Alternative Therapy For Reliving Migraines

A migraine headache is more than just an excuse to get out of responsibilities for a day, migraine headaches are in truth a chronic neurological disorder. A migraine headache is caused by an enlargement of blood vessels that creates a series of chemicals to be released and attack arteries in the brain. Once the chemicals have been released to wreak their havoc, the enlarging of the arteries begins to send painful symptoms that only magnifies until the arteries have stopped expanding or migraine relief has been found.

Finding a natural way to treat migraine headaches is a safer and healthier alternative than prescription medication. Prescription medication can be addictive and have a negative physiological effect on other parts of the body that could ultimately shorten one’s life expectancy. With all the concerns regarding prescription medication, it then probes the question, “Can migraine headaches be treated effectively naturally?” The answer is YES! There are several alternative therapies that can be used to treat migraines and their miserable symptoms this next section is dedicated to explaining just a few of the alternative migraine treatment options on the market.

Massage Therapy

The two main symptoms that are presented by the condition of migraines  are fatigue and pain. Massage therapy can aid in lessening both of these symptoms by helping the migraine suffer to be able to experience less pain, obtain more sleep, and also to help relax some of the tightened and stiff muscles that can contribute to much of the pain. Research has proven that the use of massage therapy as a form of migraine treatment can help migraine sufferers experience deeper levels of sleep and lessen levels of pain and fatigue. The way that massage therapy accomplishes this is by using the different forms of massage to help oxygenate the body as a whole which can decrease the severity of symptoms that a migraine  sufferer will experience. Massage therapy can help migraine sufferers find relief from their symptoms specifically by:

1. Improving Sleep
2. Decreasing Anxiety & Stress
3. Increasing Blood Circulation

Biofeedback

The stressors of migraine pain can be eased using biofeedback. Biofeedback is a mind and body relaxation technique that helps migraine sufferers learns about their body’s natural internal process to control relaxation.

Biofeedback uses an electronic device to measure stress-related responses in the body. After much research biofeedback is able to help relieve many types of chronic pain, including migraines.

The electronic device is connected so that it can inform the migraine patient and the therapist when the patient is physically relaxing his or her body. Sensors are able to report muscle tension, heart rate, breathing patter, the amount sweat produced and body temperature. Some therapists are able to use a single one of these sensors, although it may be helpful to use all, to see if a migraine patient is learning to relax.

The design of biofeedback is to first teach the body how to react to stressors in a controlled environment. Once the migraine patient is able to react properly inside of a controlled environment, then he or she should be able to start reacting properly in daily life.

There are many different types of biofeedback devices: Elecromyograph, Peripheral Skin Temperature, and Elecroderm Response will be discussed below.

EMG (Electromyograph)

The most common biofeedback therapy is the EMG. Because the EMG is used to help correct muscle pain and stiffness it can be the most useful for migraine patients. The device that is used is called an electromyograph which is able to measure the electricity given off by the patient’s muscles.

PST (Peripheral Skin Temperature)

A less common form of biofeedback is the PST. The PST is able to measure electrical impulses given off by the flow of a patient’s blood. By doing so, it is able to give information about skin temperature.

EDR (Elecroderm Response)

An EDR is considered sweating biofeedback. It is able to monitor electricity produced by a patient’s sweating reflexes. This form is usually used to help with anxiety and depression.

While some therapists just use one devise and type of biofeedback devices, it is most common for them to use a combination of biofeedback devices.

Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncutre, Alternative treatment, chiropractic care, herbal supplemetns, migraine treatment, Migraines, natural alternative, over the counter medication, therapy