Summary: Migraine can be treated without medications. Mindfulness, meditation, physical therapy, vitamins and supplements, and medical devices all help migraine headaches without drugs. Migraine is the most common type of headache. In some people it is severe enough to cause disability. But in many cases, medications fail to give enough relief. Then it makes sense to look at other migraine pain treatments.
An estimated one billion people are living with migraine making it among the leading causes of disability. These numbers are massive. Many people with migraine do not know they have it. They think they just have a headache.
Migraine also seems to be more common in rich nations. Studies suggest that almost every US household has one member living with migraine.
Most migraine cases go undiagnosed. Yet in some people, attacks are crippling and come back often. These people also get other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sound sensitivity, and more.
Studies show that genes and surroundings play a big role in migraine. Together they switch on the trigeminal nerve. That nerve releases inflammatory substances like CGRP and other molecules. Blood vessels swell, causing pain and inflammation.
Why don’t migraine medications work for everyone?
Migraine headache is a common cause of chronic pain. There are many ways to treat it and tens of medications. But for many people, nothing seems to work, or the drugs give too little relief.
People with migraine often know what sets it off, like noise, a certain setting, and more. Many can feel that their headache is about to begin. That gives them a chance to stop the attack.
Drugs also fail in many cases. And some people cannot take them at all, for reasons like pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Many people who do not respond to drugs, or cannot take them, may gain from so-called alternative or complementary medicine. You can use one drug-free method to manage the cause of migraine headaches. Or you can combine several.
How can you treat a migraine without medication?
There are many ways to manage migraine without drugs. What works for one person may not work for another. So people need to try different methods. Learning to manage migraine without medications takes some trial and error.
Can mindfulness and meditation help migraines?
It is one of the safest and best treatments for migraine, since it uses no substance at all. And it is no secret that mental stress is among the biggest triggers. Studies show that mindfulness can help reduce the severity of various types of migraine headaches and cluster headache pain.
Many people can feel when a migraine is coming. So biofeedback could be another way to prevent these headaches. You can use biofeedback as soon as you feel tight muscles, sweating, and a pounding heart. There are many ways to practice mindfulness and meditation. Yoga is one place to start.
Physical Therapy
Many people may gain from lifestyle changes like regular exercise, passive stretching, cervical (neck) traction, acupuncture, and so on. Studies show that physical therapy may work better than drugs for many people.
Physical therapy also lowers stress and improves sleep, which helps prevent migraine attacks. Some people also gain a lot from massage. Physical therapy may also help through the changes it makes in the body’s chemistry. For example, it may lower cortisol, lower inflammation, and more.
What vitamins and supplements help migraines?
Many supplements can help, and science backs many of them for headaches. Magnesium, for example, works well to ease migraine severity. Vitamin B-complex can help in many cases too. Some people may also gain from CoQ10, different herbs, and more.
Can a medical device treat migraines?
In recent years, some companies have brought out medical devices that can help manage causes of migraine headaches. For example, neurostimulation (nerve stimulation) devices may help by blocking pain signals sent from the brain. Other devices may change trigeminal nerve conduction.
To sum up, if you live with these headaches, look into other migraine pain treatment. The good part is that you can use these methods along with prescription drugs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to stop a migraine?
Catch it before it takes hold. Many people with migraine can feel an attack coming, with tight muscles, sweating or a racing heart. That warning is the window to act. Biofeedback and other mindfulness techniques used at the first sign can head off the attack. Knowing your own triggers, such as noise or a certain environment, lets you prevent attacks before they start.
What causes a migraine attack?
Genetics and environment set the stage. Together they activate the trigeminal nerve, which releases inflammatory substances such as CGRP. Blood vessels swell, and pain and inflammation follow. Mental stress is among the biggest triggers. Many people also react to noise or a certain setting. Frequent, severe attacks can bring nausea, vomiting and sound sensitivity along with the headache.
Can I treat migraines while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes, and drug-free treatment matters most here. Pregnancy and breastfeeding rule out many migraine medications. Mindfulness and meditation are among the safest options, since they use no substance at all. Biofeedback builds on the same skills. Physical therapy, stretching and massage lower stress and improve sleep. That helps prevent attacks. Ask your doctor before starting any supplement.
Can natural migraine treatments be used with prescription drugs?
Yes. Mindfulness, physical therapy, supplements and medical devices can all be used alongside prescription migraine drugs. Many people combine several of them. What works for one person may not work for another. Finding the right mix takes some trial and error. If your medications give too little relief, adding a drug-free approach is often the next step.
How common are migraines?
Very common. An estimated one billion people live with migraine. That makes it one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It seems more common in rich nations. Studies suggest almost every US household has a member living with it. Most cases go undiagnosed. Many people assume they just have a bad headache, not migraine.
The Bottom Line
Padda Institute of Pain Management gives the best care for many types of migraine headaches and cluster headache pain.
Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
