Over 11 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, which involve a number of debilitating symptoms, such as visual and auditory disturbances, nausea/vomiting, sensitivity to light, irribility and fatique. While drug therapy has been used traditionally to treat migraine, the fact is that it can take multiple visits to a health care practitioner before an effective comibination of medicnes can be found. Patients often lose motivation and drop out of treatment before this happens. Massage therapy and other alternative methods are being used more and more to help migraine sufferers experience positive outcomes and lasting relief.

A study was published with real findings on the effect that massage can have on relieving migraines. Performed by the University of Miami School of Medicine, and published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, two groups of migraine sufferers were studied. The first group (control group) took their prescribed medicine for the entire month, but did not receive massage therapy. The secnd group took their prescribed medicine as well, but also recieved a weekly massage. 60% of the massaged group had absolutely no migraines or headaches for the entire month. The massage therapy also helped to alleviate sleep problems and increased serotonin levels.

The researchers tried several different protocols in treating the migraine sufferers. They found the most success with the following treatment: between migraine attacks, deep tissue work around the base of the skull, neck, shoulders, and uper back helped to relieve tension contributing to the recurrence of migraines. A side note with regard to deep tissue work: I would never let the work be deeper that you can tolerate comfortably and in a relaxed way. If you can feel yourself tensing, your jaw tight or your heart racing, these are a few red flags that you are likely producing cortisol and other hormones associated with stress, thereby creating dimiinishe returns for yourself in the

When migraine sets in, the researchers at the University of Miami had the most success with a face-up massage (no lying face down at all). Deep massage anywhere near the head at this time worsened the migraine. Light touch brought relief. However, stimulation of the hands and feet with circultion enhancing massage helped draw blood (and pressure_ from the head to the extremities, alleviating the pain significantly.

A full blown migraine can be a challenge to a massage therpist.

Massage works several ways. It addresses the "whole person," including how musculoskeletal problems in the neck and shoulders can refer pain into the head. Stress and muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can put pressure on the nerves running between them, triggering headaches.