Drug Free Treatment:
Chiropractic:
Two recent systematic literature reviews (from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) have provided evidence in favour of the treatment of migraine headaches by means of cervical spine (neck) manipulation/adjustment. One such study reported that "spinal manipulation may be an effective treatment option with a short term effect similar to that of a commonly used, effective drug (amitriptyline)". The second review provided evidence that spinal manipulative therapy patients reported improvement in pain intensity, duration and disability associated with migraines. One study in the review found a non-significant trend of improvements on a headache index to remain at 4 weeks in the manipulation group. This trend was not evident in the amitriptyline and combined amitriptyline and manipulation experimental groups.
Acupuncture:
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, migraines are caused by a blockage in the energetic pathway related to the eyes and the temples. For the most part, the blockage is due to a relatively excessive amount of energy. Normally, this energy should be appropriately radiated out, but for certain reasons, it is not and becomes blocked. We see that there are often triggers such as light (a form of energy) or other types of "heating" stimulation that bring on a migraine. This is due to the further addition of energy to an already blocked pathway. Often, the sufferer will have a still neck and shoulders, or tension in the hips and sides of the legs (blockage along the same pathway). Because each individual is different, advice on prevention and recovery may slightly vary. In general, it is good to radiate out the blocked energy by appropriate exercise, stretching, occasional baths, spicy food and dealing with irritability and/or anger. However, please consult a TCM trained acupuncturist first. Research has shown acupuncture to be effective in the treatment of migraines (Vickers AJ, et al 1999).
Thank you to Dr. John Blazevic. A former TCM and acupuncturist colleague of mine from Vancouver BC, Canada for providing me with this information. www.johnsacupuncture.com
Massage Therapy:
Massage therapy may be useful in reducing the occurrence of migraine headaches. A study done by the Touch Research Institute showed that those receiving massage therapy experienced less sleep disturbing headaches. 60% of these participants also went the entire month without any headaches compared to 40% of participants who received no massage therapy.
Prevention:
Prevention of migraines revolves around the identification and subsequent avoidance of triggers. Often the trigger is a food substance. Keeping a food and headache journal on a daily basis will help identify what, if any, food triggers the headache. Once this is determines, try cutting that food out of your diet and see if this helps to alleviate the onset of migraines. There may be more than one food that triggers the migraine, so do not be alarmed if it does not help instantly.
There are a number of nutritional supplements that have been shown to be helpful. These include:
- Feverfew
- 5-HTP
- Omega 3 fats
- Calcium with Vitamin D
- Riboflavin and multivitamins containing B vitamins and magnesium
Please seek the advice of your health care practitioner prior to using any of the supplements listed.
References:
Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Headache: A systematic review. JMPT 2001 24(7): 457-466
Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 3.
The effectiveness of spinal manipulation for the treatment of headache disorders: a systematic review of randomized control trials. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 4.
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/416/96/main.html
www.simplymassagetherapy.com/migraine.htm
Souza TA. Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor: Protocols and Algorithms 2nd Ed. Aspen Publishers Inc 2001.
Vickers AJ, et al. BMJ 2004 Mar. 27; 328. Cephalgia, Nov. 1999
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