Understanding Alternative, Drug-Free Migraine Remedies

For a long time, the world of migraine treatment was divided by a wall. On one side, there was conventional medicine, such as prescription and over-the-counter pain medications. On the other side, there was alternative medicine: acupuncture, meditation, herbal supplements, etc.

But many people asked: Why do these two approaches have to be separated? What if a combination of treatments, lifestyle changes and natural migraine remedies is the best way to feel better?

An integrative approach to migraine treatment takes a holistic view that includes mind, body, spirit and community. “Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically,” explains the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. It’s a healing-focused approach that considers the whole person.

Elements of Integrative Treatment for Migraine

An integrative treatment approach could include some or all of the following:

• Prescribed treatments, such as abortive, rescue and preventative medications
• Over-the-counter treatments such as CEFALY DUAL, an FDA-cleared external eTNS device that’s clinically proven to treat migraine and is available without a prescription
• A migraine-friendly diet, which seeks to eliminate migraine-triggering foods and additives. Examples include alcohol, chocolate, nuts, citrus fruits, processed meats and fresh-baked breads.
• Dietary supplements, which may be vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, or enzymes. Read more: The Simple Guide to Migraine Supplements

• Acupuncture: “There is growing evidence that acupuncture is just as effective and has fewer side effects than many of the standard pharmaceutical agents that are currently used” for migraine prevention, according to a systematic review of data from existing randomized trials.
• Biofeedback, which lets you view your vital signs in real time and then learn how to consciously change them
• Mindfulness/meditation, which “may be as effective as pharmacological treatment for medication-overuse headache after the offending medication is withdrawn,” one study found.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help someone change thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to migraine
• Massage and/or physical therapy to ease muscle tension in the head and neck
• Yoga, which can benefit mind and body alike
• Green light therapy: Exposure to a specific frequency and intensity of green light may help reduce headache days and pain intensity.