Other Possible Migraine Treatments

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" Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Migraines "

A combination of drugs for pain relief and complementary therapies to

reduce recurrence can offer effective management of migraines.

Biofeedback may help to control vascular contraction and stress

management may influence the frequency and intensity of attacks.

Nutrition • Avoid food allergens. Some common allergens are alcohol

(especially red wine), cheese, chocolate, citrus, cow's milk, wheat,

eggs, coffee, tea, beef, pork, corn, tomato, rye, yeast, shellfish,

food additives (preservatives and coloring), and nitrates.

• Avoid caffeine because it is a vasodilator.

• Essential fatty acids (1,500 to 3,000 mg per day) may be helpful.

Supplementing with fish oil or flaxseed oil (1 to 3 mg twice a day)

may also be helpful.

• Magnesium (500 mg per day) increases muscle relaxation.

• Injection of 1,000 mg of magnesium by a physician can terminate

an acute migraine headache within minutes.

• Injection of folic acid (15 mg) in one study achieved total

relief of acute headache within one hour in 60 percent of patients.

• Omega-3 oils (EPA and DHA, average dose 14 g daily) greatly

reduce intensity and frequency of migraines.

• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) (400 mg/day for three months) has been

shown to reduce migraine frequency by two-thirds.

• Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg twice a day), vitamin E (400 to 600 IU

per day), vitamin B6 (100 mg per day), choline (100 to 300 mg per

day) and mixed flavonoids (1,000 mg per day).

• 5-hydroxytryptophan (300 mg twice a day) for migraine prevention,

enhanced by taking with 25 mg of vitamin B6.

Herbs

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas),

glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts).

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) can help with both frequency and

intensity of migraines. Take two fresh leaves daily, 250 to 300 mg

dried herb (capsules) twice a day, or 30 drops of tincture three

times per day. Use feverfew by itself.

Use the following herbs in combination: Jamaica dogwood (Piscidia

piscipula); skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora); gingko (Gingko

biloba); ginger (Zingiber officinale); meadowsweet (Filipendula

ulmaria). Put 1 tsp. of each herb in one cup of water; steep for 10

minutes, and take two to four times a day. For tinctures, use 60

drops of each herb, two to four times a day.

Homeopathy

One of the most common reasons people seek homeopathic care is to

relieve the pain associated with chronic headaches. Interestingly

however, only one out of four studies included in a recent review

concluded that individually prescribed homeopathic remedies

significantly reduces the frequency, severity, and duration of

migraine symptoms. Some of these effective remedies are listed below.

Professional homeopaths may also recommend various treatments based

on their knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a

remedy, homeopaths take into account the individual's constitutional

type. In homeopathic terms, a person's constitution is his or her

physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced

homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most

appropriate remedy for a particular individual.

The following are some of the remedies found to be effective in the

previously mentioned studies:

• Belladonna — for throbbing headaches that come on suddenly; these

types of headaches tend to worsen with motion and light, but are

partially relieved by pressure, standing, sitting, or leaning

backwards

• Bryonia — for headaches with a steady, sharp pain in the forehead

that may radiate to the back of the head; these types of headaches

worsen with movement and light touch, but improve with firm pressure;

this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who are irritable and

may also experience nausea, vomiting, and constipation

• Gelsemium — for pain that extends around the head and feels like

a tight band of constriction; pain usually originates in the back of

the head and may be relieved following urination; this remedy is most

appropriate for individuals who feel extremely weak and have

difficulty keeping their eyes open

• Ignatia — for pain that may be described as a feeling of

something being driven into the skull; these types of headaches tend

to be triggered by emotion, including grief or anxiety, and the

treatment is appropriate for both children and adults

• Iris versicolor — for periodic migraines that begin with blurred

vision, especially after eating sweets; pain usually occurs on one

side of the head and may be partially relieved by gentle movement

and/or fresh air

• Kali bichromicum — for aching and pressing pains on the forehead

(particularly between and behind the eyes); may be accompanied by

sinus congestion or nausea and vomiting; this remedy is most

appropriate for individuals who prefer to lie down in a dark room and

who experience relief from warmth and eating

• Lachesis — for migraines on the left side of the head that are

typically worse in the mornings and before menstruation; this type of

headache is aggravated by warmth and sunlight and relieved by open

air and firm pressure

• Natrum muriaticum — one of the most common remedies used for

migraine headaches, particularly those that are described as " hammers

beating the head; " pain is relieved when the individual is lying

down, alone, in a quiet dark room; these migraines may be associated

with either menstruation or a grieving experience and are worse in

the middle of the day; this remedy is most appropriate for children

who look pale and feel nauseated, nervous, and emotional

• Nux vomica — for headaches that are described as a " nail being

driving into the head; " often accompanied by nausea and/or dizziness;

this remedy is most appropriate for individuals who are constipated

and irritable

• Sanguinaria — for right-sided headaches that begin in the neck

and move upwards, recur in a predictable pattern (such as every seven

days), and are accompanied by nausea and vomiting; pain is aggravated

by motion, light or sun exposure, odors, and noise; this remedy is

appropriate for children who may have a craving for spicy or acidic

foods, despite having a general aversion to eating due to the

headache

• Sepia — for migraines that are accompanied by nausea and are

relieved when the individual is lying down; light and movement tend

to worsen symptoms; this remedy is most appropriate for individuals

who are moody and don't like being alone, but worry about being with

others

Homeopaths may also prescribe the following remedies based on their

knowledge and clinical experience:

• Pulsatilla — for headaches triggered by eating rich, fatty foods,

particularly ice cream; pain tends to move but may be concentrated in

the forehead or on one side of the head; may be accompanied by

digestive problems or occur around the time of menstruation; children

for whom this remedy is appropriate often develop these symptoms

while at school

• Spigelia — for migraines described as a stinging, burning, or

throbbing pain, often on the left side of the head; symptoms tend to

worsen with exposure to cold weather and with motion, but are

temporarily relieved by cold compresses and when the individual is

lying on the right side with the head propped up

Acupuncture

An acupuncturist diagnoses headaches not as migraine, tension, or

sinus, but rather as conditions deriving from " energetic " imbalances.

Headaches are commonly seen and often successfully treated by

acupuncturists.

Acupuncture has been studied as a treatment for migraine headache for

over 20 years, and the National Institutes of Health, as well as

other groups of experts, recommend acupuncture as a treatment for

headache. While not all studies have shown benefit with acupuncture,

researchers do agree that acupuncture appears to be safe and that

headache patients who wish to try this therapy should not be

discouraged from doing so. In addition to needling treatment,

acupuncturists may recommend lifestyle changes, such as suggestions

for specific breathing, qi gong exercise, and dietary modifications.

Chiropractic

Two well-designed trials support the effectiveness of spinal

manipulation therapy in the treatment of migraine headaches.

In one study including 127 people with migraine headaches, 22% of

those who received chiropractic manipulation reported more than a 90%

reduction of migraines, 49% reported a significant reduction of the

intensity of each episode, and 59% reported a significant reduction

in neck pain.

In the second study, 218 individuals with migraine headaches were

randomly assigned to receive spinal manipulation, a daily medication

(amitryptilene—a drug used to prevent pain in chronic conditions such

as migraine headache), or a combination of both. Spinal manipulation

was as effective as the medication and had fewer side effects. There

was no added benefit to combining the two therapies.

Massage

Massage may help release chronic neck and shoulder tension and

maintain an even blood flow to the head.

Physical Medicine

Craniosacral therapy may be helpful.

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***Vicki***