According to the World Health Organization, Migraine is one of the twenty most disabling medical conditions all around the world.
What is Migraine?
A persistent excruciating headache, mainly one side of the head, generally complemented by vomiting, nausea feeling and great sensitivity to sound and light is the condition of migraine. This pain can last from 4 to 72 hours. This condition also comprises of a stage, named aura that means visual problems such as zigzags, flashes, splotches, tingling in arms and legs, and so on. Symptoms vary from one person to the other. Other warning signs are a stiff neck, irritability, cravings for food cravings, a stiff neck, recurrent yawning and constipation.
Why Migraine Happens
Experts say that migraine is actually a neurobiological disorder that includes neurological as well as vascular changes that take place in the brain. Around 75 percent of people suffering from migraine have a family history of this weakening medical problem. It gets enhanced by complex changes in brain chemicals.
Skipping meals, allergies, alcohol, low blood sugar, stress, hormonal fluctuations, poor posture, loud noises, smoking, strong smell, irregular sleep, bright lights and dehydrations are some of the possible initiators of migraine.
If you do not really wish to wish to visit the doctor as there is no known cure for migraine, you can try some home remedies for migraine, reducing their frequency:
Using Ice Packs
Take an ice pack and keep it on your scalp, forehead and neck so that you can get relief from pain. Though the experts are not really sure who this helps but probably it reduces the blood help. Take a few ice cubes and keep it on the required area for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this when the need be. The result can be better, if you add peppermint oils or lavender. Other options are using a cloth rinsed in cold water or applying a frozen gel pack.
Caffeine
Caffeine is an ingredient that is found in some food and drinks like coffee, which can be capable to offer you some relief from pain. If you have taken some medication, it can also assist in faster absorption. However, go easy on the consumption as you might not want to get addicted to it.
Stay in a Dark and Noiseless Room
In the case of migraine, loud noises and bright light can only worsen the headache. Therefore, when you are suffering from this problem, try to stay in a room that is dark and noiseless, in order to have quick recovery.
Exercising
Do not try to exercise at the time when you are suffering from a migraine attack as the pain might only aggravate. But, when you feel better, you can opt for a regular exercising routine to keep headaches at bay. Workouts lead to releasing of endorphins which are chemicals that help in fighting pain, easing out stress, and sleeping better.
Consuming Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that can be found in whole grains, dark-green vegetable and nuts. Though it doesn’t really lessens the pain, it can prevent one. Along with these sources, this mineral can also be taken in the form of a pill or supplement, but not without asking the doctor.
Take Proper Sleep
If you wish to keep migraine pain at bay, it is best to get proper amount of sleep. Too much or too little sleep can trigger headache. It is advisable that one should sleep for 7-8 each night. Try to keep your bed time and wake time same every day.
Practice Yoga
While exercise can help some people in the case of migraine, it can also trigger headache in others. You can practice yoga. Although the result would be slower but it is absolutely safe. According to researchers, regular yoga sessions bring the number of migraine attacks down and the pain also becomes less intense.
Vitamin B2
Studies show that it helps in migraine. Also known as riboflavin, Vitamin B2 is available in chicken, milk, cheese as well as fish. It is also available in the form of a pill.
Taking care of the Triggers
Sometimes the food that you eat or even the environmental conditions around a person can also trigger migraine. Try to avoid the food-related triggers such as cured meats, aged cheese and red wine. Also, strong odors and high-altitudes can create a problem for such as person.
Butterbur
Butterbur is that kind of a plant that reduces the number as well as the severity of headaches in some migraine sufferers, if not all.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is known to be a powerhouse of nutrients and helps in a number of things, reducing migraine problem is one of them. Other benefits include relieving constipation, controlling blood sugar and high BP, aiding weight loss, detoxification and so on. Take a glass of water, add one table spoon of organic apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of honey in it. Drink this daily. You can start by adding one teaspoon of the vinegar and can slowly increase the quantity. When you are suffering from the attack, you can add 2-3 tablespoons.
Peppermint
Peppermint has anti-inflammatory property that has a calming and antispasmodic effect on the nerves. According to a study in 2008, the aroma of the herb offers relief from headache. Every day drink peppermint tea with added honey.
Another thing which you can do is to take a mixture of lavender and peppermint oils or simply peppermint essential oil and massage the temples. After massaging, leave it as it is for around half an hour. You can do this a few time on a daily basis till the time you get relief.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper helps in better circulation and improvement in the flow of blood, thus being a helpful home remedy for migraine problem. Along with this, it also contains capsaicin which is known to be a natural pain killer. Take a cup of warm water and add half or one tablespoon of cayenne pepper to it. To make the taste better, you can add honey and lemon juice to it.
Chamomile
A common term used for a number of daisy-like products with herbal and nutritional properties, Chamomile is known have soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic features that offer relief from migraine. If you drink chamomile tea on a regular basis, it can help you in an amazing way. While you buying this herb, buy the one that mentions ‘German Chamomile’ as it deals with migraine in the best manner.
Add 2 or 3 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers in a cup of hot water and keep it aside for a few minutes. Later, add honey and lemon juice to it. After straining, drink this 3-4 times a day to get relief from problem of migraine.
Ginger
According to a study conducted in 2013, ginger can be helpful in dealing with the problem of common migraine. Consuming ginger lessens inflammation in blood vessels present in the brain. It also blocks prostaglandin chemicals that cause muscle contraction and also affects hormones. A number of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also reduce the production of these kinds of chemicals.
As soon as the headache starts, you can consume ginger tea number of times a day till you get respite from your pain. You can also chew a piece of raw ginger root to keep symptoms like indigestion and nausea at bay.
Supplements are helpful too
As per a study conducted recently, migraine sufferers who consumed 400 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2) on a daily basis, experienced lesser number of migraine attacks after a duration of 3 months. CoQ10 is another supplement, which is known to be effective in preventing migraine.
Relaxation Methods
You can massage to ease down shoulder and neck spasms. By practicing Tai Chi, known as meditation in motion, you can increase your body awareness so that it can easily as well as treat the headache that is going come. They are as helpful as Yoga in increasing mindfulness. You can also go for restorative and hatha yoga.
Herbs
Experts recommend herbs can be extremely helpful in dealing with migraines. Like butterbur, dry-leaf capsules of feverfew might also decrease the occurrence of migraine.
Acupuncture
A number of studies suggest that acupuncture can have some long-term results in the same manner as drugs and that too without any side effects.
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