In 2013, the Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine conducted a trial on children suffering from migraines. The trial was open, non-randomised and twelve countries worldwide took place. At the end of the three-month trial period there was a high percentage of children whose migraine symptoms had clearly improved, plus the time taken off school had diminished substantially.
168 children took part aged from 5 – 15 years. They were treated by 59 physicians trained in the prescription of homeopathic medicine, and all children had been classified by the medical profession with ‘definite or probable’ migraine symptoms (they were diagnosed by using the International Headache Society 2004 criteria).
Data was collected from a questionnaire completed by the patient’s doctor, or their parent/guardian. The outcome from the questionnaire detailed the frequency, intensity and duration of migraine attacks for a period of three months prior to the start of the trial.
Each patient case was then reviewed by a homeopathic physician, and then a three month follow up was conducted with regard to frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks, including whether less time was taken off from school.
The main preventative remedies were:
Ignatia amara 9C 25%
Lycopodium clavatum 22%
Natrum muriaticum 2%
Gelsemium 20%
Pulsatilla 12% (mainly 15C)
During the three months, 38% of cases were treated with the following acute remedies:
Belladonna 32% 9C
Ignatia 11% 15C
Iris versicolor 10% 9C
Kalium phosphoricum 10%
Gelsemium 9% 15C or 30C
The conclusion of the trial, after three months, was that there was a significant decrease in frequency, severity and duration of migraines in children who took part, and there was a decline in the amount of time the participants took off from school.
It would be interesting to do a trial using homeopathy, in Australia, of children who suffer from migraines. Many parents might be prepared for their child to participate in a homeopathic trial because of the possibility of limiting the amount of medication given to their children. The homeopathy trial reported in this article was conducted by The Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine
Important points about migraines in children:
- Migraine in children are common. About 10% of school-age children suffer from migraine.
- Children with migraines benefit from careful diagnosis and case taking by a trained health practitioner.
- Diagnosis of migraines in children is difficult because they have trouble explaining symptoms
- Half of all migraine sufferers have their first attack before the age of 12.
- Migraines in children are often shorter than in adults, as brief as 1-2 hours in duration
- Migraines are not something in the realm of a home prescriber using a first aid kit of homeopathic remedies.
- Homeopathic remedies work on the body's own healing responses, so they do not have contraindications with other medicines or therapies.
Thank you to Sarah Saunders for reporting on this trial.
