Migraine Sufferers Look To Oxygen Therapy For Relief

Sufferers of migraines and headaches might see some relief in their future thanks to two types of oxygen therapy, according to a review of research from several separate studies ^[1].

Many people are affected by migraine headaches or know people who are. Migraines are considered a neurological syndrome that, alongside the painful headaches, are often accompanied by vomiting, nausea and sensitivity to light.

Cluster headaches are less known. They tend to affect only one side of your head, and are discernible thanks to their piercing quality.

The Cochrane Collaboration, publishers of The Cochrane Library, evaluate medical research, and in this instance compared nine studies focusing on the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and normobaric oxygen therapy.

Normobaric and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Normobaric oxygen therapy consists of inhaling pure oxygen at a normal room pressure through an oxygen mask. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is more commonly known and is when a patient will breathe oxygen in a specially designed chamber that increases the atmospheric pressure around the body.

Three of the studies that focused on hyperbaric treatment of migraines saw a large number of patients experience a significant relief from migraines after 40-45 minutes in a hyperbaric chamber. Two other studies found a much larger percentage of their patients suffering from cluster headaches experience relief after only 15 minutes of normobaric oxygen therapy.

All studies were tested against placebo/sham studies to gauge their realistic potential for medical benefit.

“We believe that hyperbaric oxygen is also a reasonable measure for migraine sufferers who have not responded to other measures to treat an acute attack,” said lead reviewer Michael Bennett, of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. “However, the poor availability of hyperbaric chambers makes this an option only in a minority of health facilities.”

In the case of oxygen treatments, access to technology comes hand in hand with knowledge of what to do with that technology. Kirchner’s treatment for the thousands of patients that he has dealt with is avoiding triggers and taking preventive and symptomatic medications.

Migraines and Cluster Headaches

I believe that the root cause of migraines and cluster headaches are either a spinal misalignment in the cervical region or toxic compounds introduced into the body. I also believe two substances seem to aggravate or contribute to the initiation of these headaches. They are aspartame and MSG. I recommend eliminating these substances from your dietary intake and seeing a qualified natural healthcare practitioner or chiropractor for proper diagnosis and therapy.

For people who can afford spending around $12,000-15,000, you can purchase your own portable hyperbaric chamber.

References:

1. Center for the Advancement of Health. Oxygen Therapy Might Ease Pain Of Migraine, Cluster Headaches. 17 Jul7 2008. http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1740. (last accessed: 2008-07-28).

The post Migraine Sufferers Look To Oxygen Therapy For Relief appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

How Yoga, Acupunture, and Tai Chi Show Promise in Relieving Pain

It’s so cool when science backs up something you’ve known for so long. In this case, a new study by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NICCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that yoga, acupuncture, and tai chi can be effective at relieving certain types of pain, such as headaches, back pain, and arthritis. [1]

Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., NCCIH’s lead epidemiologist and lead author of the analysis, says:

“For many Americans who suffer from chronic pain, medications may not completely relieve pain and can produce unwanted side effects. As a result, many people may turn to nondrug approaches to help manage their pain.

Our goal for this study was to provide relevant, high-quality information for primary care providers and for patients who suffer from chronic pain.”

He went on:

“Back pain, joint pain, neck pain, and headaches are among the most common types of pain experienced by U.S. adults.

National surveys going back more than 25 years have consistently found that these complementary approaches are used by about 30 percent to 40 percent of the U.S. public in a given year.” [2]

Read: 10 Really Amazing Health Benefits of Yoga

Nahin and his colleagues reviewed 105 U.S.-based randomized controlled trials encompassing the past 50 years, which were relevant to pain patients in the U.S. and met inclusion criteria. [1]

The review looked at 7 approaches used for 1 or more of 5 painful conditions – back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraine.

The researchers found that:

• Acupuncture and yoga showed promise in treating back pain


• Acupuncture and tai chi showed promise in treating osteoarthritis of the knee


• Massage therapy was shown to help neck pain in the short-term


• Relaxation techniques soothed severe headache and migraine pain

There was also evidence, though it was weaker, to suggest that massage therapy, spinal manipulation, and osteopathic manipulation may provide some help for back pain, and relaxation approaches and tai chi might help people with fibromyalgia.

NCCIH deputy director David Shurtleff said more research is needed, but the findings provide patients and healthcare providers with other, natural alternatives for treating pain. [3]

“These data can equip providers and patients with the information they need to have informed conversations regarding non-drug approaches for treatment of specific pain conditions.

It’s important that continued research explore how these approaches actually work and whether these findings apply broadly in diverse clinical settings and patient populations.”

Read: Acupuncture for Pain Competes with Morphine in Shock Study

Americans spend more than $14 billion of their own money on complementary treatment for pain – something the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends, along with traditional at-home treatment methods, such as using ice to numb pain and reduce swelling, before turning to medication, especially opioids.

The report appears in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Sources:

[1] National Institutes of Health

[2] NBC News

[3] Tech Times

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.