Nearly a quarter of the U.S. population suffers from severe and debilitating headache, and while there are a number of pharmaceutical remedies for them, a growing number of people want a natural option for migraine headache treatment.

People of all races and genders experience them, although they are more prevalent among women. Migraine headaches are extremely painful, and cause a great deal of lost productivity and diminished quality of life. A large number sufferers report missed work and a need for bed rest as a result of their condition. It’s no wonder that pain relief is a multi-million dollar business.

When Drugs Are Shunned

For many, however, drugs are not the treatment of choice. Some folks have allergies, others have concerns about the ethics of big drug companies, while others find that alternative medicine such as acupuncture or herbal remedies are a better choice for them. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies for migraine headaches that are extremely effective.

There’s been considerable growth in natural therapies in recent years as the general public has become more accepting of their efficacy, especially when it comes to pain relief.

Aromatherapy is one of the most popular treatments. It uses the scent given off by mixing or warming essential oils and gentle massage. Some common oils used in aroma therapy for headaches are peppermint, sandalwood, eucalyptus and lavender.

Another one way to use aromatherapy to treat a migraine is to add a few drops of lavender oil to warm water. Then make a compress by dipping a soft cloth into the water and apply it to your head or neck. The aroma from the compress will help to relax you and relieve your headache.

Massage and acupressure are also a great natural ways to get ease the pain of a migraine. A trained massage therapist can pinpoint and relax key pressure points that will help ease your discomfort. Most states require massage therapists to be licensed or certified, so make sure you check your therapist’s credentials as a poorly-trained therapist can actually make your condition worse.

Feverfew is an herb that has traditionally been used in the treatment of migraine headaches. In fact, feverfew is one of the most popular alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs for treating headaches. The efficacy of feverfew in the relief of pain caused by migraines has been backed by research. A recent study has shown that a majority of people treated by feverfew report a reduced incidence of migraine headaches.

Magnesium is another head ache treatment that is backed by scientific studies. Magnesium is an essential mineral, and can be found in a variety of foods, including leafy green vegetables and nuts or it can be taken as a dietary supplement. Recent studies show that headache sufferers taking magnesium reported fewer and less severe attacks than a control group.

Did you know that the National Headache Foundation has estimated as many as 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches? More women than men suffer from this condition. Migraines are one of the most severe kinds of headaches, creating a throbbing or pounding pain in the head. Migraine headaches can occur on one or both sides of the head, lasting anywhere from 4 to 72 hours, and are often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, sound or smells. Here we will focus on migraine headaches, although acupuncture can be an effective treatment for any kind of headache.

Migraines often run in families. They can be triggered by a variety of factors including stress, poor diet, hunger, allergens, red wine, cheese, chocolate, menstruation, changes in the weather, inadequate sleep, bright lights, and changes in barometric pressure or lack of exercise.

Acupuncture can be used as a preventative in the treatment of migraines as well as treatment of an acute attack of migraine pain. Studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines, decreasing the duration and severity of an attack as well as the frequency of occurrences. The National Institutes of Health recommends acupuncture as a treatment for headaches. Some studies show 90% effectiveness in decreasing the frequency and duration of migraines and a reduction in medication used for the treatment of migraines after a series of acupuncture treatments. An Italian study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine revealed that patients who received acupuncture experienced fewer migraine episodes, missed fewer days from work, and suffered no side effects compared to the patients using conventional drug therapy.

Think about getting treated with acupuncture for your migraine headaches for lasting relief. As a matter of fact, acupuncture is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as effective in treating migraines. Then find a licensed acupuncturist that specializes in the Balance Method. This special style of migraine acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points located on the arms and legs. No needles are inserted into the area of pain. Acupuncture point selection varies from person to person based on their traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. This is determined through a thorough medical history plus Chinese pulse diagnosis. Using this information the acupuncturist is able to develop an acupuncture treatment plan for you, as well as suggestions for herbal or dietary therapies.

At our Minneapolis clinic we use a pain rating system of 0-10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being the highest. I have had patients who have come in with migraines that they rate as high as a #8. Five minutes after I get the needles in, that pain level can often come down to a #2 pain level. Often when the patient leaves our clinic the pain is gone.