We all know there are side effects and dangers associated with drug therapy. Is there a safer alternative to medical treatment for headaches? The safe, non-invasive, hands-on therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage can provide headache relief that is both effective and free of side effects.
Acupuncture
According to research published in the British Medical Journal, acupuncture may be beneficial for headache patients. The study involved 401 patients who experienced headaches at least once a week. Two groups were created for patients. One group received 12 treatments of acupuncture over a three-month period. The other group did NOT. Patients who received acupuncture saw a decrease in headaches, 22 fewer per year on average.
The acupuncture group had 25% fewer doctor visits, 15% fewer sick days, and 15% less medication than the controls. Acupuncture also led to a decrease in headache severity. The results of acupuncture treatment for migraine patients were examined in a study published in Headache.
The Study
The study involved 114 migraine sufferers. The subjects kept a journal for four weeks before the study began. They also recorded information about their headaches. After four weeks, subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received metoprolol, a medication commonly used to prevent migraines. The other group received it for twelve weeks. The other group received between 8 and 15 acupuncture treatments. Two subjects who received acupuncture quit the study, and 18 subjects who received drug therapy did so.
Some of those who received the drug therapy had side effects, and one patient became worse, and he stopped using the drug. 61% of the subjects in the acupuncture group had migraine attacks that were less severe than the 50% who received it. 49% of migraine attacks were less severe in the group that received the drug. 70% of acupuncture patients rated themselves as “good” or very good during a 12-week follow-up, compared to 49% who received the drug. Only 26% of those in the drug group said they were doing “good” or very good after 24 weeks, compared to 56% in the acupuncture group.
Conclusions
This study showed that acupuncture was superior to migraine drugs. This controlled study, published in the Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, involved 127 subjects. All subjects had at least one migraine headache per week, according to the International Headache Society standard. The group that received treatment showed a decrease in migraine duration, frequency, disability.
The chiropractic treatment group used less medication than those in the control group. 22% of those who received chiropractic adjustments reported a greater 90% reduction in migraines within two months. Another 50% of those receiving chiropractic adjustments reported significant improvements in their migraine severity. Other scientific studies have shown that chiropractic care is safe for headache treatment. A review of research articles published in the Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapy revealed that spinal manipulation is beneficial for headache patients. Massage therapy can also be useful. Research appearing in the American Journal of Public Health showed that massage therapy could reduce the duration of headaches.