Alternative Migraine Therapies
Try These Supplemental Remedies for Your Migraines
Trying some of these alternative therapies for migraines can increase your resistance to or obliterate your pain. They can improve the results of your current meds.
Migraine sufferers often seek alternative solutions for their headaches. While conventional medicine should not be discarded, alternative or “complimentary” treatments and supplements can often be taken along with conventional medications, thereby enhancing their effects.
Keep in mind that the following ideas do not take the place of conventional medicine, and should be discussed first with a doctor. Some of the below-listed techniques are oral remedies and some are physical treatments.
Acupuncture
More and more people are benefiting from the Asian tradition of acupuncture. These days, trained doctors, physiotherapists, and/or nurses can administer this therapy. Tiny sterile needles are positioned into the skin at specific points in the body, according to the illness; needles are positioned uniquely for migraine headaches. “Western” acupuncture uses the above-trained professionals, but migraine suffers can also seek “traditional”, or Eastern acupuncture, which is administered by a trained acupuncturist.
Homeopathy
Homeopaths generally prescribe this type of therapy, which involves combining an active ingredient with water, depending on the severity of the illness. The principle of this therapy is using substances which produce certain symptoms in healthy people on people with these symptoms (example: for migraine sufferers, a substance which produces headaches would be administered.) In essence, the substance which causes the symptoms “cancels” out the symptoms in the afflicted person.
Chiropractic Treatment/ Reflexology
Both of these methods manipulate parts of the body. Chiropractic treatment is done by a chiropractor (a doctor) who can manipulate areas of the musculoskeletal system, including the spine. Reflexology is generally performed by a massage therapist who manipulates areas of the feet, which are supposed to correspond to different areas of the body, such as the head or neck.
Relaxation
This therapy is simple and autonomous: no need for outside manipulation or treatment! It includes the practice of deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, muscle relaxation, and meditation. Whatever helps you relax can work. You can also try positive visualization (thinking of something that makes you happy) or lying quietly and still for a while. Self-hypnosis, or deep relaxation, can be learned to provide this same benefit.
Vitamins/ Roots/ Herbs
Some of these remedies are thought to help migraines: magnesium or vitamin B2 supplements, ginger (also helps with migraine nausea), and herbal remedies, which can be specially concocted by a trained herbalist.
For more information, see www.migraine.org.UK.
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