MIGRAINE... Several NATURAL REMEDIES for quick and natural relief

How to relieve migraine pain. What are the causes of migraine and its symptoms

INNA CODRU , NOVEMBER 26, 2018

There are only a few things worse than a terrible migraine headache! This throbbing sensation behind one or both eyes can be incredibly painful and often leads to nausea and vomiting. This pain and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and there's nothing you can do but lie down and pray that it all finally goes away! Let's talk about migraine, symptoms and treatment.

Did you know that approximately 25% of families in the world have a migraine sufferer? In the US alone, it is estimated that up to 12% of the population suffers from migraines. This includes children!

Migraine headaches can be incredibly intense and severe, so it's important that you know how to not only treat them, but also recognize the signs of an upcoming headache. Read on to find out everything you need to know about migraines and the best remedies for quick, natural migraine relief...

UNDERSTANDING MIGRAINE

A migraine is not your typical headache! This disease is actually a whole set of neurological symptoms that can be incredibly debilitating. More than 90% of migraine sufferers simply can't function or work normally during a migraine headache - that's how painful it is.

Some of the symptoms of a migraine headache include:

• A pounding or throbbing sensation in one area of ​​the head.


• Nausea and vomiting.


• Extreme sensitivity to sound and light.


• "Asterisks" in the eyes and blind spots in the field of vision.


• Tingling in the legs or arms.

As you can see, these headaches are NO JOKE! They are very painful and debilitating, and can even be potentially life-threatening if a migraine attack occurs while driving or operating heavy machinery.

But what causes a migraine in the first place? What is really known so far is that migraine headaches are not yet fully understood. According to WebMD( 1 ), "migraine may be caused by some changes in the brain and its interaction with the trigeminal nerve, which is the core of superficial pain sensation."

If your brain doesn't produce enough serotonin, a hormone that helps regulate the pain signals your nervous system sends, your body can suffer from severe pain during migraine headaches. Serotonin levels drop during these headaches, causing your body to flood with the neuropeptides that cause such headaches.

There are some things that can trigger a migraine:

• Medications such as vasodilators and oral contraceptives


• Foodstuffs , including industrially processed foods, very salty foods, and aged cheese


• Fasting or skipping meals are also known to trigger migraines.


• Hormonal changes , such as those caused by hormonal drugs, pregnancy, menopause, and menstruation


• Nutritional supplements such as MSG and aspartame


• Stress , both at work and at home


• Drinks mostly caffeinated drinks and alcohol - especially wine


• Sleep disturbances , including jet lag, lack of sleep, or excessive sleep


• Environmental changes such as sudden changes in temperature or humidity


• Sensory stimuli , including sun glare, bright lights, loud noises, unusual smells, and the like, which overstrain the nervous system


• Physical activity , including both exercise and intense sexual activity

Indeed, there are so many things that can cause a migraine!

Migraine headaches can be VERY difficult to treat, especially once they start, but did you know that they are actually quite predictable? You can usually notice certain symptoms that occur in the "pre-sensitivity phase" ( 2 ) - those symptoms that occur just before the agonizing headache.

Some of the signs to look out for include:

• Fatigue . If you feel unusually tired for yourself, this is a sign that something has gone wrong in your body.


• Hypersensitivity . This is your immune response, reacting to even the slightest stimuli.


• Neck pain and stiffness . If this is accompanied by fatigue, this is a pretty clear sign that a migraine attack is about to happen.


• Obsessive yawning . Yawning is normal when you're tired, but(!) if yawning is out of control, it could be a sign of an impending migraine attack.


• Hyperactivity . This is often the result of overstimulation of the immune system( 3 ).


• Flushes of heat . Hot flashes are a sign that something is wrong in your body. Combined with the other symptoms on this list, this is an indicator that a migraine attack is coming.


• Problems with digestion . If your gastrointestinal tract suddenly develops problems, this can also be a sign that something is wrong.


• Irritability . This, too, is the result of overstimulation of your nervous system, as well as low levels of serotonin.


• Sudden desire to eat ( 4 ) something specific (chocolate, salted fish, etc.). The cravings are pretty normal, but if accompanied by the other symptoms on this list, it's an indication that a migraine is coming.

But these symptoms are not the only sign that a migraine attack is just around the corner. During the "preparation" phase of a migraine and just before the "Attack" phase of a migraine, you may also experience symptoms such as:

• Changes in your vision - you may notice blind spots in your field of vision or "stars" (arcs of light) in your eyes. Even hallucinations, to some extent, are likely at this stage!


• Problems with speech . It may be difficult for you to form clear sentences and communicate normally, and you may feel confused because of this. You may find it difficult to understand written and spoken words at this point.


• Skin sensations . It's not just the usual tingling that accompanies a migraine, but it can be a feeling of pins and needles all over your body. Some feel numbness in the limbs of the arms and legs.

HOW TO PREVENT MIGRAINES

If you want to prevent migraines, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Avoid bright lights and loud sounds . They overstimulate the nervous system, increasing the risk of migraines.

Watch what you eat . After each migraine, try to figure out what might have triggered it. Think about what you ate and determine which food might be the culprit.

Be careful during hormonal changes . During pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, and any other hormonal changes, be careful with everything you do. Even something seemingly insignificant can trigger a migraine attack because your hormones are on the move.

Get regular and good sleep and maintain proper eating habits . Getting regular sleep can potentially help reduce fatigue (see How Many Hours of Sleep Does a Person Need? ), and eating regularly can prevent migraines, among other things.

Limit stress . Yeah?! Easier said than done! Stress is one of the most common causes of migraine and we can't always avoid it. Try to limit stress as much as possible. If that means changing your job or changing how you deal with household problems, so be it. Your health matters much more than all this fuss, and stress reduction is the key to getting rid of migraine attacks!

Follow these tips and you can drastically reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR MIGRAINES

We looked at what triggers a migraine, what can trigger a migraine attack, and how to recognize the signs of an impending migraine. Now it's time to talk about what you can do if all your preventive measures have failed and you have a migraine attack.

We have selected six of the best natural migraine remedies:

LAVENDER oil

Lavender oil smells great and makes for a wonderful aromatherapy treatment that is great for helping the body relax. And this becomes especially important when a migraine attack begins!

Lavender essential oil is an "anxiolytic drug, mood stabilizer, sedative, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, analgesic agent, and wound healing accelerator." Using it as a treatment for migraine headaches is definitely not a bad option. One study( 5 ) found that 92 out of 129 migraine sufferers experienced significant relief from migraine attacks when they inhaled lavender oil (from a diffuser). It's almost 75%!

Using a diffuser is the best way to diffuse lavender oil. When inhaled, the effect comes on very quickly, providing quick relief from migraine pain. However, you can also:

• Rub it on the temples and on the wrists . The oil will be absorbed by your bloodstream through your skin and this will also reduce headaches.


• When taking a bath, add a few drops to the water . Taking a warm bath can actually help improve blood flow and reduce your migraines. And adding a few drops of lavender essential oil will make this bath even more effective.

Peppermint oil

Another AMAZING ESSENTIAL OIL that can help fight migraines!

In a 1996 6 Peppermint oil helped to significantly reduce migraine headaches within the first 15 minutes. The effect persisted up to an hour after the onset of migraine attacks.

If migraine attacks are frequent for you, then it is definitely a good idea to have a bottle of peppermint essential oil. Just like with lavender oil, you can use a diffuser to inhale or apply it to your wrists and temples. Even the smell of the oil itself can work wonders in the fight against migraines!

You can use a combination of essential oils, such as a combination of mint, eucalyptus, and rosemary. This combination will be a good remedy to soothe a migraine headache.

SWEET BASIL Oil

Basil is more than just a delicious herb added to most Italian dishes. When used properly, basil can help reduce migraine pain and provide relief to the body naturally.

A report published in the journal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences lists basil as "a treatment for various ailments such as poor digestion, nausea, migraine, depression, insomnia, kidney dysfunction, and skin infections." This is thanks to the antioxidants, flavonoids and phenolic compounds found in basil leaves and, of course, basil oil.

The sweet smell of basil oil can bring relief when you have a migraine. Burning it in an oil burner or using a reed diffuser can do wonders for reducing migraine pain levels.

COLD COMPRESS

If you lead an athletic lifestyle, you no doubt have an ice pack in your freezer for minor injuries and bruises. Luckily, you will find that an ice pack is the perfect remedy for migraine pain!

A randomized controlled trial( 7 ) in 2013 found that applying ice packs at the base of the neck (targeting the carotid arteries) helped reduce migraine headaches. Within 30 minutes of applying an ice pack to the base of the neck, the pain was reduced by up to 50%.

If you feel like a migraine is starting, then take this bag out of the freezer, wrap it in a towel and apply it on the back of your neck (just be careful not to accidentally chill your throat) or on your head. The cooling sensation will help relieve pain and reduce the severity of a migraine attack. You will soon get back on your feet!

One of our favorite ways to use a cold compress is with a head covering. You do not need to constantly hold it, put a compress on your head, put a hat on top and you can do something else.

TANNY GIRL

Although this herb has traditionally been used to treat fevers (hence its English name, Feverfew), this herb has proven to be useful as a natural migraine aid.

Back in the 1980s, "tansy girl" was recommended to migraine sufferers to not only treat the problem, but to prevent migraine attacks in the first place. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center( 8 ), up to 70% of people who used "tansy maiden" to treat their migraine headaches found that using just a few leaves a day significantly reduced the severity of their attacks.

Not only does tansy help minimize migraine pain, but it can help reduce the frequency of attacks as well. And a mixture of tansy and white willow (a plant with aspirin-like properties) can do wonders for treating headaches before, during, and after a migraine.

GINGER

Fresh ginger root is a great digestive aid and pain reliever, and it can help reduce the severity of a migraine attack. It's always good to have fresh ginger on hand!

A 2014 study( 9 Within two hours of both taking ginger and taking this drug, migraine severity decreased in equal measure.

But there was a difference: Ginger had far fewer side effects than the drug! Best of all, ginger helped reduce nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems that accompanied migraines.

If you suffer from migraines regularly, make sure you have fresh ginger root in your refrigerator. Chew on a piece of ginger when a migraine strikes and you will find that the severity of the attack will be greatly reduced. However, remember about some contraindications when taking ginger, it should not be used by those who suffer from stomach ulcers or gastritis, exacerbation of hemorrhoids, cholelithiasis, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSION

Migraine headaches can be downright debilitating, but you can still enjoy the good life in spite of it. With the information above, you can take steps to not only treat your migraine, but prevent it in the first place!

These natural remedies will not only help relieve migraine attacks, but also save you from any side effects that over-the-counter medications may have. You can try each of these remedies and stick to what works best for you.

SOURCES and MATERIALS used in the article:

1. Migraine.  Mayo Clinic 200 First St. SW Rochester, USA. May 2018
2. “The premonitory phase of migraine--what can we learn from it?”.  Department of Neurology, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals, Essex, UK. 2015 Apr.
3. “Prodromes and the early phase of the migraine attack: therapeutic relevance“.  University Center for Adaptive Disorders and Headache (UCADH), Pavia, Italy.
4. “Migraine food cravings symptoms : an introduction“.  Otesa Miles. Nov. 2010
5. “Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.“.  Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 2012 Apr.
6. “Effectiveness of Oleum menthae piperitae and paracetamol in therapy of headache of the tension type“.  Klinik für Neurologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel. 1996 Aug.
7. “Randomized Controlled Trial: Targeted Neck Cooling in the Treatment of the Migraine Patient“.  University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA. Jul 2013
8. The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).
9. “Comparison between the efficacy of ginger and sumatriptan in the ablative treatment of the common migraine“.  Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, VALI-e-ASR Hospital, Neurology Department, Zanjan, Iran. March 2014