Migraines, characterized by intense and debilitating headaches, are a common ailment affecting a significant portion of the population. Fortunately, if you start a search online today, you can explore natural remedies to help treat your migraine.
In the pursuit to manage and alleviate their migraine symptoms, a growing number of individuals are turning to alternative treatments, such as herbal supplements, dietary changes, and relaxation techniques, over conventional medications.
Get 7 to 8 Hours of Sleep
While lack of sleep is a prime trigger in causing migraines, the right amount can be a helpful cure. Give your body the chance to sleep off the pain by getting the right amount of sleep that night. You can develop a migraine from having less than 6 hours or more than 8.5 hours of sleep at night.
Start going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Your body will eventually recognize your sleep cycle and become one less factor in getting migraines.
Try Some Yoga Exercises
Exercise might be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re dealing with a migraine, but hear us out. Yoga is one of the calmest forms of physical activity, and it actually targets tension, a stressor in migraines.
One study even found that people who regularly do yoga experience migraines less frequently. This low-intensity physical activity is worth a try to relax your mind, body and head.
Check Out Your Family History
If you’re experiencing migraines, it’s likely someone else in your family is too. Statistics show that a person with two parents vulnerable to migraines have a 70 percent chance of getting them as well.
Study your family history and see what treatments have and haven’t worked for those around you. If a certain cure has worked for a person in your family, there’s a chance it could work for you too.
Avoid Bright Lights And Screens
Being exposed to bright lights and electronic screens will likely intensify your migraine. Limit the amount of light around you by closing the blinds, turning off lamps, and lowering the brightness on screens.
If possible, try and take a break from electronics altogether and focus your energy on something else. Remember to use sunglasses if you’re outside or driving to lessen the impact of light.
Try Some Essential Oils
Another natural method to stop migraines is by using essential oils. Don’t apply them directly to your skin or ingest them, but use a diffuser that will elevate the scent in your home.
Aromatherapy caters to your senses and is another method that is known to reduce stress. Peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender oils are just some of the options you can choose from that are connected to helping headaches.
Drink Water
Dehydration is another factor that’s linked to causing migraines. It’s a common cause among one in three people people who experience migraines.
The moment you feel a headache coming on, start drinking some water. You should be drinking water at least once every two hours to prevent a migraine from starting or getting worse.
Avoid Certain Food and Drinks
Sorry to break the news, but some of your favorite foods could be causing your migraines. Test your diet by removing chocolate, citrus fruit, red wine, processed foods, and dairy products to see if your symptoms improve. If they do, consider having these items less often to prevent migraines from coming around.
Magnesium
Some people experience migraines because they’re lacking magnesium. This nutrient is an essential mineral that supports normal nerve and muscle function, a healthy immune system, and more.
You can get magnesium through vitamins or by eating certain foods. Almonds, milk, eggs, and peanut butter are just some foods you can incorporate into your diet to increase your magnesium intake.
Target Pressure Points
Acupressure is another method to help ease migraines. Try to relax and apply massage-like pressure to points on your face, head, and neck. You can try doing it yourself for free at home, or see a licensed professional to do it for you.
Biofeedback Therapy
While biofeedback therapy doesn’t sound like a natural remedy, it can be a powerful ally in the battle against migraines by leveraging the mind-body connection to manage and mitigate pain. This technique employs electronic monitoring to convey information about physiological processes such as muscle tension, skin temperature, and brain waves, which are usually unconscious.
By becoming aware of these physiological states, individuals can learn to alter them voluntarily. This means cultivating the ability to reduce stress and muscle tension, regulate blood flow and control body temperature—factors which are crucial in the onset and progression of migraines. Biofeedback therapy can help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and a heightened sense of awareness about their bodies, potentially leading to a reduction in the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine episodes.
Seek Help When Experiencing A Migraine
While these methods can help to ease migraines once they’ve begun, they are also great ways to prevent them from starting. If you’re experiencing migraines, also contact your family doctor and see what solutions they can offer. These pains should be taken seriously and addressed to make sure it’s not connected to another health issue.