“Stress is a well-known trigger for headaches and research supports the general benefits of mind/body interventions for migraines, but there hasn't been much research to evaluate specific standardized meditation interventions," said Rebecca Erwin Wells, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist and lead author of the study published online in the journal Headache.
 

The study aime to assess the effects of a standardized meditation and yoga intervention called mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in adults with migraines.
 

Nineteen adults were randomly assigned to two groups with 10 receiving the MBSR and nine receiving standard medical care. The participants attended eight weekly classes to learn MBSR techniques and practiced 45 minutes on their own at least five days per week. The results showed the MBSR group had 1.4 fewer migraines per month that were less severe and significantly shorter, compared to those receiving standard treatment.
 

"We found that the MBSR participants had trends of fewer migraines that were less severe," Dr. Wells said. "Secondary effects included headaches that were shorter in duration and less disabling, and participants had increases in mindfulness and self-efficacy — a sense of personal control over their migraines. In addition, there were no adverse events and excellent adherence."
 

About 36 million Americans suffer from migraines, the researchers noted.