The effect of 8-week aerobic training and a combination of herbal supplements (Valeriana wallicii and Mlissia officinalis) on headache indices in patients with migraine: a randomized clinical study

Migraine is a debilitating condition that causes numerous pain and suffering for patients. Exercise and herbal remedies recommended for the prevention and treatment of migraine. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic training and a combination of herbal supplements for 8 weeks on migraine headache indices including frequency, intensity and duration of Headache and also Symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Twenty-four female patients with migraine who are eligible to participate in the study were randomly divided in to two groups: aerobic training (n = 12) and Supplements herbal compound (n = 12).
Patients in the aerobic exercise group performed the exercise for eight weeks, three sessions per weeks and each session was 75 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (15 minute warm-up, 45 workouts, 15 minute cool-down).
The combination of herbal supplement group received herbal capsules for eight weeks and each capsule contains 200 mg valerian and 80 mg melissa officinalis that were consumed, twice a day in the first four weeks and three times a day in the second four weeks.
Headache indices and consumption of synthetic drugs was assessed by questionnaire headache diary And the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventory was used for anxiety and depression. Data were analyzed by Kolmogrov-Smirnov, the independent and paired T-test at significance level of P≤0.05.
Test results showed that in herbal capsule group, taking eight weeks capsules caused significant reductions in headache frequency, headache intensity, consumption of synthetic drugs, Beck depression inventory scores and also Beck anxiety scores reduced but it was not significant. In addition, the duration of headache was no difference compared to before the study.
In the aerobic exercise group, eight weeks of activity caused significant reductions in headache frequency, headache intensity, Beck depression and anxiety inventory scores and consumption of synthetic drugs. But the duration of headache was unchanged. The indices of headaches, anxiety and depression were compared between the two groups and These variables were similar at baseline and end of study and no significant differences were observed.
aerobic training and a combination of herbal supplements may be an alternative treatment for migraine patients who can not tolerate the side effects of synthetic drugs or do not benefit.