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Surprising New Use for Popular Weight Loss Drugs: Could They Treat Migraines?
Migraines are more than just headaches—they’re often life-disrupting events that affect millions of women juggling work, family, and daily responsibilities. If you’ve been dealing with these painful episodes, a surprising new study might offer some unexpected hope.
Researchers have found that liraglutide, a medication widely used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, could also help reduce the frequency of migraines. The findings, published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain (see the study here), suggest that this drug may provide meaningful migraine relief—even for those who haven’t found success with other treatments.
Study Shows Liraglutide Significantly Reduces Migraine Days
In this pilot study from the University of Naples, researchers tracked 31 adults (most of them women) who had both chronic migraines and obesity. Participants were given daily injections of liraglutide (1.8 mg) over a period of 12 weeks.
Here’s what they found:
- Migraine days dropped from an average of 16.3 to 9.4 per month
- Overall headache days fell from 20.5 to 11.9
- Use of migraine medications also decreased
- Weight remained largely unchanged, showing the benefit wasn’t due to weight loss
These results are significant—especially considering that participants had failed to respond to at least two prior preventive treatments. This points to liraglutide having a possible direct neurological effect, rather than working indirectly by lowering body weight.
Study Methodology: How Researchers Collected the Data
The study was an open-label, single-arm pilot, which means all participants received the treatment and knew they were on the medication. There was no placebo group, but the results still offer strong insight for future trials.
Key methodology details:
- Participants: 31 adults with chronic migraine and obesity
- Medication: Liraglutide, 1.8 mg injected daily
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Tracking tools: Daily headache diaries and clinical check-ins
- Measurements: Frequency of headaches, migraine severity, medication use, and side effects
Though the absence of a control group is a limitation, the study’s consistent results across multiple metrics suggest that liraglutide’s impact on migraines deserves further exploration.
What Makes GLP-1 Drugs Like Liraglutide Promising for Migraines?
Liraglutide belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which affect areas of the brain that control appetite and blood sugar—but may also regulate pain and inflammation.
Some experts believe that these drugs might:
- Reduce neuroinflammation
- Lower intracranial pressure
- Influence pain pathways in the brain
These mechanisms could explain the significant drop in migraine frequency, independent of any weight loss. Side effects were mostly mild (e.g., nausea, constipation), and none of the participants left the study because of them.
More extensive, placebo-controlled studies are now needed, but these early findings are already capturing the attention of neurologists and migraine specialists alike.
Acupressure for Migraine Relief: A Natural, Drug-Free Option
While scientific research continues to explore pharmaceutical options, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers effective, holistic ways to manage migraines naturally. One of the easiest and most effective techniques is acupressure.
Here are three powerful acupressure points you can use at home to relieve headache and migraine symptoms:
1. BL 2 (Zan Zhu)
- Location: Just under the inner edge of your eyebrows, near the top of the nose
- How to apply: Press gently upward with your thumbs or index fingers for 1–2 minutes
- Benefit: Helps relieve pain around the eyes and forehead, particularly useful for frontal migraines
2. GV 20 (Bai Hui)
- Location: At the crown of your head, where a line from ear to ear crosses the midline
- How to apply: Use your index or middle finger to press gently for 1–2 minutes
- Benefit: Calms the mind and balances internal energy, making it ideal for migraines caused by stress or tension
3. GB 4 (Han Yan)
- Location: Slightly above and in front of the ear, within the hairline
- How to apply: Massage gently in small circles for 1–2 minutes on both sides
- Benefit: Relieves tension in the temples and improves circulation, helping to ease pressure-based migraines
To dive deeper into this approach, explore our complete guide to acupressure points for headache and migraine relief. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and tips for integrating acupressure into your wellness routine.
Final Thoughts: Bridging Modern Medicine with Traditional Wisdom
The discovery that a common weight-loss drug like liraglutide might help treat migraines is an exciting development. But for those looking for accessible, drug-free tools, acupressure remains a trusted and empowering option.
Whether you’re exploring new medications or sticking with natural methods, your wellness journey is personal—and the more tools you have, the better.
For more DIY wellness tips inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, visit TCMTips.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Easy TCM Wisdom—Your Path to DIY Health and Wellness.
We’ll keep you informed, inspired, and equipped with easy ways to care for yourself, naturally.
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