Migraine treatment typically entails taking pain-relieving medicines (also referred to as abortive medication) during an attack and preventive medicines to minimize future ones. Some individuals also turn to complementary therapies like biofeedback and relaxation training in order to identify triggers of migraine attacks and combat them effectively.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture for treating headaches; however, other therapies could include medications or treatments like:
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a noninvasive mind-body treatment that uses sensors to monitor changes and give feedback in the form of graphic displays or sound cues to allow users to take control of bodily functions that normally operate unconsciously, like muscle tension and blood pressure. By learning to relax your muscles and ease stress-induced headaches with biofeedback therapy, you can improve health overall and increase self-awareness.
Studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce both headache pain and the frequency of migraine attacks, often in combination with relaxation training or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Alternative therapies, including acupuncture and massage therapy, may also offer relief. Some herbal supplements such as riboflavin, feverfew and butterbur have been proven to alleviate migraine symptoms for some people; however it’s best to check with your physician first as some can cause serious side effects. Acupuncturists use needles inserted at specific points on your body to stimulate energy flow and decrease inflammation while small studies demonstrate how massage therapy – performed by licensed professionals trained to ease headaches – is also beneficial.
Relaxation training
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can be especially helpful to migraine sufferers. CBT works to alter patterns of thinking and behaviors that contribute to stress or increase your risk for headache. Speak to your physician about finding a therapist familiar with CBT for migraine.
Relaxation training is a technique designed to teach individuals how to regulate the functions of their autonomic nervous system, such as heart rate, skin temperature and muscle tension. You can learn these controls through devices that monitor these factors or through yoga, progressive relaxation or other relaxation methods.
Many alternative treatments for migraine have minimal side effects and should generally be safe; however, it’s essential that you consult your physician prior to beginning any new preventive therapies for migraine. They will ensure any treatments don’t interact with prescription drugs or cause health complications in their use.
Meditation
Meditation has been shown to decrease headache frequency and intensity while simultaneously relieving stress, which is a common trigger of migraine. Meditation involves focusing on the present moment while accepting all thoughts without judgment. Furthermore, research indicates it reduces rumination (exaggerated negative feelings towards pain experiences) as well as improves pain tolerance.
Regular exercise has also proven helpful for migraine sufferers, as research shows it to reduce both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. According to one study, 40 minutes three times weekly of cardio training proved as effective as medication in helping avoid migraine attacks.
Diet modification is another effective alternative therapy option for migraine sufferers. To effectively decrease migraine attacks, it is crucial to eliminate foods known as triggers – alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, processed meats, aged cheeses, MSG and aspartame may all play a part. It may be useful to maintain a food diary to monitor which triggers cause migraine attacks for you; by eliminating them you could potentially reduce migraine attacks significantly.
Exercise
Physical exercise is a proven pain-management strategy, particularly for chronic migraine (defined as having 15 or more headache days per month for six months or more). Exercise releases endorphins – your body’s own natural painkillers – which work to relieve discomfort.
Studies demonstrate the effectiveness of regular, moderate intensity exercise as an effective solution for migraine sufferers. Not only can regular, moderate intensity workouts significantly decrease migraine days but it can also shorten duration and intensity for headaches that do occur – often significantly outstripping prescription and over-the-counter migraine medications, including newer drugs that act on neuropeptide CGRP that are prescribed to those suffering chronic migraines.
Take up various exercises such as walking, swimming, biking, running or dancing – stretching and warming up before exercise is recommended to ensure optimal results and to listen to what works for your body. As part of any fitness regime it’s also essential to maintain a healthy diet with plenty of water while exercising – keep a diary to help identify triggers as well as create an exercise regimen which reduces frequency and severity of migraine attacks.
