Many people suffer from migraines.
A migraine is a debilitating form of headache. Various triggers can produce the onset of a migraine however reducing the likelihood of a migraine occurring and getting rid of one once it occurs can be very challenging.
Studies have been conducted showing that hypnotherapy can be quite beneficial to the typical migraine sufferer.
In many studies hypnosis has been shown to be more beneficial than medications. Common triggers of migraines include hormonal changes, stress, food, changes in sleep patterns, medications, and changes in the surrounding environment. Symptoms of migraines vary from person to person, but many people report moderate to severe pain that pulsates, worsens with physical activity and interferes with day-to-day activity, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and/or sound.
A migraine can last for 4 to 72 hours, but frequency varies greatly.
One study compared the effect of hypnotherapy versus the prescription medication prochlorperazine (Stemetil). The study consisted of 47 participants who reported feedback every month for a year.
They reported;
- number of attacks per month,
- severity of attacks, and
- complete remissions.
Results of the study showed that those who received hypnotherapy reported far fewer migraine attacks compared to those who received medication.
Out of 23 participants who received hypnotherapy, 10 of them ceased to experience migraines.
Out of the 24 participants who used medication, only 3 ceased to experience migraines.
Another study reported the benefits of behavioural therapy. These approaches include relaxation, biofeedback, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and hypnosis. Hypnosis can help migraine sufferers avoid triggers such as controlling stress and avoiding certain foods.
Two hypnotherapy techniques used in treating migraines include the hand warming and glove anaesthesia techniques.
These techniques put migraine sufferers in control of their pain by helping them transfer warmth or numbness to their head where their head hurts. These techniques were shown to be more beneficial than simple relaxation exercises.
This particular study concluded that medication is ineffective in treating chronic migraines and supports psychological treatment because there are no side effects.These studies show that hypnotherapy and natural methods of treating migraine headaches are more effective than using medication.
The fact that hypnosis has no side effects and many prescription medications have many side effects makes hypnotherapy a more natural and safe approach to treating migraines. In addition to no side effects, many studies have shown that the effects of hypnosis are more lasting and beneficial compared to the use of medication.
Why not give it a try?
*It is not recommended that anyone should stop taking prescribed medications for anything without consulting their GP first.
