Meditation for Migraine
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Maharishi International University
Must not be taking: New migraine prophylactics
Disqualifiers: Age, Meditation, Systemic illness, others
No Placebo Group
Approved in 2 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This research will explore the effect of the Transcendental Meditation® Technique on migraine intensity and frequency. It will be a single-arm pilot study involving 30 participants recruited from migraine treatment facilities and support groups in the US.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
No, you will not have to stop taking your current medications. The trial requires that you continue the same medication without adding any new ones.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Transcendental Meditation® Technique for migraines?
Research suggests that spiritual meditation, which is similar to Transcendental Meditation, can reduce the frequency of migraines and improve mental and spiritual health. This indicates that meditation practices may help manage migraine symptoms.
12345Is meditation safe for treating migraines?
Meditation, including types like Transcendental Meditation, is generally considered safe for humans and has been used to help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
36789How is Transcendental Meditation different from other migraine treatments?
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is unique because it is a non-drug, non-invasive technique that involves silently repeating a mantra to settle the mind and reduce stress, which may help alleviate migraine symptoms. Unlike other treatments like medications or transcranial magnetic stimulation, TM focuses on mental relaxation and stress reduction, potentially offering a holistic approach to managing migraines.
1491011Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for women who frequently experience migraines and are seeking alternative treatments. Participants will be selected from migraine treatment centers and support groups within the US.Inclusion Criteria
I experience 6 to 14 migraine days each month.
I am female by birth.
I have been diagnosed with migraine, with or without aura.
+8 more
Exclusion Criteria
Already practicing Transcendental Meditation
I am not willing to keep my migraine medication doses the same.
Current/planned pregnancy or breastfeeding
+5 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
4 weeks
Daily migraine diary
Treatment
Participants practice Transcendental Meditation while continuing their usual lifestyle and medication regimen
12 weeks
Bi-weekly group meetings and one-on-one sessions
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
6 weeks
Participant Groups
The study is testing the Transcendental Meditation® Technique to see if it can reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines in a small group of 30 participants.
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Exploring the Effect of the Transcendental Meditation® Technique on MigraineExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Transcendental Meditation® Technique is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Transcendental Meditation Technique for:
- Migraine prevention
- Stress reduction
- Anxiety management
🇪🇺 Approved in European Union as Transcendental Meditation Technique for:
- Migraine prevention
- Stress reduction
- Anxiety management
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Georgetown Headache Center and DC areaWashington, United States
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Maharishi International UniversityLead Sponsor
References
The efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation on migraine: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails. [2022]As a non-invasive therapy, whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is effective on migraine. This article was aimed to assess the efficacy of TMS on migraine based on randomized controlled trails (RCTs).
Effect of Pranayama as Adjuvant to Medical Treatment on Severity, Frequency, and Duration of Headache in Migraine Patients: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]Migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide with high rates of dissatisfaction for allopathic treatment among patients. Pranayama is an easy, convenient, and cost-effective method that can supplement existing standard medical treatment of migraine.
Effect of Different Meditation Types on Migraine Headache Medication Use. [2022]Spiritual meditation has been found to reduce the frequency of migraines and physiological reactivity to stress. However, little is known about how introducing a spirituality component into a meditation intervention impacts analgesic medication usage. In this study, 92 meditation-naïve participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) Spiritual Meditation, (n = 25), (2) Internally Focused Secular Meditation (n = 23), (3) Externally Focused Secular Meditation (n = 22), or (4) Progressive Muscle Relaxation (n = 22); and practiced their technique for 20 min/day over 30 days while completing daily diaries. Headache frequency, headache severity, and pain medication use were assessed. Migraine frequency decreased in the Spiritual Meditation group compared to other groups (p
Transcranial magnetic simulation in the treatment of migraine. [2021]Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a diagnostic and therapeutic modality that is being developed as both an acute and preventive treatment for migraine. TMS delivers a fluctuating magnetic field from the scalp surface to induce current in the subjacent cortex. Magnetic pulses are delivered one at a time in single-pulse TMS (sTMS) or as a train of pulses in repetitive TMS (rTMS). For most of its 30-year history, TMS has been delivered in clinical and research settings using large tabletop devices. Based on the theory that sTMS may disrupt cortical spreading depression, sTMS has been studied and shown to be effective as an acute treatment for migraine with aura. Subsequent work in animal models confirms that sTMS disrupts cortical spreading depression. To make outpatient self-treatment possible, a portable device has been developed for acute treatment of migraine with aura. Based on the theory that rTMS alters brain excitability and neurotransmitter activity, rTMS has been studied as a preventive migraine treatment. A small body of evidence suggests that rTMS may have a role, but further studies are needed. In this review, we summarize the data on TMS as a treatment of migraine, and we suggest directions for future research.
Migraines and meditation: does spirituality matter? [2022]Migraine headaches are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety (Waldie and Poulton Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 72: 86-92, 2002) and feelings of low self-efficacy (French et al. Headache, 40: 647-656, 2000). Previous research suggests that spiritual meditation may ameliorate some of the negative traits associated with migraine headaches (Wachholtz and Pargament Journal of behavioral Medicine, 30: 311-318, 2005). This study examined two primary questions: (1) Is spiritual meditation more effective in enhancing pain tolerance and reducing migraine headache related symptoms than secular meditation and relaxation? and, (2) Does spiritual meditation create better mental, physical, and spiritual health outcomes than secular meditation and relaxation techniques? Eighty-three meditation naïve, frequent migraineurs were taught Spiritual Meditation, Internally Focused Secular Meditation, Externally Focused Secular Meditation, or Muscle Relaxation which participants practiced for 20 min a day for one month. Pre-post tests measured pain tolerance (with a cold pressor task), headache frequency, and mental and spiritual health variables. Compared to the other three groups, those who practiced spiritual meditation had greater decreases in the frequency of migraine headaches, anxiety, and negative affect, as well as greater increases in pain tolerance, headache-related self-efficacy, daily spiritual experiences, and existential well being.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation for migraine: a safety review. [2010]To review potential and theoretical safety concerns of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as obtained from studies of single-pulse (sTMS) and repetitive TMS (rTMS) and to discuss safety concerns associated with sTMS in the context of its use as a migraine treatment.
Effectiveness and tolerability of acupuncture compared with metoprolol in migraine prophylaxis. [2013]In a randomized controlled multicenter trial extending over 24 weeks, we investigated whether acupuncture is as effective and safe as metoprolol in the prophylactic treatment of migraine under conditions similar to routine care.
Nutraceutical and Other Modalities for the Treatment of Headache. [2016]Nutraceutical, biobehavioral, and physical treatments, including complementary and alternative medicines, may benefit patients with migraine and other headache disorders. This article summarizes the evidence for the use of these therapies with discussion on evidence quality and product controversies.
[Transcranial magnet therapy in comprehensive therapy of migraine]. [2022]Migraine is a primary form of headache characterized by throbbing unilateral attacks, increased sensitivity to light and sound, accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting, lasting from 4 hours to 3 days. Developing and implementing new methods of pain relief is an urgent task of modern medicine. One of the safest and most commonly recommended methods is transcranial magnet therapy (TMT).
Mindfulness in migraine: A narrative review. [2021]Introduction: Migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, yet many patients are unable to tolerate, benefit from, or afford pharmacological treatment options. Non-pharmacological migraine therapies exist, especially to reduce opioid use, which represents a significant unmet need. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have potential as a non-pharmacological treatment for migraine, primarily through the development of flexible attentional capacity across sensory, cognitive, and emotional experiences.Areas covered: The authors review efficacy and potential mechanisms of MBIs for migraine, including mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).Expert opinion: While most mindfulness research studies for migraine to date have been pilot trials, which are small and/or lacked rigor, initial evidence suggests there may be improvements in overall headache-related disability and psychological well-being. Many research questions remain to help target the treatment to patients most likely to benefit, including the ideal dosage, duration, delivery method, responder characteristics, and potential mechanisms and biomarkers. A realistic understanding of these factors is important for patients, providers, and the media. Mindfulness will not 'cure' migraine; however, mindfulness may be an important tool as part of a comprehensive treatment approach to help patients 'mindfully' engage in valued life activities.
Multimodal biofeedback in the treatment of migraine. [2019]The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to compare the effects of three behavioral strategies for the relief of migraine, and (b) to examine different combinations of the treatments to assess the effectiveness of multimodal biofeedback with this problem. Twenty-four volunteer migraine sufferers not on medication, and with at least weekly occurrence of headaches, participated in the study. Results indicated that (a) subjects who learned temporal cooling, frontalis relaxation, and progressive muscular relaxation exhibited the best success with headache relief; (b) control subjects, who did not show the same psychophysiological changes as experimental subjects, reported no headache relief; and (c) subjects in the group with only relaxation exercises performed similarly to control subjects and reported no headache relief.