Objective To observe the effect of the "head-nine-needle" therapy on tension headache. Methods A total of 150 patients with tension headache were divided into a head-nine-needle therapy group

a western medicine control group and an acupuncture control group according to the random number table

50 cases in each one. In the head-nine-needle therapy group

the head-nine-needle therapy was adopted. In the western medicine control group

epiperisone hydrochloride tablets were prescribed for oral administration

50 mg

three times a day as well as fluoguili hydrochloride capsules

5 mg

once a day

taking orally before sleep. In the acupuncture control group

the routine acupuncture technique was used at Baihui(GV20)

Taiyang(EX-HN5)

Fengchi(GB20) and Ashi(extra)

etc. The clinical effect was observed in each group. The scores of visual analogy scale(VAS) for headache severity and the scores of headache duration were assessed before and after treatment in the patients of each group. Results In comparison of the total effective rate among the groups

there was no significant difference between the head-nine-needle therapy group(48/50

96.0%) and the acupuncture control group(47/50

94.0%). The total effective rate of either of the two groups was higher than that of the western medicine control group(40/50

80.0%

P<0.05). The VAS score and the score of headache duration were reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in each group(P<0.05)

and the score was not different significantly between the head-nine-needle therapy group and the acupuncture control group(P>0.05). After 3 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment

the scores in the two acupuncture groups were all better than those in the western medicine control group(P<0.05). Conclusion The "head-nine-needle" therapy achieves the obviously advantages in the alleviation of headache degree as compared with the simple western medicine and its effect is similar to the common acupuncture therapy in the patients with tension headache.