Yoga for migraine and headaches

Sympathetic nervous system dominance greatly contributes to migraine and tension-type headaches. The decrease of sympathetic overload results in a reduction of symptoms associated with migraine as well as decreased headache severity and frequency. Exercise and yoga are actually means of inexpensive treatment with no side effects.

Yoga is can also be seen as a non-tiring aerobic exercise. Performing yoga means, performing the asana postures, breathing practices and meditation.

Exercise and yoga helps by:

• Increasing serotonin and dopamine levels
• Increasing endorphin levels
• Increasing flexibility
• Increasing muscle power
• Developing a sense of balance
• Increasing respiratory capacity
• Increasing endurance/durability
• Increasing heart rate variability
• Reducing sympathetic system dominance
• Increasing parasympathetic activity
• Reducing blood pressure
• Strengthening the immune system
• Reducing insulin resistance
• Reducing chronic inflammation
• Helping to lose weight

After 6-8 week long yoga trials (asana/breathing practices/meditation) the patients showed:

• Decrease in depression findings
• Decrease in anxiety levels
• Decrease in negative affect
• Increase in melatonin levels
• Reduced levels of irritation and anger
• Increased theta wave activity in the brain
• Decrease in pain frequency
• Decrease in pain severity
• Decrease in signs associated with pain
• Reduction in the amount and frequency of pain relievers used
• Increase in the quality of daily life
• Increase in feelings of content
• Reduced feeling of fatigue

I strongly recommend yoga and meditation for all migraine and headache patients, either as an add-on to medical treatment, or on its own. If you have never done yoga before, start with simple and beginner lessons; challenging yourself too much can lead to injuries and migraine aggravation.

Do not reduce or stop your medication without consulting your doctor.