Over 1 billion people worldwide suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines are the second-leading cause of disability around the globe. And 25% of households in the U.S. have at least one member who suffers from migraines. An estimated 85.6 million workdays are lost due to migraine headaches each year.
Yet, many people who suffer from migraine pain dismiss the condition as just another bad headache. They use OTC painkillers and fail to seek medical care even when symptoms include light and sound sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Both genetics and environmental factors contribute to the development of migraines. They occur when changes in the brainstem activate the trigeminal nerve, which is a major nerve along the pain pathway. This tells the body to release inflammatory substances such as CGRP, short for calcitonin gene-related peptide. This molecule can cause blood vessels to swell, producing pain and inflammation.
Medication for migraines may not work
Doctors have an array of prescription medications for preventing and treating migraines. However, many people find that conventional treatment has limitations. These include side effects, high costs, or life circumstances like pregnancy and breastfeeding.
If you suffer from migraines, you do have some options with alternative treatments. It begins with becoming familiar with the warning signals your brain sends you when a migraine is imminent, such as fatigue or mood changes.
Then you can begin to try alternative methods of relief. Many conventional doctors support these methods like yoga, meditation, or acupuncture. In addition to providing pain relief from migraines, they can help you sleep better, help you feel better emotionally, and give you a greater sense of well-being.
You can use these alternatives either along with prescription medications or try them alone. Let’s take a look at your options.
Vitamins, supplements, and nutraceuticals for migraines
There is evidence that vitamins work reasonably well compared to traditional prescription medication. They also have fewer side effects.
Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, is considered useful in migraine prevention. When dosed at 400 milligrams daily for 12 weeks, researchers found it reduced migraine frequency by half in more than half of the participants.
Magnesium helps regulate the blood vessels and electrical activity in the brain. A study found that patients given 600 milligrams of magnesium citrate daily for 12 weeks had a 40% decrease in migraine.
Herbal supplements and nutraceuticals can also be used to prevent migraine.
Another beneficial supplement is Coenzyme Q10, which is involved in cellular energy production. After three months, about half of those taking 100 milligrams of Coenzyme Q10 three times a day had half the number of migraine attacks.
You may also find some relief from feverfew, which is a perennial herb known to provide migraine relief. Taken three times daily, feverfew reduced migraine frequency by 40% in one study.
Manipulation-based therapy
Also called physical therapy, these methods include cervical traction, passive stretching, and myofascial and trigger-point release. Studies show that manipulation-based therapy combined with medication is superior in reducing the pain and frequency of migraine over medications alone.
By lowering stress levels and promoting relaxation, massage can decrease migraine frequency and improve sleep. It may also reduce stress in the days following the massage, which adds further protection from migraine attacks.
Some patients find relief from acupuncture. A large 2016 meta-analysis paper found acupuncture reduced the duration and frequency of migraines regardless of how often they occur. Other studies show that benefits from acupuncture can last for up to 20 weeks after a session.
Mindfulness and meditation
Because stress is a major trigger for migraines, reducing the stress and your reactions to that stress are paramount. Studies show that mindfulness meditation can reduce headache frequency and pain severity.
Biofeedback has been shown to be effective at reducing migraine pain and frequency. This enables you to see your vital signs in real-time and then learn how to stabilize them.
There is strong evidence that biofeedback can lessen the frequency and severity of migraine headaches and reduce headache-related disability.
Yoga combines physical postures, meditation, and breathing exercises with the goal of uniting the mind, body, and spirit. Practicing yoga consistently can be helpful in reducing stress and treating migraine.
Meditation is an alternative therapy that could help with your migraine. Practicing meditation can also help you with a greater sense of well-being.
Neurostimulation devices for migraines
The Food and Drug Administration has approved several neurostimulation devices for migraine treatment. These devices work by neutralizing the pain signals sent from the brain.
One is the Nerivio device, which is worn on the upper arm and sends signals to the brainstem pain center during an attack. Two-thirds of people report pain relief after two hours, and side effects are rare.
Another device that shows promise is the Cefaly. It delivers a mild electrical current to the trigeminal nerve on the forehead, which can lessen the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. After one hour of treatment, patients experienced a nearly 60% reduction in pain intensity, and the relief lasted up to 24 hours.
Final thoughts
If you suffer from migraines, you might find some relief using one or more of these alternatives. They can help in situations when you may not find relief from prescription medications, or in circumstances when you need to avoid medications. They have proven potential to provide relief from both the pain and frequency of migraine headaches.