Hydrożelowe okłady łagodzące objawy migreny

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that directly affects up to one billion people worldwide. Current treatments for migraine involve acute treatment, including the use of analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, triptans, and preventive treatment. One of the currently available solution relieving migraine symptoms is hydrogel patches. They typically provide a cooling effect due to the presence of an active substance, most commonly menthol. Unfortunately, despite menthol's undeniable advantages in cooling applications, its intense smell may be irritating for people with migraines, who suffer from olfactory hypersensitivity. Therefore, the following work proposes a novel solution that combines the benefits of hydrogels with a natural extract of feverfew, which is described in the literature as effective in relieving headaches, including migraines. In this study, hydrogel patches were developed based on a natural polymer and modified with feverfew extract. The physicochemical properties of the resulting materials were investigated, including swelling behavior, surface wettability, and substance release from the polymer matrix. The potential for use in the intended application was preliminarily assessed as possible, but requiring further studies.