Typically Migraine headaches last from 4-72 hours and vary in frequency from daily to fewer than one per year. Migraine headaches affect approximately 15% of the population. Three times as many women as men have migraines. More than 80% of people with migraines (migraineurs) have other members in the family who have them too.

Migraines are due to changes in the brain and surrounding blood vessels. These changes in the brain and surrounding blood vessels are caused by stress due to being overwhelmed; resisting the flow of life; or sexual dissatisfaction/fears.

In a study conducted by J. A. Anderson (1975), migraine headache sufferers treated with hypnosis had a significant reduction in the number of attacks and in their severity compared to a control group treated with traditional medications. The significant difference did not become statistically apparent until the second six-month follow-up period. Furthermore, at the end of one year, the number of migraine sufferers in the hypnosis group who had experienced no headaches for over three months was significantly higher.

Olness (1987), conducted a controlled trial by self-hypnosis. This trial was shown to be significantly more effective than either propranolol or placebo in reducing the frequency of migraine headaches in children between the ages of six and twelve years of age.

In research conducted by L.C. Schlutter (1980), hypnosis was the most effective in the relief of tension headaches.

A. Alladin (1988) reviewed the literature on hypnosis, identifying a dozen different hypnotic techniques that have been used in the treatment of chronic migraine headaches. Of these, hypnotic training emphasizing relaxation, hand warming seems the simplest method of establishing increased voluntary control of the sensitive vasomotor system and direct hypnotic suggestions of symptom removal have all been shown to be effective in reducing the duration, intensity and frequency of migraine headaches during a ten-week treatment course and at thirteen-month follow-up when compared to controls.

A study by Gutfeld, G. and Rao, L., (1992) was conducted on 42 Migraine sufferers. These Migraine sufferers, all of whom had responded poorly to conventional treatments, were split into two groups. One received hypnotherapy to relieve their daily headaches; the rest acted as a comparison group. The hypnotherapy group experienced reduced frequency and duration of headaches, cutting the intensity by about 30%. "These results are impressive in such a difficult, hard-to-treat group of patients," commented Egilius Spierings, M.D., Ph.D. director of the headache section, division of neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Unfortunately, there are barriers that prevent people from engaging in the most effective Migraine headache treatments. The plethora of myths and misconceptions regarding hypnosis prevents people from considering this highly effective treatment.

Another major barrier is government and insurance policies impede adequate pain treatment by restricting access to holistic treatment-such as: Chiropractic, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Metaphysical Healing-Mind, Body and Spirit-using Hypnosis, Rolfing, Massage, Biofeedback, Cranio Sacral Therapies, Body Walking, Bodywork and Movement Therapies.

Another important aspect of Migraine headache treatments is to access food allergies and sensitivities. The main food culprits for Migraine headaches are peas, corn, foods with high acidity-onions, garlic, wheat, egg plant, green peppers, strawberries, and potatoes-yes, there go the French fries.

References:

Alladin, A. (1988). "Hypnosis in the Treatment of Severe Chronic Migraine. In M. Heap (ed.), Hypnosis: Current clinical, Experimental and Forensic Practices. London: Croom Helm. pp. 159-166.

Anderson, J.A., Basker, M.A. & Dalton, R. (1975). "Migraine and Hypnotherapy." International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 23, 48-58.

Gutfeld, G. and Rao, L. (1992). "Use of Hypnosis with Patients Suffering from Chronic Headaches, Seriously Resistant to Other Treatment," As reported in Prevention, 44, 24-25.

Olness, K., MacDonald, J.T. & Uden, D.L. (1987). "Comparison of Self-Hypnosis and Propranolol in the Treatment of Juvenile Classic Migraine." Pediatrics, 79, 593- 597.

Schlutter, L.C., Golden, C.J. & Blume, H.G. (1980). "A Comparison of Treatments for Prefrontal Muscle Contraction Headache." British Journal of Medical Psychology, 53, 47-52.