Green light combined with gentle brain stimulation for migraine

Combined Effects of Green Light and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Migraine Intensity and Frequency in Migraine Patients.

Not applicable Interventional Riphah International University · NCT06943625

This trial tests whether short sessions of green light exposure plus low‑intensity transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can reduce pain for adults with episodic or chronic migraine who report average pain of 5 or higher.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRiphah International University Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Rawalpindi, Punjab Province and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06943625 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with episodic or chronic migraine and an average pain intensity ≥5 over the prior 4 weeks are enrolled to receive clinic sessions that combine controlled green light exposure with low‑intensity tDCS. Headache frequency, pain intensity on the numeric pain scale, medication use, and headache diaries are collected during treatment and follow‑up visits. Key exclusions include individuals with photophobia, cranial implants or shunts, brain tumors, active mental illness, or skull wounds for safety reasons. The approach uses noninvasive neuromodulation and light therapy together to try to alter cortical excitability and light sensitivity that may contribute to migraine.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults meeting International Headache Society criteria for episodic or chronic migraine with an average migraine pain intensity ≥5 over the prior 4 weeks and without significant light sensitivity or cranial implants are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who are highly photophobic, have cranial implants or shunts, active psychiatric illness, brain tumors, or open skull wounds are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combined green light and tDCS approach could offer a low‑risk, nonpharmacologic way to reduce migraine pain and possibly lower headache frequency.

How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies have reported mixed but sometimes promising results for tDCS or green‑light therapy separately, while combining the two is a more novel approach with limited prior data.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Episodic migraine or chronic migraine according to the International Headache Society
* An average headache pain intensity of migraine episodes of ≥5 at numeric pain scale (NPS) over the 4 weeks prior to enrolling in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Mental illness
* Photophobic individual
* Presence of shunt and/or implant at the cranial region
* Brain tumors
* Wound at skull

Where this trial is running

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Migrainemigraineneuromodulationbrain stimulation
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.