“ Massage helps undo the fightor-flight response that a lot of migraineurs experience.”
4. Aromatherapy
Scientific studies suggest that lavender and peppermint scents can help manage migraines and headaches. A 2010 study by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran found that peppermint relieved nausea and vomiting associated with migraines. Other studies have shown that the smell of peppermint can reduce the perception of pain.
Rather than using aromatherapy to relieve a migraine, Dr. Mauskop recommends enlisting positive scents to avoid the bad smells that can trigger an attack. One option is a product called Migrastick, a small, inexpensive roller filled with lavender and peppermint essential oils. Dr. Mauskop tells patients who get stuck on a bus or train next to a heavy perfume wearer to take the product out, put it under their nose and inhale.
5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Biofeedback
This model of therapy helps patients identify thoughts or mental triggers, such as self-doubt or relationship troubles, that excite the nervous system. Once these stressors are identified, the therapist and patient work together to develop methods of staying relaxed.
“ When I see people who have trouble with migraines, I find there’ s something else going on with them that they don’ t know how to handle,” Farmer says.“ They don’ t want to admit it or maybe they’ re not even aware of it.”
This tactic is especially effective when paired with biofeedback, a system that tracks patients’ responses to stress and teaches them how to lower their nervous system’ s excitability.
Most psychologists are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, Farmer says, but when you call a psychologist’ s office, you should ask about experience working with migraine and headache patients. And if you don’ t click with one therapist, try someone else.“ Not every psychologist is right for everyone,” Farmer says. According to the NHF, biofeedback is an excellent adjunctive therapy. Many studies demonstrate that a course of biofeedback will reduce the severity and frequency of acute headache attacks.
32 HEAD WISE | Volume 1, Issue 3 • 2011