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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffBecause cluster headaches can be so painful, you may be tempted to try alternative or complementary therapies to relieve your pain. A recent survey of people with cluster headache who tried a number of alternative therapies — including acupuncture, acupressure, therapeutic touch, chiropractic and homeopathy — found that fewer than 10 percent found these therapies effective.
Some natural medicines may be worth a try, however. In one study, kudzu extract was shown to alleviate the intensity, frequency and duration of cluster headache attacks, though it didn't decrease the length of the cluster cycle. Melatonin also has shown modest effectiveness in treating nighttime attacks. Capsicum, also known as capsaicin or cayenne, may decrease the frequency and severity of cluster headache attacks when used as a nasal spray on the affected side of your head.
- Simon RP, et al. Headache and facial pain. In: Simon RP, et al. Clinical Neurology. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies: 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5146135&searchStr=cluster+headache. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Ropper AH, et al. Headache and other craniofacial pains. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adam's and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3631051&searchStr=cluster+headache. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Goadsby PJ, et al. Headache. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2890458&searchStr=cluster+headache#2890458. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- May A. Cluster headache: Epidemiology, clinical features and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Cluster headaches. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Cluster_Headaches. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm. Accessed Nov. 29, 2010.
- Evers S. Pharmacotherapy of cluster headache. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2010;11:2121.
- May A. Cluster headache: Acute and preventive treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Cohen AS, et al. High-flow oxygen for treatment of cluster headache: A randomized trial. 2009;302:2451.
- Francis GJ, et al. Acute and preventive treatment of cluster headache. Neurology. 2010;75:463.
- Melatonin. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=ND&pt=100&id=940&ds=&name=MELATONIN&searchid=23998947. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Paemeleire K, et al. Occipital nerve stimulation for headache disorders. Neurotherapeutics: The Journal of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics. 2010;7:213.
- Sewell RA. Response of cluster headache to kudzu. Headache. 2009;49:98.
- Rossi P, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with cluster headache: Results of a multi-centre headache clinic survey. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2008;16:220.
- Capsicum. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=ND&pt=100&id=945&ds=&name=CAPSICUM&searchid=23998947. Accessed Nov. 29, 2010.
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 1, 2010.
- Headache diary. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/pdf/Headache_Diary.pdf. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
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