Acupuncture for idiopathic headache
Cochrane Database of Systematic ReviewsPublished 22 January 2001
Dieter Melchart, Klaus Linde, Brian Berman, Adrian White, Andrew J. Vickers, Gianni Allais
Citations186
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.62
SNIP2.04
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TL;DR
Overall, the existing evidence supports the value of acupuncture for the treatment of idiopathic headaches, however, the quality and amount of evidence are not fully convincing.
Abstract
Overall, the existing evidence supports the value of acupuncture for the treatment of idiopathic headaches. However, the quality and amount of evidence are not fully convincing. There is an urgent need for well-planned, large-scale studies to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture under real-life conditions.
Keywords
Medicine
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