The alternative treatments described here are some which cluster headache sufferers have tried or considered trying when standard measures have not been successful in preventing or aborting their headaches. We include them for informational purposes only. Ask your doctor about the advisability of looking into these types of treatment.

Acupuncture

   This web site gives a general overview of the treatment.

Biofeedback

We welcome contributions to this topic.

Chiropractic

This project was supported by grant number HS07915 from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

Massage Therapy

  An overview of this treatment.

Herbal Remedies

See the article contributed by Anita under Personal Accounts below.

Personal Accounts of Effectiveness of Alternative Treatments

  "I was at my wits end. I was chronic for 4½ years, and getting worse. I was taking 480 mgs of Verapamil, 300 mgs of lithium, and 1800 mgs of Neurontin a day as prevents. I could not use triptans, so I was limited to oxygen and ice as abortives..."

  "After more than 20 years of cluster headaches, I have found a series of treatments that have kept them in check for the last 10 years. I had tried all the standard drugs, from ergotamine tartrate and lithium, to intravenous Acthar, a real treat, plus most pain killers, to no avail..."


Last modified: March 2008