Objective To compare the clinical efficacy between acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages based on syndrome differentiation and oral administration of ibuprofen sustained-release capsule in patients with menstrual headache. Methods A total of 90 cases with menstrual headache were randomly divided into an acupuncture group（45 cases

1 case excluded

3 cases dropped off） and a medication group（45 cases

3 cases dropped off）. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages based on syndrome differentiation; during period of pain attacks

Ganshu（BL 18）

Qimen（LR 14）

Hegu（LI 4）

Taichong（LR 3）

Sizhukong（TE 23） through Shuaigu（GB 8） were selected

once a day; during period of pain relief

Qichong（ST 30）

Dahe（KI 12）

Guanyuan（CV 4）

Taixi（KI 3） were selected

once every 1-2 days. The patients in the medication group were treated with oral administration of ibuprofen sustained-release capsule during period of pain attacks. Each menstrual cycle was taken as a course of treatment

and both groups were treated for 3 courses. The headache comprehensive score（HCS）

visual analogue scale（VAS） socre

dysmenorrhea symptom score（DSS） were compared before treatment

1

2 and 3 courses into treatment and 1

2

3 menstrual cycles after treatment; the clinical efficacy was also evaluated. Results The HCS score at each time point after treatment was lower than that before treatment in the two groups（P<0.05）; 2 and 3menstrual cycles after treatment

the HCS socres in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group（P<0.05）. Except for the 2 and 3 menstrual cycles after treatment in the medication group

the VAS score at each time point after treatment was lower than that before treatment in the two groups（P<0.05）. Except for 1 menstrual cycle into treatment

the DSS scores in the acupuncture group at each time point after treatment was lower than that before treatment（P<0.05）; the DSS socres at 2 and 3 menstrual cycles into treatment and 1 menstrual cycle after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the medication group（P<0.05）. Except for 1 menstrual cycle into treatment

the VAS score and DSS score in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group at each time point after treatment（P<0.05）. The total effective rate was 82.9%（34/41） in the acupuncture group

which was higher than 73.8%（31/42） in the medication group（P<0.05）. Conclusion The analgesic effect of acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages based on syndrome differentiation is superior to oral administration of ibuprofen sustained-release capsules

which could effectively prevent the recurrence of menstrual headache

and improve irregular menstruation-related symptoms.