According to Healthline, there is only limited evidence that meditation helps during an ongoing migraine attack.
A 2023 review published in Current Pain and Headache Reports indicates that meditation may affect the overall experience of pain, but it remains unclear whether this applies specifically to migraine pain.
For that reason, experts continue to exercise caution, especially because the studies are often small and short in duration.
Even so, interest is growing. Healthline explains that many patients are seeking non-medical strategies that can be used alongside their usual treatment.
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Meditation is positioned alongside other methods that focus on stress management.
What the research shows
Healthline reports that several smaller studies conducted between 2019 and 2023 have examined meditation as a preventive measure.
Across these studies, there is a tendency toward fewer migraine days among people who practice mindfulness.
A 2020 study published in The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, in which a large share of participants in the mindfulness group experienced a marked reduction in migraine days compared with a stress-management group.
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Another study from 2023 published in Mindfulness also found lower medication use after a period of intensive meditation.
At the same time, an analysis from 2019 published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine suggests that the effect first becomes apparent after approximately 20 days of regular practice.
Practical considerations
Healthline assesses meditation as generally safe to use. Discomfort is most often related to the sitting position, so beginners are advised to start with short sessions.
Research shows that meditation can be a useful supplement for some people but not a replacement for medical treatment.
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Sources: Healthline, Current Pain and Headache Reports, The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, Mindfulness, and Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
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