Objective To preliminarily optimize the acupuncture therapeutic regimen on cervical headache. Methods Ninety cases of cervical headache were randomized into the Naokong（ GB19）-through-Fengchi（ GB20） and Naohu（ DU17）-through-Fengfu（ DU16） group

perpendicular insertion at Fengchi（ GB20） and Fengfu（ DU16） group

and horizontal insertion at cervical paravertebral points group

with 30 in each. Then the patients were divided into 9 sub-groups based on four factors and three levels such as acupuncture points and angles

depth of acupuncture

number of needles and time of needle retention. The patients were subjected to a needling once every other day and three times as a course of treatment. The preferred option was determined according to the weight value of visual analog scale（ VAS）

orthogonal design

intuitive analysis

analysis of variance（ ANOVA） and multiple comparisons after two treatment courses. Results The visual analysis showed that the efficacy of Naokong-throughFengchi and Naohu-through-Fengfu with a medium depth

row needle and 6-hour retention was the relatively best. The ANOVA showed that acupuncture points

angles and number of needles were significant factors in improving short-term effect on headache. The multiple comparisons showed that the efficacy of Naokong-through-Fengchi and Naohu-throughFengfu was superior to that of perpendicular insertion at Fengchi and Fengfu

and the efficacy of row needles was better than that of one or two needles. Conclusion The preferred acupuncture regimen on cervical headache is Naokongthrough-Fengchi and Naohu-through-Fengfu with a medium depth

row needles and 6-hour retention.