Medication may provide temporary relief from migraines, but can sometimes cause side effects or lose effectiveness over time.
Alternative treatments for migraines offer some hope. These methods may treat both the root causes of discomfort as well as help manage its symptoms.
Acupuncture
Migraines are a class of severe headaches that share certain characteristic symptoms. Migraines typically cause throbbing pain in the head, nausea or light or sound sensitivity and visual disturbances (an aura).
Studies indicate that acupuncture reduces migraine attacks and may even be more effective than placebo or prophylactic medications in treating existing migraines.
Biofeedback is an exercise technique that teaches you to gain control of involuntary body functions such as your heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tension and skin temperature through feedback from monitors and electrodes. Evidence indicates that yoga may help reduce migraine frequency; however, always consult your physician prior to beginning any form of physical activity or therapy.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is an approach that teaches individuals how to gain control of what were once considered automatic bodily processes, such as heart rate, blood pressure and skin temperature. Electrodes and monitors measure signals from the body which are then displayed on a computer screen with suggestions for physical and mental exercises that will help gain control.
Biofeedback may help decrease both the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. It has also proven successful at treating other forms of chronic pain disorders such as low back and neck pain, TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) and fibromyalgia.
Migraine sufferers who do not find relief through over-the-counter drugs should consult their doctors regarding alternative treatments. Aside from pain-relief drugs, such as amitriptyline may reduce migraine headaches in some people by acting as a preventative medicine.
Chiropractic care
Hands-on manipulation techniques designed to promote spinal health and posture may help combat migraine attacks. Commonly referred to as chiropractic adjustments, they can ease neck and upper-back tension that contributes to headache pain while increasing blood flow to the brain which may alleviate symptoms. Furthermore, visiting a chiropractor regularly may improve overall posture and spinal alignment, helping reduce frequency and severity of migraine attacks.
Migraines are a class of severe headaches characterized by throbbing, pounding pain in the temples and forehead, often on one side, coupled with nausea, vomiting and light/sound sensitivity. While alternative therapies may help manage symptoms, lifestyle and dietary modifications can also reduce migraine episodes; one such change could include avoiding foods containing nitrates to help mitigate migraine episodes.
Herbal remedies
Many migraine sufferers rely on herbal remedies as part of a prevention strategy, however you should consult a healthcare professional first in order to make sure the herbs won’t interfere with any medications you might already be taking.
Feverfew, chamomile and linden blossoms have been proven to help ease headaches naturally and are commonly found in teas, tinctures and liquid extracts. You may also try inhaling essential oils – concentrated liquids made of flowers roots and leaves – for relaxation purposes to relieve stress and anxiety.
Ginger is an effective natural anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea herb that can be taken in tea form, powdered supplement form or pill form. Clinical trials have demonstrated its efficacy at alleviating nausea associated with migraine attacks in two hours or less.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation is an ancient technique involving focusing on the present moment and accepting your thoughts without judgment, with its practitioners believing this practice helps people manage stress and pain better, while diminishing migraine severity.
Researchers have discovered that mindfulness meditation can provide an effective alternative to medication when it comes to alleviating migraine headaches. One study demonstrated how mindful meditation helped decrease migraine attacks while attenuating their intensity when they did occur.
Another option for relieving migraine pain is acupuncture, which works to relax muscle tension. Other therapies include yoga which combines physical exercise, stretching tight muscles, deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices and deep relaxation techniques to relieve discomfort. Feverfew may be effective at preventing migraines; its non-toxic ingredients do not pose negative side effects or threaten any potential harm to health.
