Homeopathic treatment of migraine in children

Migraine is a recurrent headache that occurs with or without aura and lasts in children from 30 minutes to 48 hours.

It is the most common cause of primary headache in children.

It differs from migraine in adults and is likely to be under-diagnosed.

Migraine is rare under the age of two years but 20% have a first attack under the age of five years.

It is more common in boys than girls until after the menarche, when it becomes more common in girls.

Homeopathic researchers from France conducted a new study to evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines for the prevention and treatment of migraine in children.

This was an observational, prospective, open, nonrandomized, noncomparative, multicenter study.

The study was conducted in 12 countries worldwide.

Fifty-nine (59) physicians trained in the prescription of homeopathic medicines and 168 children, aged 5-15 years, with definite or probable migraine diagnosed using International Headache Society 2004 criteria were the subjects in this study.

Physicians were given complete freedom in terms of treatment prescription; thus, prescriptions were individualized for each patient.

Outcome measures: The frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine attacks in the 3 months prior to inclusion were compared with those during the 3-month follow-up period.

Pertinent data were collected using questionnaires completed by the doctor and the patient or his/her parent/guardian.

The secondary outcome measure was the impact of homeopathic medicines on education, measured as absence from school.

The frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks decreased significantly during the 3-month follow-up period (all p<0.001).

Preventive treatment during this time consisted of homeopathic medicines in 98% of cases (mean=2.6 medicines/patient).

Children spent significantly less time off school during follow-up than before inclusion (2.0 versus 5.5 days, respectively; p<0.001).

The most common preventive medicines used were Ignatia amara (25%; mainly 9C), Lycopodium clavatum (22%), Natrum muriaticum (21%), Gelsemium (20%), and Pulsatilla (12%; mainly 15C).

Homeopathy alone was used for the treatment of migraine attacks in 38% of cases.

The most commonly used medicines were Belladonna (32%; mainly 9C), Ignatia amara (11%; mainly 15C), Iris versicolor (10%; mainly 9C), Kalium phosphoricum (10%; mainly 9C), and Gelsemium (9%; mainly 15C and 30C).

The results of this study demonstrate the interest of homeopathic medicines for the prevention and treatment of migraine attacks in children.

A significant decrease in the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks was observed and, consequently, reduced absenteeism from school.

The study is published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2012 Sep.


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