Current estimations indicate over 50 million Americans are suffering from Headaches.  The headaches can be classified into 4 categories- vascular, tension, traction, and inflammatory. Treatment of choice for frequent migraine suffers is usually pharmacologic prophylaxis.  Avoidance strategies (loud noises, flashing lights, stress and some foods) also constitute a very important first line approach in managing migraines.  Biofeedback training with or without relaxation techniques have also been shown to be effective in treating migraine and tension headaches.

 In particular, thermal biofeedback training has been shown to be effective in treating migraine headaches.  This technique teaches patients to increase the skin temperature of their fingers.  Supposedly, dilation of the peripheral blood vessels in the hand is associated with reduced blood flow in the regions of the supra-orbital and superficial temporal arteries, although the exact mechanism by which thermal biofeedback improves migraine headaches is still unclear.