Migraine headaches are a chronic recurrent neurologic disorder. The syndrome can present differently for individuals but share some common symptoms. There appears to be a strong heredity component. Many people refer to any headache as a migraine, but while every migraine is a headache, not every headache is a migraine.
Common symptoms of migraine include a severe headache, often on one side of the head associated with vomiting, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity. Those affected can experience an aura before the headache occurs, a sensory awareness that it is coming. It can be a change in vision, a bussing sound or a vague feeling.
There are several migraine variant syndromes. These include ocular migraine, estrogen dependent migraine and cluster migraines. There is a definite sex predilection in that the ration of migraine sufferers is female to male 3:1.
Medical Treatment
There are a variety of medications for a migraine headache, most therapy tries to prevent them or abort the syndrome as soon as it starts. Once fully involved, only strong narcotic analgesia and medication to control vomiting can provide relief. Drugs like Imitrex and Maxault are selective serotonin receptor agonists and work centrally to abort the migraine syndrome progression.
Here are five home remedies for a migraine. While they may not resolve the syndrome, they will hopefully improve the symptoms.
Number 1
Acupressure
Acupressure therapy is known to alleviate some of the migraine symptoms. It is usually done by a specialist but can be done by yourself or your better half as well. It means putting pressure on some body parts that have a direct effect on your pain and the pain is directly stimulated.
According to a study, it is a great therapy for those with chronic headaches and it can also relieve nausea associated with a migraine.
Number 2
Lavender, Basil, and Peppermint Oils
Natural oils are usually good in treating different health conditions, and the above do not make any difference. The oils are typically applied to the temples and massaged in order to enter well into the skin. However, you can also use them as inhalers – pour some drops into the boiling water and inhale the vapors. Make sure you do not actually ingest any of it.
Peppermint oil also helps control the blood flow that eventually improves the oxygen intake.
If you need to take a bath to relieve some of the migraine pain, adding some drops of peppermint oil in the bath will help.
Number 3
Ginger
This is not an easy natural remedy, as few people are those that actually like the ginger taste. However, it does a lot of hood to different health conditions and migraines are one of them. It is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances.
250 mg of ginger powder decreases the severity and duration of a migraine just like the headache medication – sumatriptan. If you cannot stand the taste of the ginger powder in the tea or ginger root, you can opt for ginger powder capsule intake.
Overall, health experts consider ginger a beneficial superfood that one can add to his daily intake even though one has no health-related issues.
Number 4
Massage
Massage is good for everyone and making time to have a weekly massage will improve your health – improve the stress level, decrease the cortisol levels, anxiety and heart rate.
All the above will help reduce the tension and the migraine pain.
You can either opt for a professional massage center or try to massage your neck and shoulders. Depending on the pain location, you can also massage your forehead. Use some relaxing massage cream for this.
Number 5
Water
Not enough water intake can cause a serious headache. This is because of the dehydration your body feels and the tension it creates because of this.
If you know you have not had too much water intake throughout the day and have a headache, you should drink some water and in between 30 to 3 hours, the pain will go away. Water is the one that hydrates the body the most, so replacing it with juices is not an answer.
If you suffer from severe dehydration, you need some oral rehydration electrolytes solution and then continue to hydrate with water.
While this is not such a serious health condition, on long run it can affect your every day chores, your life and eventually cause more serious heakth problems.