Robert Cowan: Best natural, affordable and free treatments
One of the biggest problems with western medicine is the time pressure
for consultations.
Behavioural & lifestyle changes are so important. Patients who
follow this do the best.
Sleep – getting up at the same time each day even at the weekends (no
lie ins!)
Diet – stress of diet can make headaches worse. Schedule for food and
meal times and be consistent (let brain know when food is coming).
Exercise – Helps to raise endorphins so pain of 8 feels more like a 5.
These three components work best together;
1.Preventative meds
2. Acute meds
3. Anti-migraine lifestyle
There is no mention of lifestyle changes in the current guideline
treatments for migraine. Why? Western medicine – quick fix.
Partnership between patient and doctor is key. You can’t just take a
pill and expect to feel better. Work with each other.
He acknowledges it is VERY HARD for patients with chronic migraine!
Have a vision of wat you would like life to be about. See it and
visualise it.
Tendency to overdo it on good days – enjoy good days but take it easy
and don’t overdo it otherwise one step forward, two steps back. Progress NOT
Perfection!
Important to make informed decisions on what you’re able to do or not do
– what will be worth it?
Natural treatments – Roberts thoughts
1. Acupuncture: Culturally bound. Amazing results for some.
Make sure you go to someone with training in traditional Chinese medicine.
2. Biofeedback: Big fan! Good evidence for it. Uses a
technique to get feedback about all sorts of things we are not conscious of.
Learn to relax and calm down the nervous system.
3. Mindfulness training: Live in the present. Don’t worry
about the future or what has been. Good, well controlled studies of efficacy
for migraine. Meditation – clearing mind. Mindfulness – focussing on the now.
4. Daith piercing: sceptical. Probably works as a placebo.
No hard science.
5. FL-41 tinted lenses: Certain wavelengths of light can be
more painful for some people. Study found can actually make worse when glasses
worn all the time. Can become more light sensitive all the time. Can be very
soothing to wear at times.
6. Food allergy and sensitivity test: weak data and no clear
triggers. More important the time and frequency you eat. Probably not worth
your time, pain and money. Cutting out gluten – FAD.
7. Ketogenic diet: worse than a migraine itself HA! Mixed
data for it. Originated by treating epilepsy. Wouldn’t recommend.
8. 5:2 diet: No evidence for migraine. Migraineurs don’t do
well with disruption to routine.
9. Vegan diet: If healthy and feel better then great.
Epiphenomenon – more energy etc but not migraine specific.
Find a diet you are comfortable with and be consistent!
Migraine: Either too sensitive to external stimuli or internal stimuli
(e.g. hormones).
Supplements?
1. Ginger, turmeric and saffron (potent anti-inflammatory) not many
great western medicine studies.
2. Ice packs for acute attacks? YES. Ice was the first anaesthetic used.
3. Hydration- HUGELY IMPORTANT
4. Epsom salt baths – anecdotal studies
5. Magnesium, riboflavin, coq10 and calcium (good data for migraine)
6. Probiotics – good for health. No data for migraine.
Neck tension & Migraine
1. Chiropractors: in clinic they see the worst outcomes of chiropractic
care (paraplegic). Very wary!
2. Physical therapists & osteopaths
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