If you have regular migraines or painful headaches, you have probably tried plenty of medications. Migraines can be debilitating and make managing daily life almost impossible to handle.
Some people get auras that impact their sight, others have numbness in the side of their body, and some have a combination of all of them.
Sometimes migraines can be a sign of something underlying like hormone imbalance, food intolerance, TMJ, and more.
There are many alternative therapies that have some benefits for those who have migraines.
Biofeedback
One of the most common triggers for migraines is stress. Stress can stack up and cause debilitating migraines and headaches. Biofeedback can be used to manage the impact of migraines that are triggered by stress.
Electrodes are placed on the skin to measure vital signs like brain waves, muscle tone, heart rate, and it is read by a machine.
The outcomes of the tests can help you learn ways that you can self-regulate and learn more about how to handle stress.
Yoga
Even the simple act of doing a yoga breathing exercise can make a significant impact on migraines and headaches. The slowness, calmness, and conscious nature of yoga and tai chi can release muscle tension and improve sleep.
Lack of sleep combined with stress can be contributing factors to migraines and headaches.
There are also yoga flows that are ideal for releasing the neck and face tension that often comes with migraines.
Acupuncture
An ancient Chinese therapy that has been used for thousands of years for everything from weight loss and fertility to migraine and osteo-pain.
Acupuncture involves placing tiny needles into specific points on the body. Depending on what is being treated, the needles will be placed in different areas.
While not everyone likes the idea of needles, acupuncture needs are painless, and research has shown that as little as six sessions can help reduce the frequency of migraines or pain levels.
Chiropractic care
According to Ramson, chiropractic therapy, also called spinal manipulation, may reduce pressure on nerves and enhance blood circulation.
“This is particularly useful in typical migraine because the pain is linked to irregular blood flow in the cranial tissues,” she explains. If you wish to try it for relief, make sure to contact a competent chiropractor; it may be especially beneficial if your migraines are caused by whiplash.
Diet
While not exactly an alternative therapy, it can be essential to look at what you are putting into your body in terms of food.
According to a study published in the October 2016 edition of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, taking melatonin, the hormone that helps induce sleep, was as helpful in avoiding migraines as that of the antidepressant amitriptyline without the adverse effects.
Migraines can be painful for the whole body, so it is always important to look at the full range of options you have when it comes to treatment, including pharmaceuticals and alternative therapy.
If stress is your trigger, then here are a few ways to reduce and manage it: 4 De-stressing Tips (That Don’t Get Mentioned Often Enough).
