Medically reviewed by Nancy Hammond, M.D. — Written by Kirsten Nunez
May 13, 2021
If you experience migraine, you’re not alone. Approximately 1 in 7 adults in the United States experience migraine episodes.
Typically, migraine is treated with prescription medications. But if you’re unable to tolerate or don’t want to take traditional medications, you may be considering homeopathic options.
While some believe that homeopathy can help ease the symptoms of migraine, it’s unclear if they’re effective from a scientific standpoint. The research on homeopathy for migraine is lacking and controversial.
If you’re curious about homeopathy for migraine options, read on. This article will explore the available research, along with other natural remedies for migraine.
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine from more than 200 years ago. It’s based on the idea that a substance that causes symptoms may also treat those same symptoms. This concept is known as “like cures like.”
The practice also maintains that substances are more potent when they’re diluted. Homeopathic remedies are made of various substances diluted in water.
Although homeopathy has been used for hundreds of years, it’s not a replacement for conventional treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns against using homeopathy to treat serious conditions.
The substances used in homeopathy come from:
- minerals
- animals
- plants
Examples of the above include:
- ignatia amara (comes from the seeds of the St. Ignatius bean tree)
- pulsatilla (plant)
- gelsemium (plant)
- natrum muriaticum (minerals)
- lycopodium clavatum (plant)
- atropa belladonna (plant)
- iris versicolor (plant)
- kalium phosphoricum (minerals)
These substances may also be used in homeopathy for:
- migraine prevention
- treatment
- both
