Natural Relief for Migraines

“I’ve got a headache.” This is not just an idle excuse to make fun of. Over twenty five million Americans suffer from migraines – 75% of them women. And it’s no laughing matter. But there are natural remedies that can give both immediate and long-term permanent relief.

Migraine episodes last, on average, between 6 and 48 hours and sometimes leave the person bedridden or unable to function fully. Symptoms are many, but always include intense throbbing pain, usually on just one side of the head.

Although specific causes are unknown, migraines are thought to be the result of inflammation. This can come from stress, hormonal changes (especially during menstruation, ovulation or puberty), medications (including birth control pills), MSG, alcohol, caffeine or eating certain foods (such as chocolate).

There are two main types of migraine headaches – common and classic. About 80% fall into the common migraine category without an aura. These are generally much less painful than the classic variety with auras. An aura is an array of visual disturbances (flashing lights, seeing spots, complex patterns or shapes, etc.) that occur shortly before the onset of a headache. Auras are sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Ocular migraines are often confused with classic migraines. But, although the aura experience can be similar, it occurs in only one eye. And if a headache follows, it’s usually less violent. The symptoms are only temporary and aren’t harmful to the eye. Ocular migraines can, however, interfere with reading or driving.

Migraine sufferers may find temporary relief by lying down in a cool, quiet, dark place or by applying an ice pack or cold compresses to the pulsing area. The headache will usually go away after a nap or a full nights sleep.

Once you’re free of the migraine, it’s a good time to start a prevention program. Making simple lifestyle changes can often permanently eliminate migraines. Begin by finding ways to live a less stressful life. This can take some work, but less stress will be worth the effort.

The next two steps are to start a regular moderate exercise program and switch to a healthier migraine-free diet. Avoid any food that might trigger headache symptoms. These include caffeine, chocolate, sugar, soft drinks, alcohol, processed grains and sweets (desserts, pastries, cookies, cake, sweetened cereals, etc.). These foods can be addictive, so you may have to wean yourself off of them gradually.

You can actually learn to enjoy eating a whole food diet with lots of nutritious vegetables, whole grains, fresh fruit, lean protein and pure water. This is an essential step. And, to reduce the inflammation and eliminate pain, add to your diet a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement.

Fortunately, most migraine sufferers, even those who’ve been suffering from them for many years, find they can prevent migraine headaches naturally by making these simple lifestyle changes. And, oh what a relief – to be migraine free!

Michael Byrd has over 18 years of education and experience in the fields of physical therapy, health, fitness and nutrition. His pursuit of wellness has led him to the many health benefits of fish oil and other natural whole foods that will help you to look younger, feel better and stay healthy. Get your Free nutritional CD while supplies last. Visit http://www.omega-3.us/.

Migraine Syndrome

I have coined the name—migraine syndrome—to explain many different symptoms the migraine patient experiences. The name migraine syndrome puts the emphasis on migraines. The central point with treating any of the symptoms of migraine syndrome is to properly treat the migraines. These patients are very sensitive to light, sound, smell, food, and/or stress. If migraine patients are severely overstimulated long enough they develop fibromyalgia. The migraine syndrome is the outward expression of the body’s sensitivity to light, sound, smell, food, and/or stress, and presents as migraines, sinus or neck pain, palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), vertigo, hypoglycemia, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), panic attacks, and/or fibromyalgia.

If you can identify with any of the above symptoms, you may have a sensitive body. In my experience as a medical doctor, I have seen thousands of patients who fall into this category, yet they are not aware of the root of their problem. Consequently, they are afraid, upset, tired, and confused about why they “never seem to feel well.” Again, the sensitive body handles light, sound, smells, food, stress, touch, pain, or emotions with extra sensitivity. The end result of your sensitivity produces a variety of physical symptoms. Perhaps you have been told that some of these symptoms are all in your head, but you believe they are real. In fact, you know they are real. And I know they are real also. They are the result of an electrical discharge going across the cerebral cortex creating mental mush. This electrical discharge causes the sensitive body to react, rather than handle stimulation appropriately. Most patients with over reactive bodies do not understand the connections that all of the above symptoms have in common; therefore, symptoms are treated as individual ailments when they are actually individual components of a larger picture. Only treating symptoms may or may not provide relief. These patients can be trapped in a cycle of experiencing one symptom after another, never fully understanding the underlying cause.

If you or a family member can identify with any of the above symptoms, then go to http://www.migrainesyndrome.net. I will explain how your body is wired, what causes your physical responses, and how to eliminate and manage those miserable and oftentimes debilitating effects.

J. Wes Tanner, MD is a family practice and headache specialist who has been treating people for about 30 years. He has extensive experience in treating migraines and fibromyalgia with excellent success. In Doctor, Why Do I Feel This Way?, Dr. Tanner exposes the secrets and myths about fibromyalgia and the migraine syndrome. To find out more, go to http://www.migrainesyndrome.net.

Migraine - Alternative Migraine Cures

Migraine, by definition, means half the head. The word migraine is most commonly used to describe an intense headache. The migraine headache affects approximately 15% of the population. Women are affected 3 times more than men. Children can also experience migraines, but they often experience abdominal migraines (stomach pain without the headache).

Causes of Migraine

In the past, scientists believed a narrowing and widening of blood vessels in the brain caused a migraine. Medical science now believes a migraine headache is caused by a disorder in the brain that may be genetic (passed through the family line). In this disorder electrical changes in the brain cause the release of inflammatory (swelling) chemicals, irritating nerve roots in response to certain triggers.

Triggers of Migraines

Migraine triggers can include food or chemical (particularly alcohol) intolerance, bright flashing lights, stress, physical activity, weather changes, hormonal changes, episodes of low blood sugar from poor food choices and nutritional deficiencies, or any combination of these.

Stages/Symptoms of Migraines

There are four stages typical to a migraine headache. Not all sufferers experience all stages.

1. The Prodromal Phase

This first phase experienced by 40-60% of migraine sufferers comes between just hours to several days before the headache. Symptoms include sleepiness, stiff neck, fatigue, irritability, depression, increased urination, altered bowel habits, and craving sweet foods.

2. The Aura Phase

This second phase is experienced by 20-30% of migraine sufferers. It comes just before the headache. Symptoms of this phase include seeing flashing/kaleidoscope like lights, dizziness, pins and needles/numbness on one side of the face or down one arm, difficulty speaking, an intense sense of smell, or hearing noises.

3. The Headache

The majority of migraine sufferers experience this third and main phase. It varies in intensity and is generally on only half the head. Vomiting and nausea, diarrhea, and sweating often accompany the headache. Many migraine sufferers find it necessary to lie down in a darkened room until the worst passes. This phase can last several hours to several days.

4. The Postdrome

Most migraine sufferers experience this final phase. The individual generally feels tired, irritable, and has difficulty concentrating.

Treatment

Conventional treatment includes medications to prevent the headache or to shorten the attack and relieve the headache. Alternative treatment involves a holistic approach. This would involve identifying and reducing triggers with changes in life style and diet, reducing stress, correcting nutritional deficiencies and neck and spinal misalignments.

Here are 8 top migraine cures:

1. Keep your blood sugar balanced by eating a wholefood diet with regular meals and avoiding refined foods made from white flour, sugar in any form including honey and syrup.
2. Take a nutritional supplement designed to correct a blood sugar imbalance.
3. Take a reputable food and chemical intolerance test to identify food and chemical sensitivities and avoid them.
4. Get a hair mineral analysis done to identify mineral deficiencies especially magnesium and use diet and supplements to correct these.
5. Take steps to balance your hormones through diet and nutritional supplements.
6. Reduce or avoid stress and practice relaxation techniques or yoga regularly.
7. Avoid known triggers like excessive or strenuous exercise or flashing lights.
8. Get an osteopath or chiropractor to check that your neck and spinal bones are not out of alignment.

By finding your particular triggers for migraine and eliminating them you can cure your migraines for good.
(c) 2007. Sandy Halliday, a former nurse, is a nutritionist and health researcher who is passionate about nutritional therapy and detox to prevent disease and aging and the improvement of many chronic conditions. http://www.alternativehealingpower.com http://www.thedetoxspecialist.com

Migraine Treatment Has Many Faces

According to the National Headache Foundation, over 28 million people suffer from migraine headaches. Migraine headaches are not your run-of-the-mill tension headache; they are much, much worse. Migraine headaches are usually intensely painful, disabling, and typically reoccurring. To make matters worse, migraine headaches often last for several days. If you are among the estimated 28 million people who suffer from this debilitating condition then you might be well served by pursuing migraine treatment.

The first step in migraine treatment is seeing your physician. The doctor must be certain of the type of headache that is causing your suffering, and the symptoms alone may not be sufficient for making a confident diagnosis. Migraine treatment will likely begin with a thorough physical examination and headache evaluation. Only after other potential causes have been eliminated can you and your doctor begin to narrow your treatment options.

If no causes for your migraines are evident your doctor might tell you to begin keeping a headache diary. A headache diary is used to help identify what things are migraine triggers for you. The list of migraine triggers is as varied as the people who suffer from migraines. Stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, foods or food additives, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, even bright lights; all of these things, and more, trigger migraine headaches in some people. By using a migraine diary you are more likely to identify the conditions that make a migraine possible for you.

Once you have identified the sources of your migraines, you can begin working toward an effective migraine treatment. Often it is possible to curb or even eliminate your migraine headaches by strictly avoiding the foods and conditions that you have identified in your headache diary.

It is possible that the use of a headache diary can be an effective, preventative, migraine treatment for some; others will need additional help that natural prevention methods can not provide. Abortive medications are taken at the moment you begin to feel the all too familiar symptoms of an impending migraine headache. However, if your headaches are exceptionally disabling or frequent – more than three per month - then you may not want to wait until they start to begin taking medication.

Various drugs have proven to be an effective migraine treatment. Beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants all have a demonstrated record of migraine prevention. Migraine treatment that focuses on prevention can allow frequent sufferers to reduce the amount of pain medication they are using and the side effects those medications may have.

It is important to remember that none of these options for migraine treatment should be tackled alone. Like all matters involving your health and medication, it is imperative that you consult with your physician before embarking on any migraine treatment regimen.
For easy to understand, in depth information about migraine treatment visit our ezGuide 2 Migraine.

Best Migraine Prevention Medicines

Migraine headaches are a destructive part of life for nearly 11 out of 100 people. During migraine episodes, they can barely function. They curtail daily activities, and all of life seems distorted. Between episodes, they may feel anxious about the next one, and wish for some form of migraine prevention.

Although guaranteed migraine prevention seems to be more a promise than a reality as of the writing of this article, you do have options for treating symptoms, and, better yet, options for possible migraine prevention.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Although migraines seem to run in families, migraine prevention does not always run in the same course. For some migraineurs, prevention is as simple as changing a few habits. For others, migraine prevention seems to require strong medication.

What are the best migraine prevention medicines for you? The ultimate answer must be decided by you and your physician. We offer here a number of medicines for consideration.

Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

This is the first line of migraine prevention – beginning at the minimal strength, minimal dosage to see if it will be a solution. Among these migraine prevention medicines are the following.

1. Aspirin in a regimen dose, i.e., tiny 81 mg tablets, commonly called “baby aspirin”. For migraine prevention, these would be taken daily, just as they are to reduce risks of heart disease.

2. Ibuprofen such as Motrin, Nuprin, or Advil may be taken occasionally. Your physician will advise as to how often you should take ibuprofen for migraine prevention. People with active stomach ulcers or sensitive stomachs will not want to use ibuprofen, since it has aspirin-like effects. If you take ibuprofen, take it with food to minimize the effect. You should also be aware that ibuprofen has a blood thinning effect that can reduce the effectiveness of some blood pressure medicines and diuretics.

3. Naproxen may be effective for you, under its more common name, Aleve. This medicine may reduce the number of your migraines, but is not likely to give total migraine prevention.

4. A fourth OTC pain reliever you may want to try at the first sign of a migraine is Excedrin Migraine.

Ask your doctor before taking any of these regularly for migraine prevention.

Common Prescription Medicines

If OTC medicines fail to provide the degree of migraine prevention you seek, you may want to try a prescription medicine. Prescription strength pain relievers have been found to reduce the number of migraine episodes for more than half of all migraineurs. A few of the many prescription medicines available to you are listed here.

1. Ponstel, Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan, and Topamax. Topamax claims to be the U.S. #1 prescribed brand for migraine prevention. Prescription strength Naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan) thins the blood, so your physician may not choose this as a fit for you if you are taking oral blood thinners or anticoagulants. Naproxen can have adverse gastrointestinal side effects also, so you should not use it if you have an active ulcer or sensitive stomach. Most doctors believe it is better to use medicines of this type continuously over a period of time to build up the effectiveness and provide ongoing migraine prevention rather than just pain relief.

2. Another class of prescription medicines that may give migraine prevention is Beta-blockers. These drugs, more often used to reduce high blood pressure, are sometimes helpful in cutting down on the number of migraine episodes. Of those that may give effective migraine prevention are inderal, Lopressor, metoprolol, nadolol, and timolol.

3. Physicians are gradually learning that antidepressants also provide migraine prevention for some patients. It is believed that this is due to the medicines’ effects on serotonin, the brain’s chemical messenger that influences migraine.

Which Size Is Right for You?

There are many other medicines, both prescription and non-prescription that are thought to provide a measure of migraine prevention. Like shopping for a new pair of dress shoes, you may have to try several before you find the one or two that work for you. Be sure to do your migraine prevention “shopping” with a health care provider, as he or she will know the possible side effects or interactions with medication you are already taking.

©2007, Anna Hart. Member of a “migraine family” and sympathizer with all migraineurs, Anna invites you to read more of her articles about the prevention of migraine headaches at http://www.migrainereliefblog.com/ You won’t want to miss Anna’s flip-side insights and perspectives on the best migraine prevention without medicines.

Migraine Home Remedy-Migraine Headache Sympton Relief Ideas

Sometimes a migraine can be treated without a person having to resort to prescribed or over the counter medicines. In this article we will look at some migraine home remedy treatments that you may wish to try in place of traditional western medicines. Such treatments are commonly known as alternative medicines and migraine home remedies are not made up of complex chemical compounds but rather are based on common sense and know how.

One of the most inexpensive forms of treating a migraine at home is the ice wrap. The types you can buy in your drugstore are meant to be placed on either the forehead or neck of the victim but you can easily produce one of these at home. What you need to do is get a towel and wet it liberally then squeeze (but do not wring out) some of the water. Next fold the towel until you can easily place it in your freezer and leave it for about 5 minutes or until the towel has begun to stiffen. Unfold it and then refold it and placing the frozen sections in the middle and the wet parts of the towel to the outside. Once the towel has become reasonably frozen then place it around your head and eyes. For some this offers migraine headache symptom relief.

Why not try to increase your salt consumption? If you feel a migraine beginning to start then eat a pack of corn chips (Fritos are good) or get some fries and cover with a lot of salt (or any other type of salty food) as these will help to calm a migraine attack. Although sometimes this method may not work it can provide you with a period of time in order to prepare the frozen towel treatment. It's not often we're told to eat salt! But this is a popular migraine home remedy and there are people who claim migraine headache symptom solutions from it.

The next migraine home remedy treatment we will look at for a migraine will need the assistance of another person. What you need to do is go into a quietened dark room and relax as someone massages your scalp for you. They should massage your head and not your temples and 10 minutes of this treatment should do the trick. See how it works for you and if it offers migraine headache symptom help.

However a great way of relieving a migraine is to prevent it and so closely scrutinise your lifestyle and see what could be causing your migraines. It may be a certain food you are eating or because you have not had enough sleep. Whilst others find that bright or flashing lights, loud noise or stress can cause a migraine attack. By defining what is causing your migraine attacks will go a long way to helping controlling and relieving them in the future.

As you can see there are plenty of migraine home remedy treatments to choose from and it's best to find what's suited for you.
Dee Cohen is a writer and publisher of health topics. Stop by Home Remedy for Migraine to learn effecctive tips for relief at http://www.headache-tip-news.com/1/migraine-pain.html

3 Natural Cures For A Migraine Headache

Only a migraine sufferer understands the pain. Regardless of how the migraine starts the end result is the same - excruciating pain that renders you helpless. Walking hurts, breathing hurts. Even thinking hurts.

People often discount migraines without any true understanding of the suffering a migraine can inflict. They treat migraine sufferers like hypochondriacs or drama queens. This is simply not so.

There are any number of painkillers and pills available to help curb the pain. The issue here is that many of these painkillers require repeat prescriptions and involve an ongoing cost.

The other side effect of many of the prescribed medicines is that they can help with the pain of the migraine headache itself but tend to have a "knockout" effect on the sufferer.

Most migraine sufferers will be familiar with the "where did the day go?" effect of many of the stronger painkillers.

There are natural remedies to the migraine plague. They're simple and cheap (if not free).
None of these are to replace prescribed medication but can be used in conjunction with your medication to bring relief about faster.

They also complement each other.

Dark Room

If you suffer from migraine headaches and an attack begins then find the quietest, darkest spot in your home and lay down there. The area or should also be relatively warm to allow you to relax faster. Your eyes should remain covered but open. This usually means using some sort of blindfold but a scarf, long handkerchief or other material works just fine. Keep your eyes open as much as possible because experience has shown that shutting your eyes to try and cope with the pain uses extra facial and jaw muscles that can just increase the problem and not cure it.

If an attack has already begun then follow the same routine and take whatever prescribed medication you have.

Relaxed Breathing

A migraine attack generally brings on a sort of anxiety attack in the sufferer. They know how much it's going to hurt so their heart rate increases. This increase in blood flow makes the problem worse.

Once you've retreated to the quiet, dark area and covered your eyes from any possible stimuli then breathing is the next area to focus on. You must let your breathing relax. Panicked breathing will increase the pain you're already experiencing.

To allow your breathing to relax follow these steps:

1. Take a long slow deep breath and exhale equally slowly.

2. Again take a long, slow deep breath. As you're slowly inhaling focus on the sensation of the air filling your lungs. Feel the air filling your body. Once you've inhaled as much as is comfortable again exhale slowly. As you're exhaling focus on the sensation of the air leaving your lungs and escaping through your mouth. Breathe out completely.

3. Repeat the process of inhaling slowly, focusing on the sensation of the air filling your lungs and exhaling slowly 4 or 5 more times.

4. By the fourth repetition you should notice that your breathing is far more relaxed and calm. Your heart rate should now also have lowered back to a resting rate and you may even feel slighly sleepy. If so embrace that feeling and allow yourself to fall asleep.

Lavender Oil

This is the final step in the process. Lavender oil is renowned for its medicinal properties and this is doubly so for migraine headaches. Lavender oil is cheap and completely safe to use. Only use pure Lavender oil for treating migraines - lavender scented fragrances or scented oils are useless. It must be the purest lavender oil you can find.

If you feel a migraine attack coming then grab your lavender oil. Place a single drop of pure, undiluted lavender oil on each temple or behind each ear. Also place 2 or 3 drops of undiluted lavender oil on the pillow you're going to rest on.

Combined with a quiet, dark room and the deep breathing technique the lavender oil provides that final "punch" in the natural treatments. The scent of the oil will relax you and simply inhaling lavender infused air helps to ease the pain of a migraine almost immediately.
This article was provided by MirgraineHelper where you can find lots more information on natural remedies for migraines and the cause for migraine headaches

Causes Of Migraine Headaches

I would like to thank you for visiting and reading this article. The substance has been cautiously researched and attested for your benefit.

Headaches in any form are very unspeakable to the sufferer. Some headaches like migraines can cause more problems than just a headache. These problems could be nausea, light sensitivity and a throbbing pain in the head. Sometimes the headache pain is felt on one side of the head.

At others you can feel the hurting on both sides of your head. The factual causes of migraine headaches has not been found as of yet.There are a few theories as to why we experience migraine headaches. The most common possibility is that a change in the blood flow within the brain is one of the trip causes of migraine headaches. The other theory about migraine headache is thought to be a pain sensing nerve releasing chemicals named neuropathies. Many medical checkup professionals speculate that the neuropathies relaxes the smooth muscle that surrounds the cranial blood vessels.

This rest causes the blood vessels to dilate or get constricted. This blood vessel relaxation increases the flow of blood and other cranial fluid to the brain.

These fluids are thought to be the causes of migraine headaches. These cranial fluids cause inflammation, painfulness sensitivity, weave and blood vessel swelling during the time of migraine headaches. Some people think that the aura that is seen during a migraine headache is caused by the constriction of blood vessels that became dilated during the beginning phase of migraine headaches. Another possibility as to the causes of migraine headaches has been linked to genetics and inheritance.

These theories state that a child of migraine sufferers will have a 50% chance of acquiring migraine headaches. The chances go even greater of inheriting migraine headaches if both parents are known to sustain from this afflictive headache.Should both parents be known to have frequent migraine headaches the chances of the child inheriting migraine headache symptoms is about 70%.

Now even though some professionals think that inheritance plays a large part in migraine headaches the genes that may be wise as the causes of migraine headaches have not been identified or even isolated.

When we begin to experience migraine headaches the only word of advice signs that we may receive are a throbbing hurting in the temple area and light nausea. As the migraine symptoms pass on the pain of the headaches become much worse.

Unfortunately since the causes of migraine headaches have not been found and we don’t know what can trip these attacks, the medications to address these headaches have not been developed.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and found the info useful and interesting.
Michael Malega presents several sinus headache articles for your information.
Michael Malega presents several causes of migraine headaches articles for your information. You can visit Michael's web site here Causes Of Migraine Headaches

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are one of the most common problems seen in doctors’ offices and emergency departments. Of the two types of migraines, common migraine accounts for about 80% of migraines. However, the classic migraines are usually the severer of the two. Yet another type of migraine headaches is Status Migrainosus, where the migraine does not go away by itself.

The body chemical serotonin is believed to be the primary cause of migraine headaches. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it affects the blood vessels. High levels of serotonin shrink blood vessels, while a fall in levels swells them. Although considerable research has already been done on migraines, the exact cause of migraines remains a mystery. Some experts believe that migraine headaches could be because of an expansion of blood vessels that results in the release of certain chemicals in the body.

Migraine headaches are not limited to adults alone. Children can also have stresses leading to headaches. Experts are of the opinion that migraine headaches that are associated with nausea and vomiting often begin in childhood, and the frequency increases as children pass through puberty. Usually, girls are the ones who are affected the most during their adolescent years. The pain during a migraine headache can be intense and can prevent people, particularly women, from living their daily life. However, the intensity of the headache varies from person to person.

Certain foods items and lifestyle factors, like stress, trigger migraine headaches. Therefore, it is advisable that individuals with migraine problems should try to limit or completely avoid certain foods and stressful lifestyles. For avoiding stress, you can seek the advice of your doctor on starting a program on relaxation skills. You can start eating a healthy diet and use prescribed medicines, although there were instances where excessive dependence on medicines were observed to cause a condition called ‘rebound headaches.’ It is advisable for children to start learning relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, early on so that they are able to cope with migraines as they grow up. Children should not be given over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin since it increase their risk of Reye’s Syndrome, a problem in children that causes fever, nausea and severe vomiting, amongst other health problems.

It is advisable that migraine patients keep a record of the frequency of migraine headache. Such a record enables doctors to diagnose the frequency and intensity of migraines and suggest remedial steps for the future. While migraines are difficult to handle, the fact remains that the disease can be controlled through a disciplined approach.
Migraine provides detailed information on Migraines, Migraine Headaches, Migraine Treatments, Migraine Symptoms and more. Migraine is affiliated with Frequent Headaches.