migraine treatments

how much do people consider alternative therapies to work psychologically rather than medically? and why do placebo treatments get good results in drug trials?

There are at least two reasons why placebos are sometimes effective.

1) Our psychological state has a direct effect on our bodies ability to fight off diseases and significant stressors. There is good literature on this, including quicker recovery times for people with pets or spouses, better results from surgeries where the doctors talked positively about the prognosis while the patient was under anesthesia, the power of prayer, and even positive effects from humor and support groups. Students do better in classes where the teachers have been told they are gifted, even when they aren't. There is plenty to learned about why this is, but certainly it seems that if we have a positive attitude and believe something will work, we are able to tap into physical reserves that increase that likelihood.

2) Sometimes people get better by chance. So during a 2 month drug trial, some % of people might get better even without the drug. By having a placebo condition, you control for that possibility.