Study Finds Yoga May Help Relieve Migraine Frequency and Intensity

Migraines are a recurring type of headache that cause moderate to severe pain that is throbbing or pulsing. Other symptoms may include nausea, weakness, and sensitivity to light. A recent study suggests that yoga may help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Participants in the study included 114 adults who had been diagnosed with episodic migraine, which means they experienced 4 to 14 migraines per month. Half of them took their regular medication, and the other half took their regular medication and practiced yoga techniques 5 days per week for 3 months. Participants kept a log and recorded how long their migraines lasted, how severe they were, and the medications they took.

Participants in the yoga group saw a 48% reduction in the number of migraines they experienced, compared to a 12% reduction in the medication only group. They also saw a 47% decrease in the number of pills they took per month, compared to a 13% decrease in the medication only group. In addition, participants in the yoga group saw a significant decrease in headache intensity.

The study was conducted by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. It was published online ahead of print on May 6, 2020 in the journal Neurology.