Acupuncture - Originating in China, this age-old practice involves inserting long, extremely slender needles into specific points along the body to relieve pain and discomfort.
Biofeedback - This involves a learning process whereby certain visual or auditory (sound-based) feedback allows you to train yourself to initiate responses that help control or normalize your psychological response to pain.
Chiropractic - According to the International Chiropractic Association, the primary focus of chiropractic is the detection, reduction and correction of spinal misalignments and nervous system dysfunction. Doctors of chiropractic attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem, rather than just treat the symptoms. Chiropractic seeks to maximize the natural strengths of the body and its capacity to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
Hypnosis - This involves entering an altered state of consciousness whereby suggestions inserted while in that state can lead to changes in behavior or, in the case of pain, altered physical sensations. Self-hypnosis involves inducing an altered state of consciousness — and thus controlling pain sensation — by yourself.
Visual Imagery - The practice of using one's imagination to create mental pictures can help relieve pain – why it works isn't understood. Typically, this involves closing your eyes and imaging something like a healing energy washing over your body, or the "wires" to the pain being severed.

Other complementary pain relief techniques include massage, vibration, heat or cold packs or pressure, diet, exercise, relaxation training, yoga, reiki (a natural healing process using the hands to tap a universal life energy) and Jin Shin Jyutsu (a process to balance the body's energies to bring optimal health and well-being). The quality of research supporting these approaches varies from therapy to therapy.  In some cases, the research is of better quality than that supporting the use of some medications and many surgical procedures.  In other cases, the research is not as strong.  As with any treatment approach, use of complementary therapies should be discussed with your doctor. 

Homeopathic Medicine - Homeopathy is an alternative, non-toxic approach used to treat illness and relieve discomfort in a wide range of health conditions. Founded in Germany in the late-1860s, the practice of homeopathy is based on using the "law of similars" to stimulate a healing response — a principle that goes back to the days of Hippocrates. The law of similars states that a substance that will cause disease symptoms in a normal person can, when given in homeopathic dilutions to an ill individual, prompt the same set of symptoms to initiate a healing response. Homeopathic preparations, called remedies, must be prepared in a certain way, and the dilution used will depend on the symptoms being treated. Make sure you consult with your physician before taking traditional and homeopathic remedies at the same time. Mixing medications can result in harmful medical interactions.

Your treatment may vary depending upon your sensitivity to certain medications or therapy approaches and oryour health-care provider's recommendations.

Complementary Treatment by Headache Type

Primary Headaches

Migraine, Tension-Type and "Ordinary" Headache Therapy

Complementary approaches include:

• Rest in a dark, quiet spot
• Applying heat or cold.
• Head and neck massage
• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga
• Elimination of triggers
• Lifestyle changes (getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet, exercise, etc.)
• Stress Management techniques such as cognitive-behavioral, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to reduce muscle spasm
• Chiropractic

Secondary Headaches

Post-Traumatic Headache Treatment

Treatment of post-traumatic headaches requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach.  In most cases, patients are treated according to specific headache patterns. See migraine headache treatment and tension headache treatment for specific treatments. 

Reactive Headache Treatment

Reactive headaches can be caused by virtually hundreds of external factors. Perhaps the best solution for reactive headache sufferers is to identify and, if possible, avoid or eliminate whatever triggers the headache. A visit to your physician to rule out the more serious causes of reactive headaches is the first step in treating such headaches. 

Rebound Headache Treatment

Rebound headaches are caused by medication withdrawal following frequent or excessive use of headache pain medications. Treatment typically focuses on detoxification — slowly tapering medications — and on easing side effects, such as nausea.  While the headaches may intensify for a few days following medication withdrawal, rebound headaches usually disappear after three to five days.  While this detoxification process may eliminate the rebound headache, the original headache (such as migraine, tension-type or cluster) that prompted the overuse of pain medications may still be present following withdrawal.

Sinus Headache Treatment

Acute or chronic sinusitis, or sinus infections, can cause headaches or trigger pre-existing headache conditions, such as migraines.  Because sinus headaches are among the most misdiagnosed headache conditions, a thorough medical examination is needed to make sure you are, indeed, suffering from a sinus infection-related headache. Complementary medicine approaches to sinus headaches include:

• Eliminating offending agents.
• Local hot packs.
• Intranasal douche with saline solution.