International standard of Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques: Traditional Chinese Medicine guidelines for acute primary headache (2022).

Objective: To summarize the evidence from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice in the treatment of acute primary headache and provide clinical practice guidance.

Methods: The guidelines were developed in accordance with the World Health Organization guideline development manual. After the establishment of steering committee, panel and the registration and protocol formulation, the evidence on TCM for acute primary headache from published guidelines, clinical evidence, and expert experience and consensus were collected. The grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation method was used to grade the evidence and make the recommendations.

Results: Based on the available evidence, the guidelines recommended three TCM herbal decoctions, six Chinese patent medicines, and two kinds of external application of Chinese herbal medicines. Diagnostic recommendations based on the expert experience and consensus were also included in the guidelines.

Conclusion: TCM diagnosis and treatment of decoction, Chinese patent medicine and external application for treating acute primary headache were recommended. We hope these guidelines will be helpful in standardize the TCM acute treatment of primary headache.