Are there non-drug alternatives?
Drugs are not the only means of effectively treating head pain. For many people with intermittent migraine and tension-type headaches, the consistent practice of behavioral methods can actually reduce the intensity and frequency of attacks. For others, behavioral treatment may primarily be of value in creating a sense of well-being, coping with the stress created by the headache, or helping the headache sufferer continue to function. For frequent and severe headaches, behavioral methods are usually combined with drug therapy and may lead to better headache control than would be the case with either type of treatment alone. Some behavioral methods, such as biofeedback, relaxation training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, have demonstrated their effectiveness in over 25 years of rigorous research and well over 100 experimental studies in these combined areas. Others, such as aerobic exercise, sleep regulation, dietary regulation, and smoking cessation, make sound physiological sense an
