Abstract
Migraine has been endemic for many centuries. Seamlessness between plant-derived and synthetic migraine therapies is evident in three major aspects: (A) The latter are molecular adaptations of the former, (B) Combinations of herbal and non-herbal migraine therapies (e.g., one for prophylaxis and the other for acute therapy) are used by many patients, and (C) All migraine treatments, whether plant-derived or not, are capable of clinical trial using the same endpoints. At least two, newly discovered plant-derived migraine therapies are currently under research using standard clinical trial methodology. Suggestions are provided for more flexible clinical trial designs that might particularly suit research into herbal remedies. The future of migraine therapy is likely to continue to exhibit an intimate, symbiotic relationship between plant-derived and synthetic drugs.
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Notes on contributors
Anthony W. Fox
F. U. Alakbarov is Head Scientific Officer, expert in the Oriental and Folk Medicine, Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, 8 Istiglaliyat str., Baku, 370001, Azerbaijan.
At the time of writing Liya Davydov was PharmD candidate, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St. John's University. Currently, she is Pharmacy Practice Resident, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY.
Ila Mehra Harris is Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice & Community Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Colin J. Briggs is Professor of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba. Recently he completed a secondment to Health Canada, as Senior Science Advisor in the Therapeutics Products Programme with special responsibility for complementary medicines.
Gemma Briggs is Research Assistant, IMPACT, The Injury Prevention Centre of Children's Hospital, 501G-715 John Buhler Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Mary Chavezis Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Director of Complementary Medicine Education and Research, The Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Practice, Midwestern University, College of Pharmacy Glendale, Glendale, AZ 85308.