Oxygen for migraines

People who live at high altitudes tend to have lower oxygen levels in their blood. A higher percentage of them suffer from migraines than people who live at sea level.

Oxygen is effective for a significant percentage of patients with cluster headaches. It is much less effective for the treatment of migraines. Two small studies showed that oxygen under normal pressure is ineffective for the acute treatment of migraine but oxygen under pressure, or hyperbaric oxygen, is. The first study had 10 patients, the second, only eight.

Norwegian researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the prophylactic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on migraine. The effect of three daily sessions of hyperbaric oxygen was compared to the effect of three hyperbaric air treatments. Oxygen under pressure appeared to be more effective. However, because the number of patients was small – 19 in the oxygen and 15 in the air group – no statistical significance was found.

Even if proven effective, using hyperbaric oxygen for the acute treatment of migraines, is highly impractical. There are few hyperbaric chambers to be found. It is also a very expensive treatment.