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People with migraines, don’t only benefit from traditional medications and lifestyle changes. Non-traditional therapies can also help with chronic migraine pain. Studies have found that acupuncture can be helpful for headache pain, especially as a preventative treatment. It’s not completely clear how acupuncture decreases migraine, but the belief is that it activates certain pathways in the brain that are responsible for turning off pain. Biofeedback can be effective in relieving migraine pain. This relaxation technique teaches people how to monitor and control certain physical responses related to stress, such as muscle tension. Medical marijuana has helped migrainers. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be useful. It teaches people how behaviors and thoughts affect how they perceive pain. Meditation may relieve stress, which is a known trigger of migraines, and teaches people to be present in the moment. Done on a regular basis, yoga can help reduce the frequency and duration of migraines. Herbs, vitamins, and minerals can also be incredibly useful. There’s some evidence that the herb feverfew might prevent migraines or reduce their severity. I’ve prescribed plenty of riboflavin or vitamin B2 to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines with good results. I’ve had patients who swear by the benefits of Coenzyme Q10 as an effective way of decreasing the frequency of their migraines. Magnesium is often prescribed for as a preventative migraine therapy. It’s thought that it helps block signals in the brain that leads to migraines. And some research suggests that it stops certain chemicals that cause pain. When recommending treatments for migraines, don’t just stop at traditional approaches. There’s an entire world of therapies that can compliment the typical drugs that you’re prescribing.
