Oxygen For Headaches
By George H. Sands, M.D.
Beth Israel Medical Center
New York, New York
Oxygen treatment of headaches was first mentioned in literature in 1939. Mr. Charles
E. Rhein, Linde Air Products Co., reported to Dr. Alvarez at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, MN the successful treatment of severe "migraine" attacks by breathing
pure oxygen. Subsequently, Dr. Alvarez noted that the treatment with 100 percent
oxygen at a flow of six to eight liters a minute would often produce relief. Sometimes
patients would not be able to obtain relief with this treatment, whereas at other times
they would. In 1940, Dr. Alvarez reported the treatment of over 100 persons suffering
from headache attacks. They were treated with oxygen with a nasal type of mask and
a flow of six to eight liters a minute. He found that 80 percent of "migrainous"
headaches were completely or significantly relieved.