Yoga May Help Reduce Migraine Frequency and Pain

Migraines are a recurring type of headache. They cause moderate to severe pain that is throbbing or pulsing and often on one side of the head. A recent study suggests that yoga may help lessen the occurrence, duration, and pain of migraines.

Participants in the study included 144 adults with an average age of 36. All experienced 4 to 14 episodic migraines monthly. Half of them continued with their normal medication treatment. The other continued with their normal medication treatment and practiced yoga for one hour 3 to 5 times per week for 3 months. Participants maintained a log detailing the frequency, duration, and severity of their migraines.

Participants in the yoga group saw a 48% reduction in the frequency of migraines, from 9.1 per month to 4.7 per month. Participants in the medication only group saw a 12% decrease. Participants in the yoga group also saw greater reductions in headache duration and pain compared to the medication only group.

The study was conducted by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. It was published online ahead of print on May 6, 2021 in the journal Neurology.