Research has shown hypnotherapy to be effective at treating migraines, according to a Jan. 11, 2010 article in Natural News, written by Steve Jones M.Ed, a hypnotherapist.
 
The article says that research shows hypnotherapy may actually be more effective than medications at treating migraines.

The article cited one study, conducted in 1975 and published in International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, that studied 47 people for one year and found that those people who received hypnotherapy reported fewer migraine attacks than those who took the prescription medication prochlorperazine (Stemetil). According to the study, of the 23 participants who received hypnotherapy, 10 stopped experiencing migraines at all, but only 3 of the 24 participants taking medication stopped experiencing migraines.
 
Two common hypnotherapy techniques for treating migraines include hand warming and glove anesthesia. “These techniques put migraine suffers in control of their pain by helping them transfer the warmth or numbness to their head where their head hurts,” Jones wrote.
 
Migraine suffers generally have moderate to severe pain in their head that pulsates. Symptoms often include vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.
 
“Common triggers of migraines include hormonal changes, stress, food, changes in sleep patterns, medications and changes in the surrounding environment.”
 
The article also suggests that hypnotherapy can help migraine sufferers avoid many of those triggers by controlling stress and avoiding certain foods.
 
“The fact that hypnosis has no side effects and many prescription medicines have many side effects makes hypnotherapy a more natural and safe approach to treating migraines,” wrote Jones. “In addition to no side effects, many studies have shown that the effects of hypnosis are more lasting and beneficial compared to the use of medication.”