A variety of dietary supplements and other complementary health approaches have been studied to see whether they might be helpful for migraines or other types of headaches. The herb butterbur appears to help reduce the frequency of migraines in adults and children, but serious concerns have been raised about possible liver toxicity. Theres limited evidence that several other dietary supplementscoenzyme Q10, feverfew, magnesium, and riboflavinmight also help to reduce the frequency of migraines, but additional rigorous research is needed. Biofeedback may be helpful for tension headaches. But its unclear whether biofeedback is better than a placebo for reducing the frequency of migraines. Research results indicate that acupuncture may help relieve headache pain, but much of its benefit may be due to nonspecific effects, including expectation, beliefs, and placebo responses, rather than specific effects of needling. |