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Non-Pharmacological Migraine Care in India: A Critically Appraised Narrative Review

Authors

Vasanthan R.*, Jayalakshmi Venugopal

Abstract

Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling neurological disorder that affected an estimated 2.9 billion people worldwide in 2023 and remains a leading contributor to global disability. In India, population-based surveys report a one-year prevalence of approximately 25 per cent in some states, underscoring its scale as a public health concern. This narrative review critically appraises the evidence for non-pharmacological approaches to migraine care, including neuromodulation, behavioural therapies, and digital health technologies, and considers their feasibility within the Indian health system. Several modalities show meaningful benefit: remote electrical neuromodulation demonstrates moderate-certainty efficacy for both acute and preventive migraine care, and yoga is associated with significant reductions in headache frequency and migraine-related disability across independently conducted Indian trials. Substantial barriers nonetheless constrain scale-up in India, including the high cost of neuromodulation devices and a shortage of personnel trained to deliver behavioural interventions. Migraine remains excluded from national non-communicable disease policy despite its considerable burden. Realising the public-health potential of non-pharmacological migraine care in India will require dedicated research investment, equitable access strategies, and formal recognition of migraine within national health policy.

Keywords

Migraine Neuromodulation Cognitive behavioural therapy Yoga India Health policy.

References

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Citation

Vasanthan R., Jayalakshmi Venugopal (2026) NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL MIGRAINE CARE IN INDIA: A CRITICALLY APPRAISED NARRATIVE REVIEW. International Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, 1(1), 01-09.