Effective Home Remedies for Migraine Headaches That Work Fast


Millions of people suffer from painful migraines. So, what can you do when an excruciating migraine strikes all of a sudden? Following are some great home remedies for migraine headaches that you can apply quickly and get fast relief.

A migraine is an acute headache that is extremely painful and can even be a disabling condition for many. Migraines are common among the population as a whole. In the U.S., 18% of women and 6% of men report having had at least one migraine headache in the past year. Migraines affect about 30 million people in the United States. They may occur at any age, but usually begin between the ages of 10 and 40 and may begin to diminish after age 50. Some people experience several migraines a month, while others have only a few migraines throughout their lifetime. Approximately 75% of all migraine sufferers are women.

Some people complain that visual problems accompany their migraines. These visual symptoms include; bright shimmering lights around objects or at the edges of the field of vision, zigzag lines, wavy images, or hallucinations.

Other symptoms may include severe pain in the area of the temples, around the eyes or in the back of the head. In addition, migraines may be accompanied by nausea, fatigue or tiredness, and mood changes a day or two preceding the headache.

In some cases, migraines appear to run in families. If one of your parents suffered with migraines, there is a good chance that you will get them too.

So, what events trigger severe migraines? In most cases, migraines are brought on by the following triggers; stress, anxiety, fatigue, certain medications, alcohol and certain foods. Monosodium glutamate (also know as MSG), is thought to be a factor in the cause of severe migraines for a number of people. MSG is frequent used ingredient in Chinese and Asian cuisine.

Conventional home remedies for migraine headaches focus on trigger avoidance and symptom control. If you find that eating certain foods or situations are frequently followed by a migraine, avoid it in the future. This is common sense, but many people do not make the connection between the two occurrences.

Another one of the good home remedies for migraine headaches is moderation in your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. These are common triggers. Home remedies for migraine headaches should also include getting adequate sleep, eating meals at regular intervals, and drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydration is also a very common trigger for severe migraines.

Massage therapies are often very effective forms of home remedies for migraine headaches. If you feel a migraine coming on, get a massage. Headaches and severe migraines are frequently caused by stress. When you are stressed, your muscles tighten up. A massage works to delicately stretch these tight muscles and help alleviate the accumulated stress in your body. By working the muscles in your neck and shoulders, as well as those at the base of the skull, muscles relax and the discomfort will be eliminated. Ideally, this technique works best if someone else does it for you but, if that is not an option, it is possible to give yourself a neck and head massage. A massage is one my personal favorite home remedies for migraines.

Some people get some relief by applying either a cold or warm compress to the effected area. Most people report that a cold compress works best, but if that is not effective, try a warm compress.

Acupressure is also one of the good home remedies for migraine headaches. Like acupuncture, it is a well-known alternative treatment for many medical problems that has been used for thousands of years. To get headache pain relief, squeeze the fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger for at least five minutes for one of the quick remedies for migraines. Many folks also can relieve migraine pain by gently rubbing [using small circular motions] the little indentations just in front of your ears.

If you have tried these home remedies for migraine headaches and are still in pain, there is another good alternative. Get additional information by downloading my other fast acting Home Remedies for Migraine Headaches.



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February 23, 2010 | Tags: , , | No Comments »

Natural Migraine Relief Using Vitamins, Minerals, And Herbs


Many people in our modern society rely on pills for every ache and pain they encounter. Some say this is due to the widespread use of illegal drugs that began in the 1960’s. Whether or not that is so, it is true that pharmaceutical companies are making great amounts of money through the sale of prescription drugs. Many of those drugs are being used for migraine relief.

Natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs is, to some, a better route. These migraineurs would rather not put chemicals into their bodies unless absolutely necessary. Just as they want no chemicals added to the soil or the air around them, they want to rely on natural migraine relief.

What to Try

If you choose natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs, you will want to consider the following possibilities.

1. Vitamin B2: Also known as riboflavin, vitamin B2 is said to produce dramatic migraine relief. In a 3-month study of 55 people with migraine headaches, it was found that riboflavin can make a significant difference in the number of migraines you have and the length of each attack. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that a daily dose of about 400 mg. of vitamin B2 over a period of 2 months or more gave remarkable migraine relief. Most of those who participated in this study saw the number of their migraines decrease by about 50 percent. The total number of days they suffered migraine also went down by 50 percent. While a larger study is needed, these results are encouraging to those who want natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs alone.

2. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan): 5-HTP (a natural supplement) is not found in appreciable amounts in food. This supplement is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant, the scientific name of which is Griffonia simplicifolia. The supplement 5-HTP works, at least in part, by raising serotonin levels. Since the body uses 5-HTP to make serotonin, it is thought that providing the body with 5-HTP might raise serotonin levels. In a 6-month trial of 124 people, a daily dose of 600 mg. of 5-HTP proved just as effective as the standard migraine relief drug, methysergide. The most impressive benefits were decreases in the intensity of migraine, and decreases in how long the migraine lasted. Since earlier studies proved that methysergide was better than a placebo for migraine headaches, this scientific study gives meaningful evidence that 5-HTP is also effective. Those who are seeking natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs may want to try this supplement.

3. Magnesium: In the realm of minerals, magnesium is a promising natural for migraine relief. Magnesium occurs naturally in many of our foods: fish, nuts, seeds, soybeans, whole grains, and vegetables. The effectiveness of magnesium for migraine relief has been the subject of several studies. In one study, 81 people with migraine headaches received either a daily dose of 600 mg. of magnesium or a placebo. At the end of the 9-week study, those taking magnesium daily found they had nearly 50 percent fewer headaches. The placebo group had a reduction of just under 16 percent. Similar studies indicate that magnesium reduces not only the frequency of migraine headaches, but also the seriousness of the attacks. More studies are needed, but magnesium is thought to help prevent blood vessel spasms. You may want to try this mineral for migraine relief.

4. Butterbur: Migraine relief in children is often effected with this herb. As reported in a 2005 issue of “Headache” regarding migraine, butterbur gives migraine relief. Of several studies done, the largest involved 245 people. Over a period of 4 months, these migraineurs took either a placebo or a twice-daily 50-75 mg. dose of butterbur extract. At the end of the study, it was found that the larger dose of butterbur gave greater migraine relief than the placebo. Side effects were mild, making this an option to consider for natural migraine relief.

5. Feverfew: Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is one herb that has provided natural migraine relief for many centuries, or so people have believed. 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. The scientific community has run several studies to evaluate feverfew’s effectiveness in giving migraine relief. One study involving 170 people offered either a placebo or a feverfew extract for migraine relief. Those who took feverfew were found to have significantly fewer migraine headaches per month than those taking the placebo. The frequency with feverfew decreased by 1.9 migraines; with the placebo by 1.3 migraines. It is important for you to know that not every study indicates that feverfew is effective. Results are mixed.

CAUTION: Before relying on natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs, seek the advice of a qualified health care provider. These natural remedies are not for everyone. Feverfew, for example, may interact with blood-thinning medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs).



Viagra
January 8, 2010 | Tags: , , | No Comments »