Herbal treatments for migraine: A systematic review of randomised-controlled studies

Phytother Res. 2020 Oct;34(10):2493-2517. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6701. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Abstract

Herbal treatments are often used as a treatment for migraine. Therefore, an evaluation of their safety and efficacy is important. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias, a systematic literature review of randomised, controlled human trials assessing the effects of herbal treatments delivered as a single ingredient for the acute or prophylactic treatment of migraine were conducted. Studies were identified through electronic database searches on Medline (Pubmed), Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL. Nineteen studies were identified examining the effects on migraine of feverfew, butterbur, curcumin, menthol/peppermint oil, coriander, citron, Damask rose, chamomile, and lavender. Overall, findings on the efficacy of feverfew were mixed and there was positive, albeit limited evidence for butterbur. There were positive, preliminary findings on curcumin, citron, and coriander as a prophylactic treatment for migraine, and the use of menthol and chamomile as an acute treatment. However, the risk of bias was high for many studies. The results of this systematic review suggest that several herbal medicines, via their multifactorial physiological influences, present as potential options to enhance the treatment of migraine. However, further high-quality research is essential to examine their efficacy and safety as a treatment for migraine.

Keywords: herbal treatments; migraine; systematic review.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy
  • Chamomile / physiology
  • Chemoprevention / methods
  • Citrus / physiology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Coriandrum / physiology
  • Humans
  • Menthol / chemistry
  • Menthol / therapeutic use
  • Migraine Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Migraine Disorders / epidemiology
  • Music Therapy
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Plants, Medicinal / physiology*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / methods
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Tanacetum parthenium / chemistry
  • Tanacetum parthenium / physiology

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Menthol