Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of opposing needling for the treatment of migraine with the symptom of hyperactivity of liver yang type and its effect on NO level in plasma of patients. Methods Atotal of 60 migraine patients with the symptom of hyperactivity of liver yang who met the inclusive criteria were randomly divided into a opposing needling group （group A） and a routine acupuncture group （group B） by using SPSS 15.0 software according to the registration order with 30 patients in each group. Patients in group A were treated with opposing needling. Taich6ng （太冲 LR 3）, Zhongzhu （中渚 TE 3）, ZOlfnqi （足临泣 GB 41） and QiOxu （丘墟 GB 40） in the uninjured side were selected. After deqi, reducing method was used. Then Taixi （太溪 KI 3） in the uninjured side was selected. After deqi, rein forcing method was used. Needles were retained for 30 rain. Patients in group B were treated with routine acupuncture. Local Ash point, Sishncong （ 四神聪EX-HN1）, Yifeng （翳风 TE 17）, Fengchi （风池 GB 20）, Sizhukong （丝竹空 TE 23）, Shuaigu （率谷GB 8）, Hegu （合谷 LI 4） and LiEque （列缺 LU 7） were selected. After puncturing, reducing method was used routinely and needles were retained for 30 rain. After 2 weeks treatment, migraine specific quality of life questionnaire （MSQ）, visual analogue scale （VAS） and nitric oxide （NO） level in plasma of patients in two groups were observed. Results After treatment, the MSQ, VAS and NO of two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment. After treatment, score of MSQ functional limitation was 73.41±10.22 in group A and 60.95 ± 10.15 in group B; the score of MSQ dysfunction was 86.11 ±8.22 in group A and 75.45±8.34 in group B; score of MSQ emotion was 80.51±10.16 in group A and 75.01± 10.20 in group B. The improvements of group A were superior to those of group B, and the differences were all statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. After treatment
