Migraine is far more than an ordinary headache. It is a neurological condition that can cause severe head pain, nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, or smells.
Some people also experience an aura, which may include flashing lights, blind spots, or tingling sensations before the headache begins.
For many patients, migraines interfere with work, family life, and daily activities.
Worldwide, millions of people live with migraines, and women are affected about three times more often than men, partly because of hormonal differences.
Although medicines help many people, not everyone gets enough relief. Some treatments cause unwanted side effects, while others become less effective over time. Because of this, researchers continue searching for safe complementary therapies that can be used alongside standard medical care.
A new study presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 investigated whether auriculotherapy, sometimes called ear acupuncture, could reduce migraine pain. The research was led by physiotherapist Fernanda Belle from the University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL) in Brazil.
Auriculotherapy involves stimulating specific points on the outer ear. In this study, tiny semi-permanent needles were placed at selected ear points linked to migraine, and mustard seeds were taped over the same areas to continue gentle stimulation between treatment sessions.
Researchers believe the ear contains nerve connections linked to pain regulation, including branches of the vagus nerve, trigeminal nerve, and cervical nerves.
The clinical trial included 68 women who had experienced migraines for at least one year and suffered headaches on 15 or more days each month. Half received auriculotherapy, while the other half received a sham treatment.
The sham group also had needles and mustard seeds placed on the ear, but at locations not believed to influence migraine. Importantly, participants did not know which treatment they received.
Each woman completed eight treatment sessions over eight weeks. Researchers measured pain using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and evaluated how migraines affected daily life with the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). They also monitored blood flow and oxygen levels in the front part of the brain using a noninvasive technique called hemoencephalography.
The results were encouraging but also highlighted the need for caution. Women receiving auriculotherapy reported lower pain scores immediately after treatment and again 30 days later. Their migraine-related disability also improved.
However, women receiving the sham treatment experienced similar improvements. Because the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, the researchers could not conclude that auriculotherapy worked better than the sham procedure.
The brain scans also showed changes in oxygenation during the study, suggesting that brain activity may have changed over time. However, these changes were not clearly different between the two treatment groups.
Belle said the findings remain promising because the auriculotherapy group showed a slightly more consistent reduction in pain over time. Her team is now expanding the research with a larger number of participants to determine whether a clearer benefit can be demonstrated.
This was a randomized, carefully designed clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment, making it stronger than many studies of complementary medicine. However, because both groups improved similarly, the study does not provide convincing evidence that auriculotherapy itself was responsible for the benefits.
Placebo effects, general ear stimulation, patient expectations, or other factors may have contributed. Larger studies will be needed before auriculotherapy can be recommended as an evidence-based migraine treatment.
At present, it should be viewed only as a possible complementary therapy rather than a replacement for established migraine treatments.
