Home remedies for Migraine

Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause intense headaches, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. It affects approximately 1 in 7 people globally.

Causes

The exact cause of migraine is not yet fully understood, but researchers believe it is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The most common triggers of migraines include stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, certain foods and drinks, weather changes, and sensory stimuli.

Risk Factors

Some people may be more prone to migraines due to certain risk factors such as age, sex (women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men), family history, and other medical conditions like depression, anxiety, or epilepsy.

• Sex: Migraines are three times more prevalent in women than in men.
• Age: Most people begin experiencing migraines between 10 and 40. But after age 50, many women discover that their headaches improve or disappear.
• Family background: Four out of five people with migraine have family who also has the condition. A child has a 50% chance of developing these headaches if one parent has a history of them. The risk increases to 75% if both parents have them.
• Other medical conditions: Your chances can increase if you have epilepsy, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or sleep disorder.

Symptoms

Migraines can be debilitating and last from a few hours to several days. The most common symptoms of migraines include:

• Throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue

Treatment

There is no cure for migraines, but several treatments are available to help manage symptoms. For more severe migraines, doctors-prescribed medications may be necessary. In addition, lifestyle changes like getting enough sleep, avoiding triggers, and practising stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga may help reduce the frequency and severity

of migraines.

Natural Ways to Reduce Migraines

Several natural remedies may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, including:

• • Getting enough sleep: Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to help reduce the risk of migraines.
  • Regular exercise: Exercise can help reduce stress and tension, which are common migraine triggers.

Managing stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to help reduce the risk of migraines.

• Avoiding triggers: Keep a diary to track potential migraine triggers, such as certain foods or drinks, and avoid them when possible.
• Acupuncture: This alternative therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines.
• Massage: Regular massages can help reduce muscle tension and alleviate migraines.

Food & Diet

Some certain foods and beverages can trigger migraines, including nitrates, chocolate, cheese containing tyramine, alcohol, MSG, cold foods and drinks, processed foods, pickled foods, beans, dried fruits, and cultured dairy products. However, a small amount of caffeine may help relieve migraine pain, although too much caffeine may trigger a migraine or cause caffeine withdrawal headaches. Keeping a daily food journal can help identify trigger foods.

Essential oils – Lavender oil & Peppermint oil

Inhaling lavender essential oil may also ease migraine pain, and a 2016 study found that three months of lavender therapy before a migraine attack reduced the frequency and severity of it. However, more research is needed. A 2020 review of studies found mixed or limited evidence supporting other herbal treatments for migraines but didn’t note strong evidence supporting using lavender.

The use of peppermint extract, vapours, and oil has been shown to reduce migraine symptoms. Peppermint is helpful for migraine pain relief. You can use a vaporiser to heat peppermint oil and ingest the vapours. 5 Boiling peppermint stems in water will yield peppermint tea. Simmer the combination for a while. In a cup, pour the peppermint tea.

The following lifestyle modifications can help avoid and treat migraine symptoms.

Ginger

Migraines can be prevented and treated with ginger, according to research. Numerous phytochemicals found in ginger may be the reason it can relieve migraines so well. To ease migraine symptoms, prepare some ginger tea. Boil some freshly crushed ginger rhizome in water to create ginger tea. After a brief simmering period, filter it, and your ginger tea is prepared to be served.

Caffeine

There is a lot of caffeine in herbs like tea, coffee, and guarana berries. Because it may either alleviate or exacerbate migraine symptoms, caffeine may be a double-edged weapon. Caffeine should be used with caution; it is recommended. Introducing coffee gradually might be the best option.

Stress Management

In 7 out of 10 migraine people, stress brings on symptoms. It might even start a vicious cycle where worry causes more migraine pain, which in turn causes more stress, and so on.

It is best to avoid circumstances that can cause stress whenever you can. Writing, exercising, and meditating might be beneficial. Take a warm bath, listen to music, or practise deep breathing as additional stress-relieving methods.

 

Compresses

Some people find that applying cool or warm compresses to their heads can be calming and lessen migraine pain.

However, individuals with circulatory issues, diabetes, or certain skin conditions should stay away from temperature extremes.

How to Cure Migraine Permanently

While there is no permanent cure for migraines, there are several strategies that may help prevent them from occurring. Some potential strategies include:

• • Identifying and avoiding triggers: Keep a diary to track potential migraine triggers, such as certain foods or drinks, and avoid them when possible.
  • Taking preventive medication: Talk to your healthcare provider about prescription medications that may help prevent migraines.
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly to help reduce the risk of migraines.

Managing stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to help reduce the risk of migraines.

• Considering alternative therapies: Acupuncture, massage, and other alternative therapies may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

When to Seek Medical Assistance from Neurologist?

It is recommended to consult a neurologist if the headache is unbearable and does not go away after several hours. It may go along with the following:

• Difficulty speaking
• Vision problems
• Mental confusion
• Seizures
• Balancing difficulty.
• A feeling of numbness or tingling
• Sudden headache

You shouldn’t depend solely on natural remedies when treating migraines at home. Instead, you should consult a neurologist if home remedies do not relieve the symptoms.

People also ask

What is the fastest way to cure a migraine?

• Switch off the lights. Sound and light can exacerbate migraine symptoms. Unwind in a silent, gloomy space.
• Try temperature treatment. Apply neck or head compresses that are hot or cold.
• Have a cup of coffee. Caffeine by itself can lessen migraine pain in its early phases when consumed in moderation.

How long can a migraine last?

Even though this is unusual, the total duration of a migraine attack, including prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome, can range from slightly longer than one day to barely more than a week. A migraine attack usually lasts between one and two days.