Mechanistic Insights into Acupuncture for the Prevention and Treatment of Migraine

Abstract

Migraine is a highly prevalent neurological disorder that imposes substantial burdens on individual-patient health and public healthcare systems worldwide. A large proportion of patients with migraine seek symptom relief through complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) being the most frequently preferred option. Acupuncture has been widely adopted in the clinical management of migraine and demonstrates reliable therapeutic benefits. This review synthesizes contemporary evidence regarding the mechanistic basis underlying acupuncture-mediated migraine prophylaxis and treatment. Acupuncture exerts its therapeutic effects via multiple pathways: modulating neuropeptides and associated neurotransmitters, suppressing neurogenic inflammation, mitigating central sensitization, and reshaping functional brain-network connectivity. Overall, this work aims to provide a scientific rationale for optimizing TCM-oriented clinical strategies for migraine management.