Migraine medicines range from short-acting treatments designed to alleviate an attack quickly to preventive ones that reduce frequency and severity. Many of these drugs target serotonin or another protein known as CGRP in order to achieve maximum relief.
Some individuals may find relief through nondrug treatments, such as biofeedback and relaxation techniques. Acupuncture and massage may also offer therapeutic solutions.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles at specific points on the body in order to stimulate its nervous system and release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture also increases blood flow and decreases inflammation – and studies have demonstrated its efficacy at treating migraine headaches.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback are also effective alternative treatments for migraine. Both of these approaches help people learn to effectively manage stress-induced headaches and relax more deeply at night; biofeedback uses a device to display information regarding muscle tension, skin temperature and brain waves to reduce stress levels.
Acupuncture may be used alone or in combination with preventive medications like antidepressants, blood pressure medicines and newer migraine medications that target neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Such treatments may prevent attacks and shorten headache duration.
Biofeedback
Some body functions can be controlled voluntarily, such as your heart rate and skin temperature. Other functions, however, are controlled involuntarily by the nervous system. Biofeedback is a technique designed to enhance conscious control over these involuntary functions; it has been successfully utilized as part of treatment plans for conditions including migraine headaches.
Biofeedback sessions consist of attaching sensors to your body in order to gather information on physiological processes, which is then displayed on a monitor as visual, auditory or tactile feedback. You then work on altering these bodily processes voluntarily until they can be performed without assistance from device or provider prompts.
These treatments are all-natural and may help reduce your dependence on migraine medication. Please consult with your physician before trying any new therapies or therapies.
Herbal remedies
Migraine sufferers who don’t find relief through conventional pharmacological therapies or experience side effects are frequently drawn towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) solutions, including acupuncture and herbal remedies. There have been various cases in which such approaches proved successful.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is an herb that may help prevent migraines by decreasing inflammation and blood vessel dilation, relieving pain, and decreasing light sensitivity. Unfortunately, some individuals may be allergic to feverfew.
Other complementary and alternative medicines for migraines include essential and aromatic oils like lavender and chamomile that can be inhaled to promote relaxation and reduce stress – both of which are common triggers of migraines. Reflexology may also prove effective as it involves applying pressure to certain points on the feet to ease anxiety and improve sleep, ultimately decreasing migraine severity.
Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is an evidence-based mind-body practice that promotes nonjudgmental awareness of inner experiences and physical sensations, including pain. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at relieving symptoms such as stress, anxiety, depression and feelings of powerlessness in migraine sufferers; improving pain tolerance while decreasing medication usage as a result of practicing this form of therapy.
Studies demonstrate the synergistic advantages of combining neurofeedback therapy with mindfulness training can facilitate and hasten headache relief more quickly. Furthermore, mindfulness meditation helps focus your attention and enhance neurofeedback training’s effectiveness.
Recently, participants who took part in an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course demonstrated improved migraine-related disability, frequency and duration as well as self-efficacy compared to controls. Furthermore, MBSR participants reported lessened pain intensity as well as decreased dependence on medication to control migraine symptoms.
Chiropractic care
Migraines can be debilitating and cause excruciating headaches that last from several hours to multiple days, often with medication as the only source of relief. Unfortunately, many individuals also find these treatments can come with unpleasant side effects; alternative therapies, including chiropractic care are proven effective solutions.
Studies have demonstrated that misalignments of the spine can irritate nerves and lead to tension and migraine headaches. A chiropractor will use spinal manipulations and other joint adjustments to realign them, possibly alleviating headache symptoms.
Other treatments that could assist include cognitive behavioral therapy, where a therapist assists you to identify and alter stressful thoughts and emotions. You could also try biofeedback, which utilizes equipment to teach you to regulate physical responses to stimuli such as biofeedback. Exercise and meditation are effective strategies to alleviate stress which is one of the primary triggers for migraines.
