To complement the MASSAGE Magazine article, "The Migraine Miracle: Cold Stones and Aromatherapy Take the Pain Away," by Kelly Lott, in the April 2012 issue. Article summary: Each year, approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraine headaches. As stress levels, hormonal imbalances and environmental toxins reach an all-time high, this number is predicted to steadily rise. As a massage therapist in today's marketplace, it is important to understand what causes a migraine headache and the treatments available to help your clients.

by Kelly Lott

Training in the latest and most innovative cold-stone therapy technique is easy with the Migraine Miracle.

The Migraine Miracle treatment was born in 2006 after hearing from a spa professional how many clients came wanting something cold on their heads to help with their headaches. The client had originally used a gel mask, but it didn't stay cold enough, long enough. My thoughts immediately went to sourcing additional materials like marble or granite that would stay cold the entire procedure.

From its inception and with extensive research, it became clear, after interviewing many people who suffer with migraines, that I was on the right track. I have spoken at several spa and massage conferences to standing-room only crowds, agreeing there is a need for something natural to counteract the headaches without the use of medications.

My cold-stone therapy

for migraine headaches has grown so popular in the last few years, it is now trademark registered as the Migraine Miracle. I teach the six-hour workshop in a variety of locations throughout the country, but I am only one person and I can't be everywhere at the same time. To counteract that, I created a training DVD that is easily understood—and after watching, the therapy can be performed that same day.

If you come to one of my six-hour workshops, you will learn all about migraines and headaches, specialized aromatherapy for the most common types of headaches, along with specific headache trigger-point releases. You will give and receive two treatments, afterward feeling confident to include the treatment in your practice.

This treatment is easy on the hands of massage therapists, yet so effective on the migraineur. After the treatment, most clients say the headache is completely gone, and a few say at least a 50-percent improvement is made. Massage therapists go into this field to help people, and this treatment does just that, and in a big way.

Kelly Lott, L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B. (www.kellylott.com), creates custom product lines for spa services, including the Migraine Miracle and the Al Di La natural spa product line. She has trained massage therapists throughout the country for more than 15 years in a variety of spa treatments, including face toning, pregnancy and postpartum massage, as well as cold-stone therapy.