Migraine Headache

Acupuncture Useful for Migraine Prophylaxis

Pauline Anderson February 24, 2017 “True” acupuncture reduces migraine frequency, number of days with migraine, and pain intensity compared with “sham” acupuncture and being wait-listed for acupuncture, a randomized trial shows. These are some of the “several benefits” of acupuncture for patients with headache shown in this study, said author Fanrong Liang, MD, Acupuncture and […]

Acupuncture Lessens Migraine Attacks in Chinese Study

by Kristina Fiore, Associate Editor, MedPage Today February 20, 2017 Acupuncture may be helpful for migraine prevention, according to a randomized controlled trial from China. The trial included both real and sham acupuncture, as well as a wait-list control group. Over 16 weeks, real acupuncture treatment was associated with a greater reduction in migraine attacks […]

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among US Adults With Headache or Migraine: Results From the 2012 National Health Interview Survey

Yan Zhang, PhD; Jeff A. Dennis, PhD; Matthew J. Leach, PhD; Felicity L. Bishop, PhD; Holger Cramer, PhD; Vincent C. H. Chung, PhD; Craig Moore, PhD(c); Romy Lauche, PhD; Ron Cook, DO; David Sibbritt, PhD; Jon Adams, PhD Headache. 2017;57(8):1228-1242. Abstract Background Given the safety concerns regarding pharmacological agents, and the considerable impact of headache […]

TV News Reports On Water-only Fasting Healing Chronic Migraine Headache [Video]

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Temporal Change in Headache and the Risk for Developing First-Onset Temporomandibular Disorder

January 03, 2017 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Individuals with a low frequency of headache completed questionnaires over a median of 3 years of follow-up to evaluate the association between headache and the risk for developing temporomandibular disorder (TMD). An increased risk for developing TMD was associated with reports of migraine, mixed headache types, and headache frequency. Headache […]

Chronic Migraine Meds Stopped With Botulinum Treatment

by Kate Kneisel Contributing Writer, MedPage Today December 28, 2016 OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) treatment resulted in discontinuation of acute medication overuse and oral preventive therapies after 1 year in more than half of individuals with chronic migraine, researchers found. Of 115 study patients overall, 62% of the 92 characterized as overusing the medications and almost half […]

The potential impact of primary headache disorders on stroke risk

The Journal of Headache and Pain, 12/15/2016 Tsai CL, et al. – This population–based cohort study aimed to investigate whether patients with primary headache disorders (PHDs) were at a high risk of developing stroke. Researchers recommend that with gender–dependent, age–specific and time–dependent characteristics, PHDs is suggestive of an incremental risk for ischaemic stroke. Methods The […]

Migraine Linked to Mouth Bacteria

Pauline Anderson October 21, 2016 Researchers may have uncovered a mechanism behind nitrate-based triggers in migraine. They found that compared with people who don’t experience migraines, those who do have significantly more nitrate, nitrite, and nitric oxide reductase genes in oral and fecal samples. For this study, the investigators examined these genes in stool and […]

Study Finds Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator Safe, Effective For Chronic Migraine Headache Prevention

OCTOBER 17, 2016 Self-administered, noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) using the gammaCore (electroCore) device is a safe, tolerable and potentially effective treatment option for the prevention of chronic migraine attacks, according to a 59-patient multicenter study (Neurology 2016;87:529-538). The mechanism of nVNS provides some of the same benefits as deep breathing, yoga or meditation. The […]

Less carbs, more fat: ketogenic diet makes migraine patients’ headaches disappear

14th October 2016 by Danielle Bengsch The diet was originally developed for childhood epilepsy a century ago and is now studied to treat migraines. Before the ketogenic diet became the latest low-carb diet trend, it was used to treat childhood epilepsy. Doctors had observed that fasting reduced the amount of seizures, and eating mainly fat […]

Migraine Headache Remedy for Treatment and Prevention

Migraine headaches represent a serious health issue in America today, and the statistics are staggering. As many as 13% of adults experience migraine headaches, and as many as 5 million experience at least one migraine attack each month. In fact, more than 90% of people who have a migraine headache are completely unable to function normally during […]

Complementary Health Approaches for Pain Management

September 13, 2016 Mayo Clinic Proceedings TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The authors of this review evaluated the available evidence regarding the use of complementary health approaches to assist in the management of chronic pain. There was positive evidence to show that some strategies may be beneficial for specific complaints. Select complementary health approaches may be beneficial for […]

Serum concentration of magnesium as an independent risk factor in migraine attacks

Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2016 Sep;31(5):287-92. doi: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000130. Serum concentration of magnesium as an independent risk factor in migraine attacks: a matched case-control study and review of the literature. Assarzadegan F1, Asgarzadeh S, Hatamabadi HR, Shahrami A, Tabatabaey A, Asgarzadeh M. Abstract There is controversy over the role of magnesium in the etiology of migraine headaches. […]

Role of Acupuncture in the Treatment or Prevention of Migraine, Tension-Type Headache, or Chronic Headache Disorders

Headache. 2016 Jul;56(7):1238-40. doi: 10.1111/head.12857. Epub 2016 Jul 13. Coeytaux RR. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current evidence that evaluates the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment or prevention of migraine, tension-type headache, and chronic headache disorders. METHODS: Findings from selected systematic reviews and meta-analyses are summarized. RESULTS: Recently published systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrate that […]

Chronic Versus Episodic Migraine – VIDEO

04.27.2016 Opinion Makers: Chronic Versus Episodic Migraine Richard Lipton, MD, distinguishes the two and discusses risk factors for progression Opinion Makers is an exclusive MedPage Today video series, presenting leaders from all areas of medicine, offering their views on current topics in clinical care, research, and policy. In this video, Richard Lipton, MD, of Montefiore […]

Aerobic Exercise for Reducing Migraine Burden: Mechanisms, Markers, and Models of Change Processes

Megan B. Irby, MS; Dale S. Bond, PhD; Richard B. Lipton, MD; Barbara Nicklas, PhD; Timothy T. Houle, PhD; Donald B. Penzien, PhD Headache. 2016;56(2):357-369. Abstract Background: Engagement in regular exercise routinely is recommended as an intervention for managing and preventing migraine, and yet empirical support is far from definitive. We possess at best a […]

Cervico-occipital Posture in Women With Migraine: A Case-Control Study

Authors: Gabriela Natália Ferracini, PT, MD Study Design Case-control study. Background Previous studies have assessed forward head posture in patients with migraine using photographs. To date, no study has compared postural differences using both radiographs and photographs. Objective To determine the differences in head extension posture between women with migraine and healthy women assessed with […]

Cervico-occipital Posture in Women With Migraine

Cervico-occipital Posture in Women With Migraine: A Case-Control Study Authors: Gabriela Natália Ferracini, PT, MD Published: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2016 Volume:0 Issue:0 Pages:1–25 Study Design Case-control study. Background Previous studies have assessed forward head posture in patients with migraine using photographs. To date no study has compared postural differences using both […]

Meditation: how could it benefit your health?

Written by Honor Whiteman Published: Sunday 27 December 2015 For many people, the word “meditation” is likely to evoke images of a cross-legged individual, eyes closed, humming to themselves, but there is so much more to the practice than meets the eye. Meditation is an ancient mind and body practice that is estimated to date […]

Physical therapy for headaches (including spinal joint manipulation/mobilization)

Cephalalgia. 2015 Dec 9. pii: 0333102415596445. [Epub ahead of print] Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C1, Cuadrado ML2. Abstract BACKGROUND: Headache is the medical problem most commonly observed by neurologists. Non-pharmacological treatments are commonly demanded by individuals with headaches, but their evidence of effectiveness is conflicting. AIM: The current review provides an updated discussion on what is supported by […]