Migraines can be debilitating, making treatment challenging to come by. Luckily, there are alternative therapies available that may provide relief from migraine symptoms.
Alternative treatments include acupuncture, which has been clinically proven effective for treating migraines. Other possible interventions are cognitive behavioral therapy, massage therapy and yoga.
Acupuncture
Migraine patients may consider holistic treatments when medication fails or they prefer not taking certain drugs. It’s essential that communication between you and your neurologist remains open, so all options may be explored thoroughly.
Acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific points on the body to ease pain, tension and stress. Some studies indicate that migraine symptoms and frequency can be decreased through this form of therapy.
Meditation and breathing exercises have been found to reduce migraine symptoms and enhance sleep, leading to reduced headaches. Massage can relieve neck and shoulder tension which may contribute to headaches; and yoga combines physical postures with meditation in order to relax both mind and body – according to one 2023 study it was shown that short-term yoga programs reduced migraine headaches while increasing quality of life.
Meditation
Meditation can be an effective stress reduction technique that may help ease migraine pain. Meditation involves sitting still and focusing on breathing while being aware of any distracting thoughts that come into your head without judgment or evaluation. One study demonstrated spiritual meditation reduced headache frequency and physiological reactivity to stress in migraineurs as well as increased pain tolerance while decreasing analgesic medication use.
Researchers have used brain imaging technology to demonstrate that people who practice meditation regularly possess greater amounts of gray matter in areas associated with pain management.1
Art therapy is another alternative form of managing chronic migraine pain, offering emotional release, stress relief, distraction, increased self-understanding, better communication and positive mindset changes. Art therapy may serve as an invaluable addition to more traditional therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture or medication treatments for migraines.
Massage
Migraines can be cripplingly painful and make daily tasks increasingly challenging, including work and social gatherings. Migraine attacks can last for days at a time and make daily life unmanageable for sufferers – making work and spending time with loved ones much harder to manage than anticipated.
Alternative therapies backed by science may provide relief from migraine symptoms. They may be used alone or combined, so it’s important to maintain an open line of communication with your neurologist and discuss all available treatment options so you can find one tailored to you and your lifestyle.
Massage may provide some relief for migraine sufferers by decreasing stress levels and blood pressure – both common triggers. Massage also targets trigger points – tight knots of muscle that refer pain elsewhere on the body – to relieve suffering.
Physical therapy
Migraines are characterized by intense, throbbing pain that lasts several days and often produces nausea, vomiting and light and sound sensitivity – severely impacting quality of life for those affected.
Many migraine sufferers find that conventional medical therapies, including prescriptions, provide limited relief while often producing significant side effects. That is why alternative therapies have become so prevalent among migraine sufferers.
Physical therapy is an effective way to ease stress and promote relaxation – two common triggers of migraine headaches. Additionally, manual therapy, which involves skilled manipulation of muscles and joints to correct alignment issues and alleviate pain relief. Manual therapy may help treat neck disorders that could otherwise lead to headaches as well. When combined with other treatments such as acupuncture or massage therapies it may even prove effective against future attacks of migraine.
Diet
Migraines can be caused by various triggers, including food. Therefore, many individuals try to identify and avoid their migraine triggers as much as possible.
Some diets, like the modified Atkins or ketogenic diet, may reduce migraine attacks by cutting carbohydrates while increasing fat consumption.
Acupressure may also provide some relief. Acupressure involves massaging certain points of the body to relax muscles and restore natural energy flow; for example, massaging the point known as Feng Chi (or GB20) on the back of your neck can ease headaches and tension in your shoulders and neck area.
Prevention may involve medications; however, not everyone can tolerate their side effects or is interested in taking them regularly. Alternative therapies, including acupuncture and mindfulness meditation may provide relief for migraine sufferers.
