than altruism; I’m sure Allergan expects to see an increase in UK sales of botox for its generosity.

But not all of their donations come from pharma and it’s these little donations from regular people that add up that allow the Migraine Trust to educate the public about treatments other than ones sold by their pharmaceutical donors.

Share your gratitude

The Migraine Trust works hard to be the Migraine Charity for the UK, educating patients and healthcare providers about all of their evidence-based treatment options. If you are elated that the Migraine Trust will begin informing people about acupuncture – a safe, effective, cost-effective treatment for migraine prevention, recommended by NICE, available on the NHS, and a key tool for preventing medication overuse headaches, let them know!!

You can share messages of support with them:

– On their Facebook page: facebook.com/themigrainetrust

– Via Twitter: @MigraineTrust

– Or email them at info@migrainetrust.org and tell them you can’t wait to see their Factsheet on Acupuncture for Migraine.

Well done, Migraine Trust! It’s a good day for your community. Thanks for doing what you do!!