I had my birthday last week and, much to Charlotte’s dismay, when she asked what I wanted I said, “I’d love to go on an 8-hour bike ride to Rocacorba.” You can probably imagine the look I got. Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the romantic, candlelit dinner she had in mind.
Of course I did not go out for 8 hours, we had a great day on the beach.
As I’m writing this on Saturday morning, Jack has slept for a good stretch, which is nothing short of a miracle. Feeling refreshed, but let’s see how long that lasts.
The last few days have been spent rock pooling with the kids. We’ve managed to catch quite a few crabs and, surprisingly, one jellyfish (carefully handled and then released). Meanwhile, the clinic has been running brilliantly without me the team are thriving, and we’ve got some new faces joining:
- James, our new spinal clinician with 7 years of experience in treating disc patients and sciatica
- Emma and Josh, two sports rehabilitation practitioners starting next week
It’s going to be exciting to have them on board.
Headaches. Let’s talk about them.
They’re one of the most common reasons people come to see us, and while painkillers can offer temporary relief, they don’t address the root cause. I’ve been looking into the latest research on drug-free headache treatments, and there are some really interesting developments.
1. Psilocybin for Cluster Headaches (Liu et al., 2021)
Yes, the same compound found in certain ‘magic’ mushrooms. An Australian clinical trial led by the George Institute is looking at how psilocybin could help people with cluster headaches one of the most excruciating types of head pain there is.
The idea is that it could offer relief with fewer side effects than some conventional medications. They’re tracking patients closely, but given the stigma and regulatory hoops, it might be a while before this becomes available in your local Boots
2. High-Dose EPA (Fish Oil) for Migraines (Wang et al., 2024)
A 2024 randomised clinical trial found that high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil significantly reduced both the frequency and severity of migraine attacks over a 12-week period.
The dose was much higher than you’d get from just eating fish a few times a week, so supplementation was key.
3. Mind-Body Therapies (See references)
Approaches like:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Biofeedback
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
These are being promoted as effective long-term tools for chronic migraine management. They work by reducing muscle tension, changing how the brain processes pain signals, and helping people manage stress which is often a big migraine trigger.
4. Magnesium Supplementation (Wong et al., 2024)
Research from late 2024 found that magnesium oxide supplementation (400£600 mg/day) can help prevent migraines, especially those with aura.
In some trials, magnesium’s effectiveness was comparable to prescription drugs, but without the pharmaceutical price tag or side effects. It’s not an instant fix but taken consistently, it may reduce attack frequency.
The Takeaway
Headaches and migraines can be frustrating, but the good news is there’s a growing list of drug-free, evidence-backed options that can help:
- Nutritional changes (like high-dose omega-3s or magnesium)
- Mind-body practices
- Targeted therapies being explored in clinical trials
The key is finding what works for your specific triggers and often, it’s a combination rather than a single magic bullet.
References
Liu et al., 2021-Breakthroughs on the clinical management of headache and questions that need to be solved
New Treatments for Migraine Relief That Don’t Involve Medication-https://premierneurologycenter.com/blog
Wang et al., 2024-A 12-week randomized double-blind clinical trial of eicosapentaenoic acid intervention in episodic migraine
Wong et al., 2024-How Adding Magnesium to Your Health Regimen May Bring Migraine Relief
If you are wanting to chat more about the information above then why not book a call with me and we can go into more detail? Click here to book or if you want to get an assessment then Book a consultation with a Chiropractor here
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