A large Chinese systematic review concludes acupuncture helps migraine, with respect to both prevention and treatment. The meta-analysis included 62 trials covering over 4900 patients. Acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture, standard medication and no treatment. It was also associated with lower pain scores than medication, up to three months after treatment. Acupuncture also enhanced quality of life compared with medication.
Fourteen studies (over 1200 patients) demonstrated that acupuncture was associated with fewer adverse events compared with medication.
(The Effect of Acupuncture on the Quality of Life in Patients with Migraine: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 26 October 2018.)