A migraine is a severe pounding or pulsing headache that commonly starts in the forehead and moves toward the side of the head and around the eyes. It is a form of vascular headache which affects about 28 million Americans, with women being affected more often than men in the general population. Migraine headaches are caused by a combination of the enlargement of blood vessels and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery, which is found just under the skin of the temples, enlarges and causes nerves to stretch around the temporal artery. The tension of nerves then triggers the release of chemicals that cause inflammation, pain and even more enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery intensifies the pain.
There are a variety of triggers, including:
- Fluorescent lights
- Coffee
- Dehydration
- Smoking or alcohol abuse
- High blood pressure or hypoglycemia
- Vitamin B or D deficiency or mineral imbalances
- Reaction to food additives such as MSG, sugar, colorings, or preservatives
- Oral contraceptives or prescription medication
- Food allergies or intolerances
Common symptoms of a migraine attack are:
- Moderate to severe, throbbing head pain, most commonly on one side of the head.
- Head pain that worsens with physical activity.
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Untreated attacks most commonly last from four to 72 hours, and may persist for weeks. If your headache is accompanied by convulsions, fever, severe mental confusion, or any type of acute pain around your face or ears, you should contact your doctor immediately.
11 Home Remedies for Migraine Headaches
And the best thing about these remedies? They aren't gender-specific.
1. Drink water
“Dehydration can be a big cause of headaches,” .
2. Drink caffeine
Caffeine is a double-edged sword – it can help and hinder headaches.
“Caffeine can restrict blood vessels, it can lessen pain, it’s a constituent of some pain over-the-counter pain medicines, but it can also trigger headaches for some people,” Grosberg said. “If someone uses caffeine excessively, it can cause a rebound headache, making existing headaches worse.”
3. Tying a headband around the head
this is a practice that's been done since ancient times, and he’s not sure how it came about, but some people claim it works.
4. Fish oil
Enthusiasts claim that fish oil reduces inflammation and works by restricting the blood vessels in your temples. Grosberg said there's no sound evidence, but he recommends trying it.
5. Peppermint oil
Rub it on the part of your head that hurts.
“There’s been no literature to support this, but again, people say it works,” Grosberg said.
6. Eat ginger or take ginger capsules
“No one really knows how this works either,” Grosberg said. “It clearly reduces nausea, but other than that ..."
7. Magnesium
Grosberg said this has been studied and when taken in doses of 400 to 600 milligrams per day, magnesium is effective for menstrual-associated migraines and migraines associated with auras.
The downside: Magnesium may cause diarrhea, if you take too much, Grosberg said
8. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
In doses of 400 milligrams a day, vitamin B2 can also act as a preventative for migraines, Grosberg said. It can cause some people to urinate more frequently or have darker urine, so the dosage may have to be adjusted.
9. CoEnzymeQ10
Grosberg said that taking 300 milligrams per day has proven to be effective in reducing head pain. The downside: It can be expensive.
10. Butterbur
The most effective "natural medicine," Grosberg said, is called butterbur, or petasites.
Butterbur is a plant grown in Germany, and extensive studies have proven that in pill form, it is very effective in treating migraine pain and asthma, as well as alleviate upset stomachs. Butterbur is safe, although it can only be ordered online.
11. Cold (or hot) compress
This is another remedy that no one knows why it works, but it some swear by it.
It's hard to study something like that," Grosberg said. "It can have a placebo effect, or it can have a distracting effect on the patient. But a lot of patients swear by it."
Natural treatments
There are lots of ways to treat a migraine headache with natural remedies that have a better success rate and far fewer health risks than prescriptions, including herbs, supplements, acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, and aromatherapy.
Herbs-
Feverfew is effective at preventing migraines, but not stopping them once they've begun. The plant's active ingredient, parthenolide, inhibits the chemicals in the brain that cause the blood vessels to dilate. Another preventative with a lot of recent success in blind trials is butterbur extract. Used medicinally since the middle ages, butterbur extract can be taken daily as a preventative to reduce the number and severity of attacks. It is available commercially in capsules, powder, tincture, or other forms and is thought to have both antispasmodic effects and anti-inflammatory properties. It should be taken for 2 to 3 months until the migraine sufferer experiences a period "free of migraines."
Self help techniques -
There are several things a migraine sufferer can do after the onset of a migraine to help ease the pain. Hydrotherapy is easy, and it works. Contrast showers help with many ailments. Stand in water as hot as you can stand for two minutes (this increases blood flow to the skin), then as cold as you can stand for two minutes (this sends blood to the core of the body). Alternate back and forth for 20 minutes to increase blood flow and circulation, bringing nutrients to organs and carrying away toxins. Another way to use water to help with a headache is to put your feet in very cold water and a hot rag on the back of your neck. This helps bring the blood down out of your head, by sending it to your feet.
Working acupressure points such as pinching the soft tissue between your thumb and forefinger can help alleviate pain as well. Another technique is to put your thumb in your mouth on the same side as the migraine pain, reaching up to find the cheekbone. Press that bone up and out. Repeat on the other side. Then place both thumbs on the upper palate (inside the mouth) and press the sides out. Several repetitions may be necessary. Relax and breath deep. Slowly inhale and exhale all the way out.
Last but probably most important, make the necessary diet corrections. There is no substitute for water. When you are thirsty, it is not for coffee or soda, but water and only water. When you drink anything else, you need more water to flush that out. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. Eating more vegetables and juicing are the best ways to correct nutritional deficiencies and correct your body's pH. Supplements help.
