Drugs have become a popular way to deal with migraine headaches. But is there a healthier option that does not have any unwanted side effects? Yes. Below in the following paragraphs you will find some proven natural holistic ways to find migraine headache relief.
In this modern day society with all the added stresses of life and our modern lifestyle it is no wonder everyone is having more headaches. Headaches can fall into 2 distinct categories called primary and secondary. A primary headache is only caused by a headache and these include tension, migraine and cluster headaches. A secondary headache is often the symptom of some other process going on in the body. Common examples include brain tumor, infection or injury.
Successful migraine headache relief means finding the cause of the problem and addressing it. Two culprits for triggering migraines are negative emotions and stress. Also thrown into the mix are chemical, food, and environmental triggers that can all lead to headaches. Medication is a commonly used migraine headache relief. But this just covers up the symptoms and does little to correct the problem. Plus it has unwanted side effects and will lose it's effectiveness over time.
A far better and safer approach is to use a natural alternative for pain relief which can be very effective. Everyone is different and the causative factors for everyone's migraine headache is also different. With this in mind realize that finding migraine headache relief that works for you may involve some trial and error. Below you will find some suggestions to get you started.
Research has shown that the brain of migraine and headache sufferers operates very differently. It is often overly sensitive to light, so one of the easiest things you can do is get a good pair of sunglasses and wear them whenever you are outside. Polaroid sunglasses are the best at properly reducing the amount of light and glare. Also start taking a magnesium supplement. Magnesium is probably the most deficient mineral in our present day diet and involved in over 300 processes in the body. Two of them are inhibition of pain and muscle tension. Research has shown good improvement in migraine headaches with 3 months of magnesium supplementation.
A good solution for tension headaches is a hot bath. This will relax the muscles and ease their tight contraction. Your whole body will feel relaxed. Because stress can be a trigger for headaches exercises can be good to combat this. Simple activities like a jog, swim or brisk walk will improve your blood flow and release any tension in your body and mind.
Another cause of headaches can be dehydration. Dehydration can lead to excessive muscle spasm. Aim to have at least eight glasses of water per day. Limit your intake of caffeinated and carbonated beverages as these cause dehydration. Also explore the use of hot or cold packs to ease your headaches. Warming the neck and shoulder muscles can help with tension or the coldness on parts of the head can provide pain relief from the migraine.
Some individuals have found that aromatherapy or particular smells can provide migraine headache relief. Use only pleasant smells such as eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint. You can put them in an oil burner or put a little on a handkerchief that you take with you in your pocket and smell throughout the day. Also some people have found acupressure or acupuncture helpful to ease headache pain.
One great thing to do is a massage which can be good for the muscles. For headache relief concentrate on the head, neck and shoulder area. This can do wonders for stress relief. Also a key factor is sleep. Having a regular sleep cycle can be key to settling down your headaches. Both too little or too much sleep can cause a headache. So try and establish a routine with your sleep and be regular with going to bed and rising times. The above mentioned ideas are a great natural starting point for migraine headache relief, give them a go all you have to lose is the pain in your head.