Some alternative and complementary medicine approaches to migraine relief

Original article: http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/05/09/health/doc464226cd2388a421528408.txt

Some alternative and complementary medicine approaches to migraine relief

Acupuncture: Dr. Ying Li, a licensed acupuncturist and certified Oriental medicine practitioner, at Southern Illinois Acupuncture in Carbondale and Metropolis, treats each patient individually using acupuncture and Chinese herbal remedies.

Acupuncture is the gentle insertion of extremely thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of Qi or natural healing energy.

"They come to me when they're having the headaches," Li said. "If they respond well to acupuncture, we will usually have success after two or three treatments. The treatments help improve the quality of their lives."

Alexander Technique: Liz Patula, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique in Carbondale, said that her students who experience migraines have reported fewer headaches because of the new ways they are learning to use their bodies.

The American Society of the Alexander Technique describes the Alexander Technique as a mode of self-management that gives you independence in maintaining your health. Rather than being solely a recipient, you learn to soothe your own nervous system, release your own muscles and balance your own structure.

"I teach my students how to use their overall coordination in a better way," Patula said. If they have tension in the neck and shoulders, Patula teaches them how to use their body so that there is no tension. "This can help them deal with migraines and experience improvement," she said.

Biofeedback: This learned mind-body technique helps a person influence his or her involuntary physical functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and brain waves. This treatment is approved by the National Institutes of Health for chronic pain and insomnia.

Chiropractic: "After we make sure that there are no underlying diseases or neurological problems, I conduct a spinal exam on a migraine sufferer," said Alan Nolen, D.C., who has been practicing in West Frankfort for thirty years. "Then I use manipulation, deep heat, ultrasound therapies. If a collapsed disc is involved, I use decompression therapy. I recommend a low carb, get-rid-of-junk-food diet."

Diet and exercise: Perkins recommends that her patients drink half their body weight in ounces of water each day. Any foods that seem to provoke migraines - especially those with increased levels of tyramine - should be eliminated from the diet. She also encourages exercise because it releases endorphins, which help pain.

Herbs and supplements: Magnesium, vitamin B-2 (riboflavin), butterbur, and feverfew are often recommended, according to the website of Andrew Weil, M.D.

Massage therapy: Marty Griffin, LMT and owner of Southern Illinois Massage Clinic in Herrin, is also certified in neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release therapy, and reflexology. When working with migraine sufferers, he uses a variety of treatments.

"I focus on relaxation," Griffin said. "I work around the eyes in an easy manner. I friction the suboccipital muscles under the base of the skull because there can be a lot of tension there. I work on all cervical and trapezius muscles, the neck and head areas, the temporalis muscles in the heads, and the scalp. I want to improve circulation by relaxing the fascia."