More than 36 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. Aside from the excruciating pain, migraines are costly. All of the lost productivity and medical bills add up to more than $20 billion annually in the United States.
There is no cure for migraine headaches, but studies show that nearly 40 percent of migraine sufferers could benefit from preventative therapies. These types of treatment methods aim to decrease the frequency, duration, and severity of migraines. Unfortunately, less than 13 percent of patients are currently using any of these therapies.
Migraineurs are well versed with the current offering of prescription medication on the market. While they all have their place and serve an important role, here is a growing list of promising natural treatments for migraines that don’t require a pill.
1. Relax with a massage
Almost everyone loves a massage, but migraine sufferers should be especially fond of this natural treatment. One study from the University of Miami Touch Research Institute found that massage can help migraine sufferers during attacks and between attacks. They found that deep massage in the neck and shoulders is effective in lessening the frequency of migraines. When the headache had already set in, researchers found that light massage near the head as the patient was lying face up and a more vigorous massage of the feet and hands were the most effective pain-relieving techniques.
2. Listen to your body
Biofeedback is a non-invasive treatment that alerts patients of their headache cues and teaches them relaxation techniques aimed at regulating those physical symptoms. At-home biofeedback tools come with a variety of options: finger sensors, handheld devices, electrodes, and more. These devices and sensors monitor physical symptoms in the body like skin temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and muscle tension. The biofeedback device beeps or lights up when the symptoms are elevated and that beeping alerts the patient that they should begin practicing stress-reduction techniques.
Some patients are able to teach themselves how to manage biofeedback and relaxation techniques. However, most individuals go through a few practice sessions with a trained biofeedback expert before they start using this treatment at home. Many doctors give high praise to biofeedback for helping lessen the duration and severity of migraines.
3. Drink up!
For migraine sufferers, even the slightest form of dehydration can trigger a migraine attack. Drinking extra water may sound like the simplest form of treatment, but for many people, it works amazingly well. One study showed that drinking as little as four extra cups of water per day could significantly curb migraine attacks.
While prescription medications can help once a migraine begins its rage, one of these treatments might keep the frequency and intensity at bay. Let us know if you discover results from these techniques!
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