Alternative approaches tend to have minimal or no side effects, whereas side effects are common with preventative and abortive migraine medications. Another benefit is cost. Depending on health insurance coverage, supplements likely cost much less than pharmaceuticals. Cold therapy is inexpensive. Many insurance companies will pay for biofeedback training. Acupuncture is the only option here that might be costly. The options presented here have all been shown to be effective in helping with migraine relief.
Magnesium
A 2009 review article by Dr. Francesca Galletti and her colleagues, published in Progress in Neurobiology, indicates that people with migraines have lower levels of magnesium in their central nervous system. Magnesium supplements can help prevent and treat headaches. Dr. Alexander Mauskop, in a 2007 article in Drug Development Research, reviewed several studies on the effectiveness of magnesium in treating migraines. Collectively, the evidence indicates that taking magnesium can help prevent and treat migraine attacks.
Butterbur
Butterbur is an herbal supplement that can be taken to prevent and treat migraines. Research has focused on the preventative role of butterbur. However, because butterbur has anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used to help treat migraine attacks. A study by Hans-Christoph Diener and his colleagues, published in a 2004 issue of European Neurology, found that 45 percent of patients saw at least a 50 percent reduction in migraine attacks.
Cold Therapy
Cold therapy is another alternative approach to breaking migraines when they flair up. Cold caps, sometimes referred to as cranial caps or cold therapy colds, can be purchased. These caps are worn on the head and contain a gel inside. The cap remains in the freezer until needed. When worn, the cap fits over the top, back, and sides of the head. Some will also cover the eyes. The cold will help reduce the inflammation associated with migraines. A 2006 study by Dr. Serap Ucler and his colleagues, published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that using cold caps significantly decreased head pain associated with migraines.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves a specialist placing thin needles into strategic locations on the body. The idea is energy blocks in the body cause physical and psychological issues. Inserting the needles removes these energy blocks, helping to restore health. Acupuncture has been used as a preventative and treatment option for migraines. Dr. Enrico Facco and his colleagues published the results of an acupuncture-migraine trial in a 2008 issue of Headache. The results indicated that acupuncture was an effective method for reducing migraine frequency and severity.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique people can learn to help control bodily functions, such as breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Biofeedback is a technique people can use to help reduce pain, including migraine pain. One of the most comprehensive reviews on biofeedback and headache disorders was done by Dr. Yvonne Nestoruic and her colleagues. Published in a 2008 issue of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, they concluded that biofeedback is an effective method for treating headache disorders.
References
- European Neurology; The First Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Special Butterbur Root Extract for the Prevention of Migraine: Reanalysis of Efficacy Data; H.C. Diener, V.W. Rahlfs, U. Danesch; Volume 51, 2004
- Evidence-based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine; Cold Therapy in Migraine Patients: Open-label, non-controlled, Pilot Study; Serap Ucler, Oziem Coskun, Levent E. Inan, Yonca Kanatli; Volume 3, 2006
- Headache; Traditional Acupuncture in Migraine: A Controlled, Randomized Study; Enrico Facco, Aldo Liguori, Filomena Petti; Gastone Zanette; Flaminia Coluzzi; Maco De Nardin; Consalvo Mattia; Volume 48, 2008
