Safe Drug-free Treatment of Migraine Headaches

About 28 million people in the United States get migraines. If you’re one of them, you’ll know how bad these headaches can be. For many sufferers, a migraine means spending a day or more lying in a darkened room. As well as throbbing pain, some people feel sick to their stomach or become extra sensitive to sound and light.

Several clinical trials indicate that chiropractic adjustments help in the treatment of migraine headaches. In one study of people with migraines, 22% of those who received chiropractic adjustments reported more than a 90% reduction of attacks and 49% reported a significant reduction of the intensity of each migraine.

Seventy-two per cent of migraine sufferers in a clinical trial experienced either 'substantial' or 'noticeable' improvement after a period of chiropractic adjustments, defying historical skepticism of chiropractics by some medical practitioners.

In another study, people with migraine headaches were randomly assigned to receive chiropractic adjustments, a daily medication (Elavil), or a combination of both. Chiropractic adjustments were as effective as Elavil in reducing migraines and had fewer side effects. There was no added benefit to combining the two therapies.

The scientific evidence on chiropractic adjustments for the relief of chronic headache has been well discussed in systematic reviews of randomized trials.(4) These reviews looked at patient self-reported outcomes when evaluating treatment effect such as pain intensity, headache index, frequency, duration, and improvement.

In addition, researchers reviewed 9 studies that tested spinal manipulative therapy for tension or migraine headaches and found that it was as effective as medications in preventing these headaches.

Check it out.....call and get a check up and see if Chiropractic can get you back on the path of health and wellness!


Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485.  www.communitychiropractic.net


(1)Tuchin PJ, Pollard H, Bonello R. A randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000;23(2):91-95.
(2)Astin JA., Ernst E. The effectiveness of spinal manipulation for the treatment of headache disorders: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Cephalagia. 2002;22(8):617-623.
(3)Bronfort G, Assendelft WJ, Evans R, Haas M, Bouter L. Efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic headache: a systematic review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001;24(7):457-466.
(3)Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R, Boline P, Goldsmith C, Anderson AV. The efficacy of manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for the prophylaxis of migraine headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21(8):511-519.
(4)Hurwitz 1996, Vernon 1999, Bronfort 2001, Astin 2002, Bronfort 2004, Lenssinck 2004, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas 2005 & 2006