Migrane is demonstrated as a severe periodic, unilateral, pulsatile headache associated with nausea, malaise, vomiting and photophobia.

Factors that often precipitate attack are environmental stimuli such as emotional stress, strenuous physical exercise, too much sleep or sleep deprivation, some food (chocolate, aged cheese, nuts), alcohol (especially red wine), medical conditions and medication (antihypertensive drugs, contraceptive drugs, nitroglycerin).

In pathogenesis of migraine, vascular and biochemical changes play important role. First phase is vasospasm accompanied with reduction in blood flow causing ischemia and edema of intracranial vessels.  Second phase is vasodilatation  (extracranial vessels) with hyperemia (an increased amount of blood in a part or organ) and platelet aggregation that impairs microcirculation leading to pain.

There are reports of successful experimental use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in migraine
due to following HBO effects:

• HBO relieves pain by vasoconstriction of cerebral vessels
• HBO reduces hypoxia and increases oxygenation of brain
• HBO reduces swelling caused by inflammatory response in ischemic vessels
• HBO improves microcirculation by decreasing platelet aggregation

References:

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7. Pascual J et al.: Preventive effects of hyperbaric oxygen in cluster headache, Headache, 1995,35: 260-261
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10. Shalkevic VB et al.: Use of hyperbaric oxygenation in the therapy of transiet cerebral circulatory disturbances in the vertebro-basilar system, Abstracts of 7th international congress on HBO medicine.USSR Academy of Sciences,  Moskow pp 294-295
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13. Wilson JR et al.: Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of migraine with aura, Headache: Feb 1998 , vol 38, 112-115