What Natural Remedies Can You Take for Migraine Headaches? Part 1

The National Headache Foundation says that more than 29.5 million Americans have migraine, and although some rely on prescription medications, a growing number prefer natural remedies for migraine headaches.

A natural remedy for migraine headaches might be anything from herbs to supplements, acupuncture to aromatherapy.

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Choosing a Natural Remedy for Migraine

If you choose a natural remedy for migraine treatment, you might try something from one or more of these categories.

Seven Nutrients

These nutrients are listed alphabetically to avoid indicating a preference.

1. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)

5-HTP is a compound the body produces from tryptophan, an amino acid. The body uses it to make serotonin. Since supplements that affect serotonin levels are used for migraines, 5-HTP has been put forward as an effective natural remedy for migraine treatment.

2. Butterbur

An extract of butterbur root has been found to be an effective natural remedy for migraine in children and adolescents. A clinical trial of this herb was reported in an early 2005 issue of the journal "Headache". Butterbur appears to relieve pain and spasms.

3. Fatty Acids

Research done in the U.S. suggests that fish oil combined with magnesium taurate may be a great natural remedy for migraine. Both reduce blood vessel spasms, which appear to be the main cause of migraines.

4. Feverfew

This herb has long been considered a natural remedy for migraine and other headaches. Feverfew relieves pain and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It treats migraine by inhibiting the platelets' release of blood vessel-dilating substances. It also inhibits the production of inflammatory substances.

5. Magnesium

This mineral is one of the most promising natural remedies for migraine headaches. Contained in fish, nuts, seeds, soybeans, whole grains, and vegetables, magnesium is needed for healthy muscle, nerve and blood vessel tone. As a natural remedy for migraine, it is thought to help prevent blood vessel spasms.

6. Petasite (Petasites hybridus)

It was in Germany that Petasite was found to be an effective natural remedy for migraine. German researchers showed that people taking Petasite had fewer migraine attacks, and their attacks were shorter. They also had less pain than those taking a placebo.

7. Vitamin B2

Belgian researchers in a 1998 double-blind study learned that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) gave more effective migraine relief than a placebo. This natural remedy reduced both the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Manual Therapy

Since no one treatment will work for everyone, you may want a natural remedy for migraine that involves manual therapy. Two possibilities are acupuncture and shiatsu.

1. Acupuncture

The Chinese art of acupuncture triggers relief by inserting delicate needles at specific points in the neck and head. Many people, including German researchers, have found it an effective natural remedy for migraine. Acupuncture is commonly used for migraines in Germany.

The researchers gave almost 900 patients one of three treatments: standard migraine drugs, traditional Chinese acupuncture, or "fake" acupuncture. Those who received "fake" acupuncture treatments had needles inserted in areas of the skin not used in traditional practice. In each group, virtually the same percentage of people cut in half the number of days affected by migraine each year.

2. Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of acupressure rather than acupuncture. As a natural remedy for migraine, shiatsu massage helps relieve tension and reduce stress. Whereas migraine tends to block blood flow or cause "overflow" to the lower head, shiatsu massage releases the blood flow and energy, restoring natural flow.

You can learn to do shiatsu for your own migraines, and get almost instant relief. Or have a family member give you shiatsu. The technique is simple, and regular massages are both preventative and remedial.

In a future article, we will consider the value of additional natural remedies for migraine headaches. If you are pregnant, be sure you ask your health care professional before using this advice. All migraine sufferers should seek professional counsel on using a natural remedy for migraine.

What Natural Remedies Can You Take for Migraine Headaches? Part 1

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3 Natural Cures For A Migraine Headache

Only a migraine sufferer understands the pain. Regardless of how the migraine starts the end result is the same - excruciating pain that renders you helpless. Walking hurts, breathing hurts. Even thinking hurts.

People often discount migraines without any true understanding of the suffering a migraine can inflict. They treat migraine sufferers like hypochondriacs or drama queens. This is simply not so. There are any number of painkillers and pills available to help curb the pain. The issue here is that many of these painkillers require repeat prescriptions and involve an ongoing cost. The other side effect of many of the prescribed medicines is that they can help with the pain of the migraine headache itself but tend to have a "knockout" effect on the sufferer.

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Most migraine sufferers will be familiar with the "where did the day go?" effect of many of the stronger painkillers. There are natural remedies to the migraine plague. They're simple and cheap (if not free). None of these are to replace prescribed medication but can be used in conjunction with your medication to bring relief about faster. They also complement each other.

Dark Room

If you suffer from migraine headaches and an attack begins then find the quietest, darkest spot in your home and lay down there. The area or should also be relatively warm to allow you to relax faster. Your eyes should remain covered but open. This usually means using some sort of blindfold but a scarf, long handkerchief or other material works just fine. Keep your eyes open as much as possible because experience has shown that shutting your eyes to try and cope with the pain uses extra facial and jaw muscles that can just increase the problem and not cure it.

If an attack has already begun then follow the same routine and take whatever prescribed medication you have.

Relaxed Breathing

A migraine attack generally brings on a sort of anxiety attack in the sufferer. They know how much it's going to hurt so their heart rate increases. This increase in blood flow makes the problem worse. Once you've retreated to the quiet, dark area and covered your eyes from any possible stimuli then breathing is the next area to focus on. You must let your breathing relax. Panicked breathing will increase the pain you're already experiencing.

To allow your breathing to relax follow these steps:

1. Take a long slow deep breath and exhale equally slowly.

2. Again take a long, slow deep breath. As you're slowly inhaling focus on the sensation of the air filling your lungs. Feel the air filling your body. Once you've inhaled as much as is comfortable again exhale slowly. As you're exhaling focus on the sensation of the air leaving your lungs and escaping through your mouth. Breathe out completely.

3. Repeat the process of inhaling slowly, focusing on the sensation of the air filling your lungs and exhaling slowly 4 or 5 more times.

4. By the fourth repetition you should notice that your breathing is far more relaxed and calm. Your heart rate should now also have lowered back to a resting rate and you may even feel slightly sleepy. If so embrace that feeling and allow yourself to fall asleep.

Lavender Oil

This is the final step in the process. Lavender oil is renowned for its medicinal properties and this is doubly so for migraine headaches. Lavender oil is cheap and completely safe to use. Only use pure Lavender oil for treating migraines - lavender scented fragrances or scented oils are useless. It must be the purest lavender oil you can find.

If you feel a migraine attack coming then grab your lavender oil. Place a single drop of pure, undiluted lavender oil on each temple or behind each ear. Also place 2 or 3 drops of undiluted lavender oil on the pillow you're going to rest on.

Combined with a quiet, dark room and the deep breathing technique the lavender oil provides that final "punch" in the natural treatments. The scent of the oil will relax you and simply inhaling lavender infused air helps to ease the pain of a migraine almost immediately.

3 Natural Cures For A Migraine Headache

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