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Other Treatments for Headache

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The different types of headache respond to different treatments. Consult your doctor before trying a remedy on your own. Other treatment options that may help ease the pain of your headaches include the following:

Biofeedback

Biofeedback teaches people how to control bodily functions they normally do not think about. Biofeedback may help you decrease the number and severity of headaches. During a biofeedback session, a therapist will guide you to relax certain muscles or control breathing, while an electronic device shows your body’s response.

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxing the muscles can help prevent and decrease the severity of tension and some other headaches.

Relaxation techniques may include deep breathing, visualizing being in a different place, or clearing the mind of any thoughts. A mental health professional can teach you how to perform different relaxation techniques.

Oxygen Therapy

Breathing 100% oxygen for 10-15 minutes often helps relieve cluster headache pain. The oxygen appears to decrease blood flow to the affected area of the brain.

Counseling

Mental health counseling can help you develop new coping skills, manage stress, and change your attitude, which often results in fewer tension headaches.

When to Contact Your Doctor

Contact your doctor if any of the following occur:

  • Your headaches are getting worse in severity or frequency
  • You have a new type of headache
  • You have new associated neurological symptoms
  • You develop any side effects to treatment

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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References

  • Biofeedback. National Headache Foundation website. Available at: http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache%5FTopic%5FSheets/Biofeedback. Accessed November 7, 2012.

  • Cluster headache. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary. Updated September 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012.

  • Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Alonso-Blanco C, et al. Are manual therapies effective in reducing pain from tension-type headache? A systematic review. Clin J Pain. 2006;22:278-285.

  • Gupta VK. Botulinum toxin-a treatment for migraine? A systematic review. Pain Med. 2006;7:386-394.

  • Migraine headache. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary. Updated September 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012.

  • Streng A, Linde K, et al. Effectiveness and tolerability of acupuncture compared with metoprolol in migraine prophylaxis. Headache. 2006;46:1492-1502.

  • Tension headache. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary. Updated September 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012.

  • Trautmann E, Lackschewita H, et al. Psychological treatment of recurrent headache in children and adolescents—a meta-analysis. Cephalalgia. 2006;26:1411-1426.

  • 12/16/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: Jena S, Witt CM, et al. Acupuncture in patients with headache. Cephalalgia. 2008;28:969-979.

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