There are many complementary therapies that can help with this debilitating condition. Here are some suggestions for you to try.

Acupuncture: This helps by rebalancing the body to bring to back to a state of equilibrium.  It’s particularly helpful if the attack has been brought on by stress or emotional problems. As well as needles, acupuncturists often use cupping to release the tension at the back of the neck. The treatment usually shows its effectiveness within six weeks.

Nutritional Therapy: This looks at links between illness and poor nutrition and suggests dietary improvements to support the body’s healing system. Migraines are often the result of a food intolerance, and common triggers are cheese, red wine and chocolate. Constipation, low blood sugar and hormonal imbalances can also play a part. A nutritional therapist can identify the cause of these and suggest dietary changes to improve things. Expect to see a result within about six weeks.

Reflexology: Energy points on the feet and hands are massaged to stimulate the body’s natural healing system. “Migraines can be due to a number of factors, such as stress and emotional tension,” says Simon Duncan, president of the British Association of Reflexologists, “and reflexology is great for alleviating these. Massaging the corresponding energy points can also aid digestion and rebalance hormones – two other key triggers”. Sufferers often feel better after just one session, but six sessions are likely to reduce the number of attacks significantly.

Osteopathy: Migraines can be caused by a number of factors, and these include stressed ligaments, nerves and muscle tissues in the neck. If you feel this is the cause of your migraines, the massage and manipulative techniques employed in osteopathy can help remedy this and significantly reduce the frequency of attacks. Improvements should be obvious after three or four visits, but people often find improvement after the first session.

Homeopathy: “Homeopathic remedies act like a map, giving the body directions on how to get better” says Dr Tom Whitmarsh, consultant at Glasgow’s Homeopathic Hospital. “Migraine sufferers tend to be hypersensitive to environmental factors, such as bright light, and to stress and emotional problems. A homeopath would examine all of these areas before prescribing treatment” says Dr Whitmarsh. Patients can expect to see an improvement within six weeks of starting homeopathic treatment.

If you want to try any of these treatments, you’ll find details of complementary therapists in your area by visiting our alternatives directory.