A study conducted at the University of Kent in England found that gentle heating of one ear to a temperature of 42 degrees C and the second ear cooling to a temperature of 17 degrees C, helps prevent migraines.
The study involved 81 volunteers with migraines ranging from 4 to 14 cases per month. The researchers divided the volunteers into two groups almost identical in size. One group received special headphones, connected to a small heating and cooling mechanism, operated manually by a simple switch.
The earphones sent hot waves to the ear canal of one ear and cold waves to the ear canal of the other ear. The hot and cold waves caused the operation of the vestibular organ located near the inner ear. This organ affects brain stem activity, which is the brain region associated with the formation of migraines. This innovative treatment technique is called Caloric Vestibular Stimulation (CVS). The group of subjects treated with this treatment technique constituted the experimental group.
The second group received headphones and apparatus that looked identical to those of the experimental group, but did not in fact inject heat waves or cold waves and did not cause any real effect. This group constituted the control group. Both groups were asked to operate the headphones for 20 minutes every day for a period of three months.
The results of the experiment were dramatic. Subjects in the experimental group reported a 50% reduction in the number of migraine cases they experienced per month. From an average frequency of 7.7 cases of migraine every month, the average frequency dropped to just 3.8 cases of migraine per month. In other words, the number of migraine cases suffered by the group each month decreased by 3.9 cases. This compared to the second group, the control group, whose members reported a much smaller decrease. The number of migraine cases that members of the control group suffered each month decreased by only 1.1 cases. From an average frequency of 6.9 cases of migraine per month, the average frequency dropped to 5.8 cases of migraine per month.
Prof. Natan Gadot, director of the neurological department at the Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak, explained the significance of the findings. "This is the first study of its kind that examined the effect of thermodynamic stimulus on the organ of balance in the inner ear on migraine symptoms. The theoretical basis for this novel treatment method is based on the knowledge that there are neural connections between the organ of balance in the inner ear and areas of the brain stem involved in migraine formation. The research was conducted in five well-known medical centers in England and the United States.”
“We are talking about a safe, relatively convenient treatment that does not involve serious side effects. This was a thoroughly-conducted preliminary study, and further follow-up studies on the subject are needed. "
About 12% of the world's population suffers from recurrent cases of migraine, which make it difficult for them to function normally during times of pain. To date, no preventive treatment has been found which provides complete relief from the symptoms. This study is the first to indicate a real possibility for a significant reduction in the number of migraine cases and opens the door to a future possibility of preventing the phenomenon.