Migraine

A migraine is a type of severe headache that can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head. Migraines are commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine attack can last for hours to days. Some migraines are preceeded by sensory warning symptoms, also known as auras. Auras may appear as flashes of light, blind spots, black lines in your field of vision, or tingling in the arm or leg. Women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men. Common migraine triggers include stress, changes in sleep patterns, dehydration, and strenuous exercise.

 

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Thuja (Eastern White Cedar, Thuja Occidentalis) [1, 31, 32, 33]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Little is known about the full effects of Thuja, so it is not recommended for medicinal use. Thuja can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Thuja helps to treat migraines)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 28, 29, 30]:

WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which reports the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

St John's Wort (Goatweed, tipton weed, Hypericum Perforatum) [1, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that St Johns Wort can help to treat migraines)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Six Flavor Tea (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Rehmannia Six) [1, 15, 16]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to show that Six Flavor Tea helps in any way in the treatment of migraines )

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Mugwort (Artemisa Vulgaris) [1, 12, 13, 14]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It has been proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has been discounted due life-threatening side effects

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that mugwart helps to treat migraine. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Kava (Piper Methysticum) [1, 8, 9, 10, 11]:

WARNING: In rare cases, kava may lead to liver failure and other life threatening problems. The FDA warns that those who have had liver problems, or are on medicacations which may affect the liver, patients should check with their doctors before taking Kava. Other side effects include headache, upset stomach, drowsiness, weight loss, bloody urine, and muscle weakness.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies indicate that Kava may be helpful in reducint the symptoms of migraine. However, subsequent studies have yielded contradictory results. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Cloves (Caryophyllum Aromaticum, Eugenia Caryophyllata) [4, 5, 6, 7]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Cloves help to treat migraines in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) [1, 2, 3]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly against (Available evidence does not support claims that Chamomile helps treat migraines. In addition, allergic reactions and side effects like cramps, itching, rashes and difficulty breathing can be relatively common)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Red Pepper (Capsaicin):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that red peppers help to treat or prevent migraines)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Aconite (Aconitum Napellus, Monkshood, Fu-Tzu):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself, and it not recomended for use because it is EXTREMELY TOXIC and can cause irregular heartbeat, heart failre, and death, even when only used only on the skin.

Recommendation: strongly against (Due to the lack of therapeutic effect on migraines , and due to its harmful effects, Aconite is NOT RECOMENDED)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is very little or no evidence supporting claims that TENS helps treat migraines )

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Therapeutic Touch:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is very little reliable evidence supporting the positive effect of Therapeutic Touch on migraines. More studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Reflexology:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Although yielding positive results, the studies testing the effects of Reflexology on migraines were not reliable. Further study is necessary)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Polarity Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence supporting claims that Polarity Therapy has any effect on migraines )

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Osteopathy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims of Osteopathy alone helping to treat migraines )

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (No reliable conclusions have been found on the effect of Neural Therapy on migraines )

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Massage:

Recommendation: stongly in favor (Massages are used to relieve symptoms of migraines )

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Magnetic Therapy:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There has been no evidence that Magnetic Therapy has any effect on migraines )

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Craniosacral Therapy:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (A few well-controlled trials have been performed, which state that successes in treating migraines have not been found)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Chiropractic:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Results have only suggested that Chiropractic may lead to less frequent cases of mild migraines in some people)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Acupuncture:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Although scientific evidence is not strong, early reports suggest that Acupuncture may healp to treat migraines when combined with mainstream therapies)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Curanderismo:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to show that Curanderismo will have any effect on migraines )

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Yoga:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (There is some evidence that Yoga can help in treating migraines when used in conjunction with conventional medicine)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Neuro-Linguistic Programming:

Recommendation: no recommendation (No reliable evidence exists supporting claims that Neuro-linguistic programming helps in treating migraines.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Biofeedback:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (initial studies show that biofeedback may have moderate effect in treating tmigraines)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Naturopathic Medicine:

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Naturopathic medicine can help with treating migraines)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Feverfew:

Warning: Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women

Recommendation: Weakly in favour

Grade of evidence: Low level evidence (34, 35)

 * www.gradeworkinggroup.org

 

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Cham

3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-chamomile.html

4. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 94.

5. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition by Dan Bensky, Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger, and Andrew Gamble 2004

6. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/cloves

7. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-clove.html

8. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=SP05005.pdf

9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kava

10. http://www.kavazen.com/pages/library.htm#KavaZen and Kava Safety

11. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/kava/index.htm

12. Anliker MD, Borelli S, Wüthrich B. Occupational protein contact dermatitis from spices in a butcher: a new presentation of the mugwort-spice syndrome. Contact Dermatitis. 2002;46:72-74.

13. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mugwort

14. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

15. Shen JJ, Lin CJ, Huang JL, Hsieh KH, Kuo ML. The effect of liu-wei-di-huang wan on cytokine gene expression from human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(2):247-57.

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/six-flavor-tea

17. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/st-johns-wort

18. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-stjohnswort.html

19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843608

20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939866

21. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/ataglance.htm

22. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm

23. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/how-is-depression-detected-and-treated.shtml

24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939872

25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12132963

26. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16423519

27. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/22/2633

28. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5

29. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.

30. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica

31. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002769.htm

32. http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_thoc2.pdf

33. http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&query=thuja&x=0&y=0

34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21631494

35. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19454881