As early as 1983, Sjaastad proposed the concept of cervicogenic headache (CH) in the World Headache Conference, that is, the pain from upper cervical joints and muscles can be referred to the head. CH is a group of syndromes mainly caused by dysfunction of the upper cervical spine and its component muscles, ligaments, bony, vertebral arteries and/or soft tissue elements, usually not accompanied by neck pain. Therefore, the treatment strategy of CH focuses on pain relief and repair cervical lesions. Patients with painful disorders of upper cervical zygapophysial joints showed significant headache relief after directly treated at disordered cervical joints [1]

1. DOI: 10.12032/TMR201915093 Traditional Medicine Research January 2019; 4(1): 3
Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com TMR | January 2019 | vol. 4 | no. 1 |
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As early as 1983, Sjaastad proposed the concept of
cervicogenic headache (CH) in the World Headache
Conference, that is, the pain from upper cervical joints
and muscles can be referred to the head. CH is a group of
syndromes mainly caused by dysfunction of the upper
cervical spine and its component muscles, ligaments,
bony, vertebral arteries and/or soft tissue elements,
usually not accompanied by neck pain. Therefore, the
treatment strategy of CH focuses on pain relief and repair
cervical lesions. Patients with painful disorders of upper
cervical zygapophysial joints showed significant
headache relief after directly treated at disordered
cervical joints [1].
The following therapeutic methods are used in the
treatment of the CH, including medical therapy,
acupuncture, nerve root block, physical therapy, massage,
kinezitherapy, traction, surgical treatment, etc [2]. The
optimal treatment of CH is still under investigation and it
seems that the best results are achieved by a
comprehensive treatment.
CH falls in the category of Bizheng in the theory of
traditional Chinese medicine. Early in Qin and Han
Dynasties of China (the third century B.C.), Huangdi
Neijing recorded the principles and methods of
acupuncture in the treatment of Bizheng. That is to say,
according to the location of Bizheng, the corresponding
viscera acupoints are taken for acupuncture. There are
also clinical reports that the efficacy of
acupuncture method at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) is superior
to that of conventional acupuncture for CH [3]. And
acupuncture can strengthen the therapeutic effect of
simple cervical paravertebral block in relieving headache
and improving cervical vertebral activity in CH patients
[4]. However, more high quality clinical research about
the acupuncture in the CH management are needed to
better guide the clinic.
Here a randomized, single-blind, multi-center, parallel
controlled clinical trial was performed to observe the
clinical efficacy and safety of a three-step acupuncture
and cupping therapy for CH. It suggests that acupuncture
is proven to be effective as an alternative therapy in
treating and strengthen the therapeutic effect of other
therapeutic methods in the CH management. To read
more about this acupuncture therapy, see this artical
please: Link:
https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr/EN/10.12032/TMR201
915097
Xiong-Zhi Wu
Editor-in-Chief of TMR
References
1. Becker WJ. Cervicogenic headache: evidence that
the neck is a pain generator. Headache 2010, 50:
699-705.
2. Grgić V. Cervicogenic headache: etiopathogenesis,
characteristics, diagnosis, differential diagnosis
and therapy. Lijec Vjesn 2007, 129: 230-236.
3. Chu H, Hu B. Triple acupuncture method at cervical
Jiaji (EX-B 2) for cervicogenic headache: a
randomized controlled trial. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu
2016, 36: 29-32.
4. Wu JX, Fan RJ, Song WX, et al. Effect of cervical
paravertebral block combined with acupuncture
intervention on cervicogenic headache. Zhen Ci Yan
Jiu 2013, 38: 411-414.
Three-step acupuncture and cupping therapy: an effective approach to treat
cervicogenic headache