Alternative Therapies for Migraines
A typical acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine needles into acupuncture points on the body followed by gentle manipulation of the needles. This instantly increases blood flow in the tissues through a mechanism know as the "axon reflex", which dilates the small vessels around the needle area. An increase in circulation where blood flow is poor is called removal of "stagnation" in Asian medicine and is generally considered a very good response for most chronic conditions and for migraine prevention.
Acupuncture is effective for both migraine and tension headaches. Although acupuncture can ease the pain of an attack, this therapy is best used as a preventive treatment for migraine.
In one large study a team of investigators in Italy examined the effectiveness of acupuncture versus a variety of pharmacological therapies in treating migraines. Their results (published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2000 Sep; 20(3):231-40) revealed that patients given acupuncture experienced fewer migraine episodes, missed fewer days from work, and suffered no side effects compared to patients on conventional drug therapy. They also found acupuncture to be more cost-efficient, estimating a savings of hundreds of millions of dollars in private and social health expenditures if it were used to treat headaches alone instead of drugs.
Scientific evidence of Biofeedback effectiveness
- Acupuncture for patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial. PubMed
- Comparison of pharmacological treatment versus acupuncture treatment for migraine without aura--analysis of socio-medical parameters. PubMed
- Acupuncture versus placebo versus sumatriptan for early treatment of migraine attacks: a randomized controlled trial. PubMed
- Efficacy of acupuncture for the prophylaxis of migraine: a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial. PubMed
- Acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment of migraine without aura: a comparison with flunarizine. PubMed
- Treatment in a randomized multicenter trial of acupuncture for migraine (ART migraine). PubMed A controlled trial of the treatment of migraine by acupuncture. PubMed
- Effectiveness and tolerability of acupuncture compared with metoprolol in migraine prophylaxis. PubMed
- Acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment of migraine headaches: pilot study. PubMed
Accupressure is a method of applying pressure on particular points in the body know as "acupressure points". Accupressure stems from traditional Chinese medicine. There is no published evidence from controlled trials to demonstrate its efficacy in the treatment of migraine.
Acupressure can be used as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of migraine pain and the underlying cause of this physical disturbance.
Scientific evidence of Accupressure effectiveness for headaches
- Treatment of headache pain with auto-acupressure. PubMed
Chiropractic (spinal manipulative therapy)
Chiropractors focus primarily on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on overall health. Chiropractic methods employ a holistic approach to pain relief through massage, spinal manipulation and periodic adjustment of joints and soft tissue. Chiropractic approach most often used for neuromuscular complaints, such as back and neck pain, joint pain, and headaches. Although many who suffer from migraine fail to find relief with chiropractic treatment, some have quite positive results.
Sometimes the bones in the neck are in the wrong place, and the little muscles near the bones are tense. This is called "subluxation". The nerves that lead out from the spine can be irritated when there is a subluxation, and this can cause migraines. The bones are very close to being in the right place, so a medical doctor might say they are in the right place. A chiropractor treats people by gently pushing the bones back into place.
People with osteoporosis, a history of spinal surgery, vascular disease, stroke, or symptoms of nerve damage such as numbness, tingling, or loss of strength should consult their doctor before seeking chiropractic.
Several well-designed trials support the effectiveness of spinal manipulation therapy in the treatment of migraine headaches. In one study, including 127 people with migraine headaches, 22% of those who received chiropractic manipulation reported more than a 90% reduction of migraines and 49% reported a significant reduction of the intensity of each episode.
In another study, 218 individuals with migraine headaches were randomly assigned to receive spinal manipulation, a daily medication (amitryptiline), or a combination of both. Spinal manipulation was as effective as the medication and had fewer side effects. There was no added benefit to combining the two therapies.
A landmark descriptive survey of a chiroparctor's experience in the treatment of migraine headache was reported by Wight. Eighty seven patients were included, 34 with common migraine and 53 with classical migraine. In the common migraine group, 85% of the females and 50% of the males were greatly improved. In the classical migraine group, 78% of the females and 75% of the males were greatly improved.
Scientific evidence of Chiropractic effectiveness
- The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for the prophylaxis of migraine headache. PubMed
- A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. PubMed
- Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: a systematic review. PubMed
Cranial Osteopathy began in the early part of the 20th Century, its instigator was a man called William Garner Sutherland, who originally trained as an osteopath. Cranial osteopath uses tiny, gentle manipulations to the skull, spinal column and sacral area, with the aim of restoring balance. Other areas of the body may also be added to achieve maximum results.
Cranial osteopathy can relieve tension caused by traumatic events in the past (including birth trauma), head injury or general muscular tension affecting the head. It can be used to achieve a balance of hormonal activity. Conditions that Cranial Osteopathy claims to help include chronic migraine, asthma and allergies. It is also used more and more in the treatment of babies who have had difficult births.
Visceral osteopathy works on the abdomen to release underlying tension in structures surrounding organs, to improve local blood supply and gastro-intestinal function. This reduces some of the physical stresses which can lead to migraine.
Scientific evidence of Osteopathy effectiveness
- There is no published evidence from controlled trials to demonstrate Osteopathy efficacy in the treatment of migraine.
Biofeedback is a painless, non-drug therapy in the treatment of headaches and migraines. Biofeedback is a way to learn how to control things that your body normally does automatically, such as heart rate, muscle tension, breathing patterns and skin temperature. Often this is done using an electronic device that measures your success, but there are also non-technical method.
Biofeedback means making information about one's body available to the conscious mind. Devices which measure muscle tension, finger temperature etc. and which supply that information to the person are biofeedback devices. Gradually, a person learns the semi-conscious thought patterns that make the device show the desired result, such as warm fingers. It's like learning to ride a bicycle. Once the skill has been learned, the person can use it at any time, without needing the biofeedback device. For example, a person who has gone through many learning sessions with a thermometer and has learned to warm their fingers can then warm their fingers after that without using a thermometer.
Biofeedback has been found to reduce both the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. It is one of the few natural therapies that is a viable option to prescription drugs. In fact, biofeedback often is used to steer patients away from their dependence on drugs. Biofeedback training can instruct headache sufferers on how to control certain involuntary functions of the body, such as heart rate or body temperature, which can ward off headaches. In the case of migraines, the blood vessels in the head narrow and then expand, causing pain. The objective of the biofeedback training is to stabilize or alter these blood vessel or muscle functions.
Scientific evidence of Biofeedback effectiveness
- Efficacy of biofeedback for migraine: a meta-analysis. PubMed
- Biofeedback-assisted relaxation in migraine headache: relationship to cerebral blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery. PubMed
- Biofeedback control of migraine headaches: a comparison of two approaches. PubMed
- An integrated blood volume pulse biofeedback system for migraine treatment. PubMed
- Effectiveness of biofeedback for treating migraine and tension headaches: a review of the evidence. PubMed
- Biofeedback therapy for migraine headaches. PubMed
- Biofeedback control of migraine: a pilot study. PubMed
- Autogenic biofeedback treatment for migraine. PubMed
- Comparison of four biofeedback treatments for migraine headache: physiological and headache variables. PubMed
- Blood volume pulse biofeedback in the treatment of migraine headache: a controlled evaluation. PubMed
- Italian experience of electromyographic-biofeedback treatment of episodic common migraine: preliminary results. PubMed
Massage therapy is the application of pressure to the muscles and soft tissues of the body for relaxation and health. It is used for a variety of conditions such as stress-related illness, sleep disorders, pain, headaches, high blood pressure, diabetes, post-operative swelling, and depression. Massage therapy by a trained and licensed therapist is generally safe. Be sure that your massage therapist has your complete health history.
People with recent or unhealed fractures, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, deep vein thrombosis, cancer, recent heart attack, burns or open wounds, or who are pregnant should speak to their doctor before having a massage.
Scientific evidence of Massage Therapy effectiveness
- A randomized, controlled trial of massage therapy as a treatment for migraine. PubMed
Aromatherapy is an ancient practice that began when people of early civilizations began discovering the healing properties of plants.
Fragrant essential oils help to relieve migraine by easing mental and physical tension. The olfactory (smelling) organ in the nose is connected to parts of the brain that control emotions and hormone release. The essential oils can be mixed with the edible kind of alcohol and rubbed on the neck and forehead, also an opportunity to massage these areas.
- Lavender has calming, relaxation effects. It relieves physical and mental stress and engenders an overall sense of well-being.
- Peppermint helps to relieve pain, is antispasmodic, and stimulates circulation. The pungent menthol scent has an uplifting effect on the emotions and helps to clear the brain.
- Bay
- Melissa
- Jasmine
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Sandlewood
- Marjoram relieves anxiety, insomnia, and nervous tension, provides sedative effect.
Scientific evidence of Aromatherapy effectiveness
- There is no published evidence from controlled trials to demonstrate Aromatherapy efficacy in the treatment of migraine.