Meditation for Migraine and Headache: Evidence

Migraine is a recurring headache disorder that can include nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Mindfulness programs, usually the 8-week MBSR course, have been tested as an add-on to usual migraine care. This page is information only. A new, changing or severe headache needs a clinician, not a meditation practice. Labels used: promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence.

Urgent signs first

The NHS says to call 999 (UK) for a headache that came on suddenly and is extremely painful, or with problems speaking or remembering, loss of vision, drowsiness or confusion, a seizure, weakness on one side of the body or face, or after a head injury. [1] It also says to seek an urgent appointment or NHS 111 if a migraine attack lasts longer than 72 hours, aura lasts more than an hour, or you are pregnant or just had a baby. [1] In the US, call 911 for emergencies.

What the studies found

1. Fewer migraine days with MBSR vs headache education

   no good evidence of benefit on this outcome

   No difference: both groups improved in a trial of 89 adults [2]

2. Disability, quality of life, depression

   promising but limited

   Better with MBSR than education in the same trial [2]

3. Pain intensity and attack frequency (all mindfulness trials)

   promising but limited

   Small reductions across 14 trials (1,027 people) [3]

4. Chronic headache (5 small trials)

   insufficient evidence

   No improvement in frequency, duration or intensity; imprecise [4]

5. Use of pain medicines and triptans

   no good evidence of benefit

   No significant change [3]

The MBSR trial in migraine

In a randomized trial, 89 adults with 4 to 20 migraine days a month were assigned to MBSR or to headache education, each meeting for 2 hours weekly for 8 weeks. Both groups had fewer migraine days at 12 weeks, with no group difference. MBSR did better on disability, quality of life, self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing (feeling overwhelmed by pain) and depression through 36 weeks, and pain induced in the lab was rated lower. The authors conclude a larger study is needed. [2] Using an active comparison helps limit the effect of just taking part in a group.

Reviews

A 2019 review of five small trials (185 people, with tension-type headache and migraine) found no improvement in headache frequency, duration or intensity versus usual care, and said the results were too imprecise to rule out either a real effect or none. [4] NCCIH reports the same result. [5] A 2025 meta-analysis of 14 trials in 1,027 adults found small reductions in pain intensity and attack frequency, and larger gains in pain catastrophizing, anxiety and depression, but no significant effects on activity-related disability or use of pain medicines or triptans. [3] The 2025 review pooled more and newer trials than the 2019 one. A 2025 review of behavioral treatments for migraine prevention (50 adult trials) said CBT, relaxation training and mindfulness-based therapies may each reduce attack frequency, with low strength of evidence, and that most trials were at high risk of bias and affected by expectation. [6]