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If you are a migraine patient and deal with it quite often, know that you can prevent the symptoms and curb down the pain with simple lifestyle changes and home remedies. 

No one should ever go through the ordeal of Migraine pain. Migraine is considered the most terrible kind of headache, worse than sinus or stress pain. That’s because migraine pain is often followed by bouts of nausea, mood swings, extreme sensitivity to sound and light, and vomiting. A migraine attack can drain an individual emotionally and physically, which can hamper their daily activities.

If you are a migraine patient and deal with it quite often, know that you can prevent the symptoms and curb down the pain with simple lifestyle changes and home remedies. In the long-run, the following home remedies, coupled with medications, will help you beat the Migraine more effectively. 

Why migraine pain occurs?

Migraines are chronic and painful headaches, often recurring, caused by abnormal activities in the brain. According to the American Migraine Association, around 12 to 15% of the American population is affected by Migraine. 

While the cause of Migraine is not clear yet, researchers have found that certain triggers affect the nerve communication and blood vessels and chemical reaction in the brain, which leads to the dreadful pains.

These triggers include: 

Physical triggers: Insomnia, poor posture, overexertion, jet lag, shoulder stress, and neck tension.   

Food and diet triggers: Certain foods and beverages that are associated with migraine pains are alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, citrus fruits, cheese, and foods that contain tyramine. Lack of water and irregular meal hours can also aggravate the symptoms. 

Hormonal imbalance: Hormonal changes majorly contribute to migraine pains, including low blood sugar level and menstrual cycle. 

Emotional triggers: Anxiety, work stress, shock, depression, excessive crying, and over-excitement can lead to migraines. 

Medications: Certain medications, especially the pills that work on our hormones, cause migraine pain. They include combined contraceptive pills, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicines, and sleeping medicines. 

The environment around also has an impact on your brain activity, which can lead to a migraine attack. In many instances, stuffy rooms, sudden temperature changes, strong odor, perfumes, smoke, and bright lights have activated the pain. Depending upon the severity, a migraine attack can last from hours to days. People often experience flashes of warning symptoms, known as Aura, at the onset or during the attack.

Migraine is categorized into four stages, Prodrome, Aura, Attack, and Post-drome. The first stage generally begins during childhood or adolescence. The symptoms also change with each stage. 

When home remedies for migraine may not work 

While you can tackle the symptoms and improve them over time with the below-mentioned home remedies and lifestyle changes, you must visit your healthcare professional immediately if you experience the following:

-Severe headache that resembles a thunderclap

-High fever

-Continuous vomiting

-New pain areas

-Shooting pain that increases after involuntary action, such as sneezing or coughing or a sudden movement

-Mental confusion, slurred speech, and dizziness

-Vision problem and body numbness 

7 proven home remedies for migraine pain relief

1. Inhale Lavender Oil

Strong evidence confirms that breathing in lavender oil can help manage the symptoms of acute Migraine. Lavender oil is used for releasing stress and relaxing the mind. You can either apply the oil on your skin or breathe in the aroma released from an oil diffuser. You will see positive results within 15 minutes. 

2. Practice yoga

Yoga practice is a combination of postures, meditation, and breathing techniques that are known to treat several health issues, including Migraine. Practicing yoga regularly will significantly reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of the pain.

Since yoga also helps reduce stress, fight depression, and regulate the nervous system and vascular health, it is an ideal natural therapy to relieve Migraine pain. You can also use yoga as a complementary treatment to improve your overall health and well-being.

3. Reduce the flow of blood with ice

Experts say reducing the flow of blood to your brain might help in getting rid of migraine pain. Place an ice pack or frozen gel pack on your shoulder, scalp, neck, and forehead until the ache reduces. You can also use a rinsed soft towel in cold water for the treatment. 

4. Massage with peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is used widely in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a variety of pains exclusively from mild to moderate headaches, sinus, and migraine pains.  The menthol in peppermint oil does the trick according to a study. Massaging the oil on the forehead and temple will also reduce migraine symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity, besides relieving from pain. 

5. Avoid the following foods

Many foods and beverages trigger the symptoms of Migraine. You must  avoid these foods if your Migraine is recurring and very intense:

-Chocolate

-Foods that contain MSG (monosodium glutamate), such as typical Chinese foods and instant noodles

-Alcohol, especially red wine

-Tyramine rich food. Tyramine is naturally found in Cheddar, Feta, Parmesan, Swiss, and Blue cheese

-High acidic foods, such as pickles and processed foods

-Foods with high nitrate content, like bacon, sausage, deli meats, and hot dogs.

-Dehydrated fruits

-Pickled vegetables

-Fermented dairy products like curd, sour cream, and buttermilk

-Caffeine. However, a small dose of caffeine will help you ease your headache. Try having green tea, black tea, and ginger tea, instead of coffee.

6. Go for acupressure therapy

Acupressure is a traditional therapy that applies pressure with fingers on specific nerve points (also known as acupoints) in different parts of the body to stimulate them. The stimulation helps relieve a varied number of muscle and joint pains, including migraines. Acupressure also helps you get rid of stress and nausea. The acupoint that relieves Migraine is called Hegu (LI-4). It is located between the thumb and index finger, just below the joint. 

7. Active lifestyle

An active, stress-free lifestyle is a great way to cure migraine pains. Try to get some fresh air every day, go for runs or walks, or workout 5 days a week, for 15 to 30 minutes at least. Additionally, practice meditation, pursue a hobby, adopt a dog, or choose an activity that improves your mood and helps you rejuvenate. 

While there have been substantial developments of new treatments for Migraine in the last decade, Botox being one of them, you will tackle your migraine pain with these remedies effectively. 

Author Bio:

Emylee  is a wellness lifestyle writer. She loves sharing her thoughts and personal experiences related to natural remedies, yoga and fitness through her writing. She currently writes for How To Cure. She can connect with others experiencing health concerns and help them through their recovery journeys through natural remedies.

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