Natural Ways to Manage Migraines
Migraines are excruciatingly painful headaches that can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. They tend to surface between the ages of 10 and 30 and occur twice as often in women as in men. During an episode, the eyes are very sensitive to light, and hearing seems heightened. Migraines can also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or a tingling sensation in the arms and legs. Many migraine sufferers say they can “feel one coming on” because they see flashes of light or get blind spots. Others say they slip into a negative frame of mind that can range from sadness to anger to just plain lethargy.
Roughly 1/3 of all migraines are thought to be caused primarily by food allergies. Other factors include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), stress, genetic, strong odors or smoke, and pollutants and chemical irritants. Identifying—and then avoiding— the “trigger” that causes your migraine is the best thing you can do for this condition, because once the headache is in full force, little can be done. Still, we have some suggestions that can help prevent or at last lessen the intensity of a flare-up.
Agrimony. This liver-detoxifying herb may help prevent migraines.
Almonds. Indigenous to North Africa and western Asia, almonds are readily available in American markets. These tasty nuts have a pain-relieving ingredient in them—similar to aspirin—that can be used to ease migraines.
Bee propolis. This brown resin is loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes—a whole lot of nutrition in one package that can help prevent some migraines.
Calcium. Calcium is an important supplement even for people who don’t get migraines. It is best taken at night, because it also has a calming effect on the body and helps promote sleep.
That same calming effect helps migraine sufferers by relaxing muscles in the head and easing tightening in the temples.
Chromium. If you suffer from low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, you are a likely candidate for a migraine, and a chromium supplement may help you by regulating your blood sugar levels.
Evening primrose. Herbalists say that the oil of the evening primrose, when taken in capsule form twice a day, can help loosen the tight muscles that accompany a migraine.
Feverfew. This member of the daisy family has been used extensively in Europe to treat migraines, and studies in both Europe and the U.S. have shown that this herb unquestionably relieves the pain. Feverfew has an anti-inflammatory agent that helps dilate the tight, constricted blood vessels that are characteristic of migraines. It also contains a compound that stops blood vessel spasms from occurring. Feverfew is most effective if taken in capsule from every day as a preventive. However, it is still helpful during a flare-up, and its healing properties are multiplied if it is combined with the tincture of a natural sedative like valerian or Jamaican dogwood. CAUTION: Although you can chew one small feverfew leaf every day to prevent migraines, some people develop sores in their mouths from this practice. You may want to try the capsule from, instead. Also, stay away from feverfew if you’re on a blood-thinning medication like Coumadin.
Fish oil. Omega-3 fish oils have natural anti-inflammatory properties that ease the pain of a migraine headache without the need for aspirin (which can actually aggravate the condition).
Ginger. Ginger has an agent that relaxes muscle spasms and lessens the tightness that is brought on by a migraine attack.
Lavender. Not only does this flower have a delightful scent, it is a natural sedative, analgesic, and antispasmodic. Make yourself a soothing rub of one part lavender oil mixed with two parts olive oil, and massage it on your throbbing temples.
Magnesium. Many migraine sufferers may be victims of a magnesium deficiency. So try supplementing with this essential mineral if you’re prone to this condition.
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Michele Cagan is an alternative health researcher and reporter. Ms. Cagan authored the alternative health book, Act 50 Think 40 Feel 30 - The Doctor's Secrets to Living Younger Everyday (Agora Health Books), with Allan Spreen, M.D.
Ms. Cagan is also a contributing writer and researcher for Health Science Institute.
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Michele Cagan is an alternative health researcher and reporter. Ms. Cagan authored the alternative health book, Act 50 Think 40 Feel 30 - The Doctor's Secrets to Living Younger Everyday (Agora Health Books), with Allan Spreen, M.D.
Ms. Cagan is also a contributing writer and researcher for Health Science Institute.
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Anonymous
thank you for the info. I have many friends who suffer from migrains and I will be passing this information to them. Thank you again
Mr. Jorma Takala
I have aspergers syndrome, or I am a high functioning autistic.
While I discovered the cause of my migraine headaches I was able to figure out exactly what causes them and just how it happens.
Margarine and artificial food additives like the petroleum and wood based coal tar colors, flavors and preservtives are the primary cause.
These additives and margarine cause our body to react to them as if they are allergens, often resulting in an anaphylactic reaction.
Most often accompanied by a headache, swelling of the lymph nodes and rashes and other symptoms including the tingling of your limbs.
When you consume any margarine and, or artifical food additives, they effect the cisterna magna, a sort of viaduct through which fluid is allowed to enter and escape the cranial cavity (Where your brain is at, in your skull), located in or near the brain stem.
They cause the cisterna magna to swell, blocking the flow of those essential fluids and your migraine headache is an intra-cranial pressure.
That intra-cranial pressure or fluid build-up in your skull is your migraine!
The same thing happens in the cranium of a developing fetus during gestation and is the primary cause of the birth defect known as Autism.
Only the damage is much worse for that unborn child.
It causes a hypoplasia, or arrested development and often times hemmorhages(bruising) then scarring in the unborn childs brain = autism.
(detailed in my yet to be approved article entitled "The story of how I discovered the cause of Autism")
When I consume foods that are improperly labeled and I get a migraine, I take two dye free benadryl gel capsules and two excedrin (contains no dye) my migraine is gone within 30 minutes!
Pregnant women should not consume any artificial additives, or margarine before, during, or after pregnancy.
Because it all affects your child.
Also, because of the proximity of the medulla and cerebellum to the brain stem and cisterna magna, this explains the mood swings and instantaneous anger and perhaps the tingling, twitching or myoclonic jerking (often mistaken as muscle spasm) that most migraine sufferers may have. I know I did!
The medulla controls anger, jealousy and rage. Explains the mood swings
The cerebellum controls our most basic motor functions. (the tingling, twitching and, or tremors,
When I stoppd eating margarine and all foods containing artificial food additives I inadvertantly ended a 44 year old bipolar manic disorder.
Confirmed by a psychologist here in my town. It is in remission and all I did was change my diet.
You can try the benadryl and excedrine, provided that you consult your physician and confirm that there will be on adverse interactions with any medications you are currently taking.
Especially if the medications you take contain alot of colorants.
Taking those means your taking the same thing that caused the migraines in the first place!
One step forward, two steps back!
Mr. Jorma Takala
Above it mentioned food allergies.
Everybody is allergic to consuming coal tar additives.
No one is immune to that!
If you have no known food allergies... You do now!
Stacey Chadwick
I got my first migraine in 6th grade...I'm now 37 years old and still get them. I can go months and months without one then all of a sudden I get them all the time. The last 2 weeks I've had 7 of them. Any suggestions on what I can use other than the prescription drugs I've used before when I get one to lessen it?? I'm at the point I would probably try Voodoo just in the hopes it might help a little.
Mr. Jorma Takala
Take two dye free benadryl gel capsules nd two excedrin (they're dye free)
That is all I take for a migraine and its gone within about 30 minutes or less!
Stop using margarine and all artificial colors, flavors and the preservatives NHA. NHT and TBHQ.
To do this you have to read the labels of any foods that you might eat and it you see it contains artificial additives, colors, flavors or those preservatives.
Don't buy it, don't eat it, Dont use it!
Check out the blog on my myspace page entitled How I discovered the cause of Autism, the cause of autism is the same thing that causes your migraine headaches and mine are gone, unless I eat some artificial additives by accident and only then do I take the dye free benadryl gel caps.
Consult your doctor, or pharmacist and make absolutely sure that any other medications you are taking do not interact with the benadryl, or the aspirin/acetomenophen combination used in excedrin.
It really works!
Mr. Jorma Takala
Correction:
BHA and BHT
Further comment, Taking natural remedies might not be so good when the migraines are part of an allergic reaction.
Avoiding these toxic foods and food additives might be the only real way to stop migraines!
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