Relax Away Headaches

Many headache sufferers would prefer a non-drug remedy for their pain, or better yet, something that prevents a headache before it's started.

The U.S. Headache Consortium, a group of professional organizations that publishes guidelines and studies treatments, says there is hope. The Consortium recently reviewed 39 high-quality medical studies of non-drug headache treatments -- including some for migraines.

It found that relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, self-hypnosis or biofeedback, were effective in helping prevent and treat headaches. Several themes common to the successful treatments included:

• involving the patient in developing a plan
• maintaining a partnership throughout the treatment
• if more than one treatment is used -- carefully coordinating treatments

Behavioral therapy, which is usually conducted with a psychologist, was also found to be an effective remedy.