Sufferers of migraines headaches might see some relief in their future thanks to two types of oxygen therapy, according to a new review of research from several separate studies.

Many people are affected by, or know people who are affected by migraine headaches. Migraines are considered a neurological syndrome that, alongside the painful headaches, is often accompanied by vomiting, nausea and sensitivity to light.

Cluster headaches are less well known, often because they are categorized similarly to migraines. They tend to affect only one side of your head, and are discernable thanks to their piercing quality.

The Cochrane Collaboration, publishers of The Cochrane Library, evaluate medical research, and in this instance compared nine studies focusing on the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and normobaric oxygen therapy.

Normobaric & Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Normobaric oxygen therapy consists of inhaling pure oxygen at a normal room pressure through an oxygen mask. In the more commonly known hyperbaric oxygen therapy – common in sports – a patient will breathe oxygen in a specially designed chamber that increases the atmospheric pressure around the body.

Three of the studies that focused on hyperbaric treatment of migraines saw a large number of patients experience a significant relief from migraines after 40-45 minutes in a hyperbaric chamber. Two other studies found a much larger percentage of their patients suffering from cluster headaches experience relief after only 15 minutes of normobaric oxygen therapy.

All studies were tested against placebo/sham studies to gauge their realistic potential for medical benefit.

“We believe that hyperbaric oxygen is also a reasonable measure for migraineurs who have not responded to other measures to treat an acute attack,” said lead reviewer Michael Bennett, of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. “However, the poor availability of hyperbaric chambers makes this an option only in a minority of health facilities.”

As with anything, professional information and advice is crucial to correct treatment. In the case of oxygen treatments, access to technology comes hand in hand with knowledge of what to do with that technology. Kirchner’s treatment for the thousands of patients that he has dealt with is avoiding triggers and taking preventive and symptomatic medications.

My Thoughts on Migraines & Cluster Headaches

I believe that the root cause of migraines and cluster headaches are either a spinal misalignment in the cervical region or toxic compounds introduced into the body. I also believe two substances seem to aggravate or contribute to the initiation of these headaches. They are aspartame and MSG. I recommend eliminating these substances from your dietary intake and seeing a qualified natural healthcare practitioner or chiropractor for proper diagnosis and therapy.

For people who can afford spending around $12-15,000, you can purchase your own portable hyperbaric chamber.

Related Oxygen Therapy Articles:

• Oxygen Therapy on Wikipedia
• Medical Benefits of Oxygen Therapy
• High-Flow Oxygen Inhalation Therapy for Cluster Headaches