Comparison of the effectiveness of yoga and leech therapy interventions in medical management of women with migraine

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga and leech therapy on the management of migraine patients. In this quasi-experimental study, 21 female patients (age: 36±3.2 years) with migraine were randomly divided into three groups of yoga, leech therapy and control in equal numbers (n =7). The severity of headache was assessed by a questionnaire (VAS) and the duration of headache was checked by a checklist at pre-test, post-test and follow-up periods. Patients in the yoga group performed yoga exercises for 12 weeks (60 sessions, 5 days a week, each session 60 minutes). In the leech treatment group, two leeches were used every week for 12 weeks Used in the back of the posterior auricular muscle. The control group followed their usual medication. For statistical analysis, repeated measurement and ANOVA tests were performed at a significance level of P≥0.05. Intragroup results showed that 12 weeks of yoga and leech therapy separately significantly reduced the severity and duration in the groups (P≥0.05). Also, there was no significant difference between the three groups in pain intensity (P = 0.09) and pain duration (P = 0.12). It seems that the interventions showed significant clinical improvement in all three groups. The results of this study showed that leech therapy and yoga therapy have the same benefits as drug therapy in reducing the severity and duration of pain in women with migraine headaches. Therefore, yoga and leech therapy exercises can be effective as an adjunct therapy in migraine patients.