Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the metabolites of right thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex in patients with migraine

in order to investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy on migraine. Methods 15 patients with migraine and 15 case of headache accepted acupuncture treatment at points Fengchi（ GB20）

Baihui（ Du20） and Xingjian（ LR2） once a day for continuous five days. Twirling

lifting and thrusting needling methods were used to obtain the De Qi sensation

and then the needles at points Fengchi（ GB20） and Baihui（ Du20） were connected with electric acupuncture apparatus with dilatational wave persisted for30 minutes. Stimulus intensity depended on patient’ s tolerance level. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to detect the cerebral metabolic levels in right thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex before and after the acupuncture in all the patients. Wave crest of metabolites N-acetylaspartate（ NAA

2. 02 ppm）

creatine complex（ Cr

3. 02 ppm）

and choline complex（ Cho

3. 23 ppm） were measured. Differences of NAA / Cr and Cho / Cr before and after the treatment were calculated. Results After the treatment values of NAA / Cr were elevated in patients with migraine

while slightly decreased in the headache group. The differences of NAA / Cr before and after the acupuncture treatment were significant higher in the migraine group than that the headache group（ P < 0. 05）. There were neither significant differences between the values of Cho / Cr before and after the treatment in both groups（ P > 0. 05）

nor significant difference in the Values of NAA / Cr and Cho / Cr after the acupuncture treatment between the migraine and headache groups（ P > 0. 05）. Conclusion The metabolic level in right thalamus was significantly elevated after electroacupuncture treatment in patients with migraine. This may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture for treating migraine.