Migraine headaches affect around 12 percent of the population of the United States, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, or NINDS. They can affect just about anyone, from children to older adults. Because the cause is not entirely understood, treating migraine headaches may be a challenge. Some people take medications as prevention, while others treat attacks as they happen. Many people also turn to alternative treatments and lifestyle changes for migraine headache treatment.
Considerations for Migraine Treatment
While millions of migraine sufferers rely on prophylactic medications for migraine prevention, or pain medications for breakthrough migraine attacks, others prefer to keep drugs out of the picture altogether. They may find relief through such approaches as acupuncture or dietary supplements. For those who are not ready to make this plunge, it is possible to combine both traditional and non-traditional medicine in order to effectively treat a migraine. This is referred to as alternative treatment.
Lifestyle Changes For Migraine Treatment
Often the first alternative treatments to consider are those that may prevent migraine attacks from being triggered. These lifestyle changes are regularly combined with traditional drug therapy. Avoiding foods and beverages that contain potentially migraine-triggering substances, such as caffeine or MSG, may help prevent some migraine attacks. NINDS also suggests migraine sufferers drink plenty of water to maintain hydration. Other suggestions include engaging in regular exercise, and getting enough sleep. For some people, stopping certain medications may also make them less prone to migraines.
Other Types of Alternative Migraine Treatment
The Mayo Clinic lists a few common alternative migraine remedies, including acupuncture and massage. In addition, they list several dietary supplements which may help prevent migraine attacks in some people, including vitamin B-2, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium sulfate. According to the Cleveland Clinic, biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation may also help prevent migraine attacks. During a biofeedback session, a person is hooked up to a monitor to learn to identify and control stress and muscle tension. Progressive muscle relaxation involves relaxing the muscles in one section of the body at a time.
Benefits of Alternative Migraine Treatments
Alternative treatments sound great on paper. You can avoid many medication side effects, and in some cases even save some money. But, do they work? Sadly there’s no clear answer to that question. The Mayo Clinic reports that studies have shown favorable results with both acupuncture and supplements, though magnesium’s effectiveness remains somewhat controversial. Since avoiding stress is universally suggested, treatments such as biofeedback and massage can be beneficial, though whether or not they are actually enough on their own remains to be determined. The Cleveland Clinic suggests using such techniques to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines. The bottom line is, alternative treatments work for some people, and not so much for others. The only way to know if they work for you is to try them.
Warning
You should never start any new migraine treatment regimen without first consulting your doctor. There may be medical reasons why you should avoid certain alternative treatments. In addition, there may be unpleasant and potentially dangerous consequences of quitting your regular medications, including drug withdrawal and an increased likelihood of migraine symptoms. Finally, some people should not take certain dietary supplements at all, even for migraine prevention. This includes pregnant women.
