If you or anyone you know suffers from migraine headaches you know how debilitating they can be in a person’s life.  Many treatments had been developed over the years from drugs, to Botox to surgery and now there is a new drug-free prescription available. On Tuesday 3/11 The Food and Drug Administration approved a nerve-stimulating headband as the first medical device to prevent migraine headaches.

This device, called Cefaly, was developed Belgium and has been tested on over 2000 migraine sufferers.  Over half said they found relief and would purchase the device if it were on the market. Currently it is available in Canada.

How the device works is with the application of an electrode which pulses a small electrical current to the nerve believed responsible for causing migraine attacks. It is battery powers and come in the form of a wearable headband device. The most common complaint by users was not liking the tingling feel of the mild electrical current.

The FDA defines a migraine as 'intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head, accompanied by nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound.'

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