Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Jul 2017)
The Effect of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Training and Complementary Plant Supplements (Indian Valerian and Melissa Officinalis) on Migraine
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aim: Migraine is a debilitating disease that causes pain and suffering to patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic and complementary exercise on headache indices including the frequency, duration and severity of headache, and the number of synthetic drugs used and signs of depression and anxiety. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental and applied research. Twenty-four patients with migraine who were eligible to participate in this study were randomly assigned into two groups of aerobic training (12) and a group receiving combined plant supplement (12). The aerobic training group's exercise program was performed for eight weeks and weekly three sessions and each session included 75 minutes of aerobic activity (15 minutes of warming, 45 minutes of workout, 15 minutes of cooling) with moderate intensity. The combined herbal supplement group consumed eight weeks of herbal capsules; each capsule contained 200 mg valeriana and 80 mg of melissa, which was given twice daily in the first four weeks and in the second four weeks three times daily. Headache indices and the number of synthetic drugs consumed by the headache questionnaire were evaluated and Beck's anxiety and depression questionnaire was used for anxiety and depression symptoms. The collected data were analyzed using independent t-test and t-test. Results: In the combined supplemental group of two plants, the consumption of eight weeks of herbal capsule significantly reduced the number of headache / headache days, headache severity, depression scores and the number of synthetic drugs used (p <0.05). Anxiety scores decreased, but were not significant. In addition, the duration of the headache was not different from the one before the study. In the aerobic training group, eight weeks of activity significantly reduced in the number of headache / headache days, headache severity, anxiety and depression symptoms, and the number of synthetic drugs used, but the duration of the headache did not change. Also, by comparing variables of headache, anxiety and depression indices between the two groups, these variables were similar in the baseline and end of the study, and there was no significant difference between them. Conclusion: Aerobic and complementary aerobic exercises could be considered as an alternative treatment for patients with migraine who cannot tolerate nor benefit from synthetic drugs.
