Migraine headaches affect over 20 million Americans every year. While some migraines are short-lived, others can last for days and involve devastating pain. Many people use prescription drugs to recover from migraine attacks, but others want more alternative treatments. Read on to learn more about alternative treatments for migraine headaches.
Acupuncture
Visit a licensed acupuncturist. Acupuncture uses fine needles in specific body energy points to decrease pain and inflammation and restore normal body processes. According to an Italian study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, regular visits to the acupuncturist can help reduce the frequency, duration, and pain level of migraine attacks. Acupuncture has been used to successfully treat a multitude of ailments for thousands of years, so it could be worth a try.
Chiropractic
Consult with a chiropractor skilled in treating migraines. Many migraine sufferers swear by regular chiropractic care as a means diminishing migraine pain. Chiropractors work by realigning joints in the spine to reduce pain and inflammation. In a study published in the "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics," one in five patients in the chiropractic care group reported a 90 percent decrease in migraines, while almost half said they experienced a significant reduction in migraine severity.
Home Remedies
Try to ease your pain at home. Several over-the-counter pain relief remedies are available, and can actually help. BeKool pads are innovative cooling pads that you stick to your forehead like a cold compress, to help soothe pain. Nutritional supplements sometimes also help. Feverfew leaf is thought to help prevent muscle spasms in the head from occurring. Butterbur root also has anti-muscle spasm properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties as well. And for those who believe in the gut-brain migraine connection, various products aimed at helping soothe the digestive tract are available, such as Forever Well's Foundation Formula. Systemic digestive enzymes are thought to work on that same premise.
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