This article in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) considers whether acupuncture has a place in the management of patients with tension-type headaches or migraine. The following topics are covered:

• Background
• About acupuncture
• The evidence
• Problems in acupuncture research
• Systematic reviews
• Trial since the systematic reviews
• Unwanted effects
• Precautions
• Costs
• What guidelines say
• Practical issues

The article concludes that “overall, acupuncture seems a reasonable adjunctive treatment for migraine or tension-type headaches, particularly in patients not managed by medication or those wishing to pursue non-drug options. However, provision of NHS acupuncture services is limited.”