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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Nontraditional therapies may be helpful if you have chronic migraine pain:

  • Acupuncture. In this treatment, a practitioner inserts many thin, disposable needles into several areas of your skin at defined points. Clinical trials have found that acupuncture may be helpful for headache pain.
  • Biofeedback. Biofeedback appears to be especially effective in relieving migraine pain. This relaxation technique uses special equipment to teach you how to monitor and control certain physical responses related to stress, such as muscle tension.
  • Manual therapy. Massage and chiropractic treatments may help reduce the frequency of migraines. And it can improve the quality of your sleep, which can, in turn, help prevent migraine attacks.
  • Herbs, vitamins and minerals. There is some evidence that the herbs feverfew and butterbur may prevent migraines or reduce their severity. A high dose of riboflavin (vitamin B-2) also may prevent migraines by correcting tiny deficiencies in the brain cells. Coenzyme Q10 supplements may decrease the frequency of migraines, but they have little effect on the severity of the headache. Due to low magnesium levels in some people with migraines, magnesium supplements have been used, but with mixed results. Ask your doctor if these treatments are right for you. Don't use feverfew or butterbur if you're pregnant.
Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. NINDS Migraine information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  2. Cutrer FM, et al. Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  3. Boes CJ, et al. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1155758096&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50111-4&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&uniqId=240648610-3. Accessed May 1, 2011.
  4. Migraine. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Migraine. Accessed March 30, 2011.
  5. Headache diagnosis and testing. American Headache Society. http://www.americanheadachesociety.org/assets/NAP_for_Web_-_Headache_Diagnosis_&_Testing.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  6. Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headachehope.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  7. Migraine. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;301:2608.
  8. Calhoun AH. Estrogen-associated migraine. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  9. Hormones and migraines. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Hormones_and_Migraine. Accessed March 30, 2011.
  10. Bajwa ZH, et al. Acute treatment of migraine in adults. .http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  11. SSRIs, triptans and serotonin syndrome: What is the risk of serotonin syndrome in migraine? American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/SSRIsTriptansandSerotoninSyndrome.asp?print=y. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  12. Keeping a headache diary can help your doctor help you. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/pdf/How_Keep_Headache_Diary.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  13. Gilmore B, et al. Treatment of acute migraine headache. American Family Physician. 2011;83:271.
  14. Migraine prevention: A guide to the latest methods and treatments. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/migraine_module/page_home.htm. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  15. Fenstermacher N, et al. Pharmacological prevention of migraine. British Medical Journal. 2011;342:540.
  16. Bajwa ZH, et al. Preventive treatment of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  17. Cruse RP. Management of migraine headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  18. Chaibi A, et al. Manual therapies for migraine: A systematic review. Journal of Headache and Pain. 2011; epub Feb. 5.
  19. Exertional headaches. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Exertional_Headaches. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  20. FDA approves Botox to treat chronic migraine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm229782.htm. Accessed April 14, 2011.
DS00120 June 4, 2011

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