Findings show traces of migraine treatment from Neolithic age

Associate Professor Aslan Tektaş of the Department of Neurology at Trakya University's Faculty of Medicine said cave drawings belonging to early periods of human history suggest people treated migraines long before the advent of modern medicine. During a press conference held at Trakya University, Tektaş pointed out that humans have been suffering from headaches since the beginning of recorded history.

He said people tried to find a cure for headaches even in the Neolithic age. "Sculls that date back to 7,000 B.C. indicate people underwent trepanation operations, which is a procedure that requires drilling a hole in the skull," he said. Tektaş added that some people believe this surgical technique was created to cure migraines, although others think the operation was performed to release demons that people believed possessed the body. "There are various drawings belonging to the period. When we connect the pieces, we come to the conclusion that these people were treating migraines," he claimed. Explaining that 95 percent of women and 90 percent of men suffer from headaches at least once a year, Tektaş stressed that tension headaches and migraines are the most common headaches that people suffer from, adding that the International Headache Society divides headaches into 14 main groups and hundreds of sub-groups.

Tektaş warned people against seasonal changes and advised them to consult a doctor if they are suffering from headaches. "Extremely hot weather and high winds can trigger headaches. The most important thing a person can do to treat a headache is for them to change their daily routine," Tektaş said.