Researchers are seeking to develop new ways to treat migraines away from traditional medications, as millions of people suffer from this neurological disorder that affects their quality of life.
In this context, a study conducted by researchers from Brazil concluded that stimulating specific areas in the ear using acupuncture may help relieve migraine pain, which enhances interest in this method as a complementary treatment to drug therapies.
Migraine attacks are characterized by severe and recurring headaches, often accompanied by nausea or vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sounds.
Despite the availability of numerous medications for treating migraines, many patients have to try more than one medication before finding an effective treatment, and some of these medications may be associated with side effects with long-term use.
The researchers based their study on acupuncture, a method of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, with a focus on a type known as "auricular therapy," which targets the outer part of the ear.
The study included 68 women with migraines. The participants were divided into two groups: one group received auricular therapy sessions, while the other received a placebo that also included auricular stimulation. Participants received one session per week for eight weeks.
The researchers assessed the severity of pain and associated symptoms before the start of treatment, after the sessions ended, and then after 30 days.
The results showed that participants who received ear therapy experienced a reduction in pain intensity immediately after the sessions, and this improvement continued for a month. The average pain score decreased from 50.5 to 44.7 after treatment, and then to 41 after 30 days, representing a decrease of 11% immediately after treatment and 18% after a month.
The participants also recorded an improvement ranging between 8 and 10% in quality of life indicators.
In contrast, the group that received the placebo experienced a similar improvement, and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant, which suggests that ear stimulation itself may contribute to relieving migraine pain, not just ear therapy alone.
Fernanda Bela, the study's lead researcher and a physical therapist at the Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Southern Santa Catarina in Brazil, said the improvement in both groups could mean that ear stimulation, even when not targeting specific points, can affect the sensation of pain.
The researchers also observed elevated oxygen levels in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region involved in pain processing, where low oxygen levels are believed to be associated with increased severity of migraine symptoms.
Bella added that these results show the possibility of monitoring changes in brain activity in women with chronic migraine, which may help in understanding the mechanism of action of this type of treatment.
The study's findings were presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) forum, but have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, meaning they still need further review and evaluation.
These findings are consistent with previous research suggesting potential benefits of auricular stimulation in treating migraines. A 2025 scientific review, encompassing ten studies and nearly 800 patients, demonstrated that auricular acupuncture was associated with a decrease in the number and severity of attacks, and in some patients, the attacks became shorter.
In another study, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, which sends mild electrical pulses to a part of the nerve that passes through the ear, improved migraine symptoms in 59 patients.
Experts believe that the ear contains branches of the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for transmitting sensation from the head and face to the brain. Therefore, stimulating these nerves may help regulate neurotransmitters, stimulate the release of natural painkillers, and reduce inflammation associated with migraines.
Acupuncture is a treatment that is associated with limited side effects, often limited to mild pain, slight bleeding, or bruising at the needle insertion site. Some patients may experience dizziness or fatigue for a short period.
The research team plans to conduct broader studies involving a larger number of women, as migraines affect women at a rate three times higher than men, and it is believed that hormones, including estrogen, play a role in this.
