Natural Solution to Migraines

Migraines are characterized by severe to moderate headaches and nausea, often on just one side of the brain, along with light and sound sensitivity lasting for up to 72 hours and often accompanied by problems with visual and motor sensory problems. In addition, 75% of migraine suerers are women. Stress, inammatory response, and constriction of blood vessels in and surrounding brain tissue are triggers for migraine onset; in fact 50% are said to be stress related.
In 2003, The World Health Organization estimated that 303 million people worldwide experience migraines regularly. While preventive drugs are available for extreme migraine suerers, they can cause serious, toxic and unpleasant side eects. Surgery isrnalso being oered to some migraine suerers with more frequency than ever before, but for many the option is too risky and invasive.
Biofeedback is a gentle, non-toxic, non-invasive rst line therapy that has been scientifically acknowledged in many studies as an efective treatment for migraines and tension headaches in several studies; so much so that the American Academy of Neurology now
endorses biofeedback protocols for headache suerers. Researchers have found that after 10 sessions, 35% of study participants in the biofeedback group reported fewer severe headaches even after six months post biofeedback intervention. (Mullally, 2009)
In one study, 80% of participants experiencing migraines showed signicant improvement using biofeedback over autogenic training. (Labbe, 1995)
Another study showed that two thirds of the participants experienced a 50% reduction in severity of headache symptoms. (Yucha, 2008) McGrady et al (2003) found superior clinical results for biofeedback-assisted relaxation as compared to self-directed relaxation; while Rokicki et al. (1997) found a signicant reduction in headaches following a six-sessio
EMG biofeedback protocol.
INDIGO biofeedback retrains nervous system responses to stress, one of the biggest triggers of migraines; it also helps relax muscle tension, and relieve pain, two intense components of migraines. In addition, the ability of the biofeedback device to provide information about specic stress reactions related to other potential triggers for each individual migraine suerer makes itrnan invaluable tool for education and behavior modication; supporting clients in reducing the frequency of attacks.
In addition to Biofeedback, we recommend to our clients to learn deep breathing to prevent constriction of blood vessels that may results in Migraines instead of depending on headache medications.
Dr. George Grant, Ph.D., I.M.D.
Specialist in Integrative Medicine, Biofeedback, Stress & Pain Management