Impact of Qihuang needle therapy combined with flunarizine hydrochloride for vertigo in vestibular migraine.

Researchers in China studied whether combining a specialized acupuncture technique called Qihuang needle (QHN) therapy with a common vertigo medication called flunarizine hydrochloride could better treat vestibular migraine than medication alone. Vestibular migraine causes debilitating dizziness and vertigo attacks that significantly impact daily life. The study followed 59 patients over 8 weeks at a university hospital in Guangzhou, with half receiving acupuncture plus medication and half receiving only medication. Both groups experienced improvements in their dizziness symptoms as measured by a standardized questionnaire. However, the acupuncture combination group showed some notable advantages. Their vestibular function, measured by a specialized head movement test, improved significantly, while the medication-only group showed no change in this measurement. Perhaps most importantly for patients, those receiving acupuncture had fewer recurring vertigo attacks. At 4 weeks, only 14% of the acupuncture group experienced vertigo recurrence compared to 43% in the medication-only group. By 8 weeks, recurrence rates were 34% versus 53%, respectively. This suggests that adding Qihuang acupuncture to standard medication may help restore inner ear balance function and provide longer-lasting relief from vertigo episodes in vestibular migraine patients. While these results are promising, the study was relatively small and conducted at a single location. Patients interested in acupuncture for vestibular migraine should consult with a licensed acupuncturist experienced in treating neurological conditions.

This prospective study compared Qihuang needle (QHN) acupuncture combined with flunarizine hydrochloride versus flunarizine monotherapy in 59 vestibular migraine patients (n=29 combination, n=30 monotherapy) treated over 8 weeks. Primary outcome measured Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score changes; secondary outcomes included Video Head Impulse Test (v-HIT) results and vertigo recurrence rates. Both groups demonstrated significant DHI score reductions post-treatment. The combination group showed statistically significant v-HIT improvement (0.74±0.14 vs. 0.64±0.14, p<0.05), indicating enhanced vestibular function recovery, while monotherapy showed no v-HIT changes. Vertigo recurrence rates favored combination therapy at both 4 weeks (13.79% vs. 43.33%) and 8 weeks (34.48% vs. 53.33%). Clinical takeaway: QHN acupuncture as adjunctive therapy may improve vestibular function restoration and reduce short-term vertigo recurrence in vestibular migraine patients beyond pharmacotherapy alone, though larger controlled trials are needed for definitive recommendations.