Ayurvedic medicine can be very helpful for migraine relief. Learn tips for using ayurvedic medicine with expert tips on headache relief in this free video. Expert: Vineeta Gogia Bio: Vineeta Gogia has a degree in Hotel administration, Catering and Nutrition from Cornell University. Filmmaker: sunny athwal

A discovery that could dramatically ease the pain for millions of migraine sufferers…when medicine doesn’t work. Doctor Bary Ramo has more on the little device that’s taking away the headaches.

If you have a bad tension headache, it’d be a great idea to do these exercises to get some blood flowing up there are help relieve that pain. If you have the type of migraine that definately requires medication, well at least maybe this took your mind off of it for five minutes!

WPBF’s Amanda Burden reports on a local chiropractor, who says he has the cure!

Need migraine relief because you are suffering from chronic migraines? According to this study, migraine sufferers should be hopeful. There is an all natural supplement that could be give you the migraine relief you need. As a matter of fact, if you are suffering from migraines, you know that the medication that is typically subscribed is very strong… and studies have shown, a lot of it can be very dangerous.

Anyway, there is good news.

A study was done with 32 patients who had chronic migraines. They had migraines at least 2 to 8 times a month. Each person was given only 150 mg of coenzyme Q10 (also known as “Co Q 10″) each morning at breakfast for 3 months. 31 out of the 32 people finished the study and no bad effects were linked with Coenzyme Q10 therapy. The great news? 61% had greater than a 50% reduction in migraine days at the end of 3 months! That’s 10 patients! And 93% of the patients had at least a 25% reduction in number of days with migraine and The promising news? Only 2 out of the 32 patients showed no improvement. So the odds are very good that Co Q 10 might help with migraines.

Where do you buy Co Q 10? You can get it at your local health store but they will charge you a LOT of money for it. You can also buy it online for a lot cheaper… but be careful about where you buy it. A lot of vitamins have “fillers” in them that are not good for you. Make sure you buy an “all natural” Co Q 10. Be careful.

To find out a place where you can buy “all natural supplements” such as Co Q 10, visit http://www.provennaturalcures.com/discountvitamins.html

Source: Rozen TD, et. al. Open label trial of Coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive. Cephalagia 2002; 22:137-141.

More and more migraine sufferers are turning to natural methods of migraine relief to replace or complement prescribed medication. There are three major categories of natural migraine treatments:

1. Abortive treatments – help to reduce the symptoms of a migraine attack once it has begun, and are designed to relieve nausea and pain

2. Preventative treatments – are taken regularly to limit the frequency and severity of migraine attacks

3. Dietary supplements – are designed to replace the natural vitamins or chemicals in the body whose absence can cause migraines

Let’s take a look at a few natural migraine remedies in the above three categories.

- Peppermint can be an effective abortive migraine treatment

The cooling properties of peppermint oil enable it to relax the blood vessels and muscles in the head and neck which can relieve the pain of a migraine. Massaging a small amount of peppermint oil into the temples, the forehead, or the back of the neck can provide almost instant relief from migraine pain. Many people say they can actually feel the cooling effect of the oil moving through their head.

For those that have sensitive skin, they could consider mixing the neat peppermint oil with base oil. Alternatively there is a new treatment available called 4head which is available in an applicator stick or an adhesive strip. 4head contains natural levomenthol, or black peppermint, and can be used to complement migraine medications.

- Herbal remedies can prevent the onset of migraines

There are various herbal migraine cures that, when taken regularly over a long period of time, seem to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, although they won’t reduce the symptoms of an attack once it is underway. These natural cures include feverfew and butterbur.

Feverfew is a traditional herbal remedy that not only helps to prevent migraines but also lowers fever, reduces the symptoms of arthritis, and helps with digestive problems. It works by inhibiting the natural release of serotonin and prostaglandins, which limits the inflammation and spasms of the blood vessels in the head that cause migraines.

While feverfew is effective for mild migraines, butterbur is considered a better option for people that suffer from severe migraines. Although butterbur’s anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for preventing migraine attacks, it should not be taken in conjunction with prescribed medications.

Experts have expressed concerns that when herbal remedies such as butterbur and feverfew are taken with migraine medications these can cause adverse and sometimes dangerous reactions. Always tell your doctor if you are regularly taking herbal remedies and, if you are looking for a natural treatment you can take alongside medication, you could look for one of the following dietary supplements instead.

- Natural dietary supplements can be used with migraine medication

Deficiencies of certain chemicals in the body can make migraine attacks more regular or more severe. By taking dietary supplements on a regular basis you can reverse this trend and reduce or even prevent your migraines.

The two most common dietary supplements that can help migraine sufferers are magnesium and riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2. These are safe to take with your regular migraine medication if necessary, although you should still inform your doctor if you are taking them.

There are millions of migraine sufferers all over the United States. If you are one of the people suffering from this neurological condition, you know how painful migraine attacks can be. In fact, they can be so painful that they can render you immobile for the whole day or even the whole week depending on the severity of your headache.

This is a very disabling disease that causes many companies with employees suffering from the condition to lose millions of dollars every year because of loss of productivity.

Fortunately for you, there are now a wide range of treatments and medications available which can help you in preventing migraine attacks and even relieving the headaches once they attack.

To treat yourself in your home, you can try using a frozen towel. Try to get a frozen towel handy in order for you to be prepared whenever you feel that a migraine attack is coming. All you need to do is wet the towel, squeeze it and place it inside the freezer for about 5 minutes. After that, place the towel on your head and your eyes. You will see that this will be able to provide relief from the pounding pain you will experience during an attack.

You may want to lie down on a quiet and dark room and try getting some sleep. This will help relieve the headache pain. You can also massage yourself on the head or get someone to massage your head.

NSAIDs are also very effective in reducing the severity of attacks. The doctor will also be able to prescribe you some prescription pain medication which can effectively prevent migraine attacks before it happens.

All in all, knowing about the triggers of migraine attacks will be able to help you manage the disease very well. By knowing about the triggering factors, you will be able to avoid such situations and help you prevent migraine from happening to you. These are the things that you should remember about migraine attacks and the available treatments and mediations to relieve the pain.

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.

Many people have used or are looking into using acupressure migraine headache relief techniques to relieve severe pain experience from this awful condition. Severe headaches and migraines can be so painful and often have a very large and negative impact on people’s lives, so finding a method to cure or relieve this painful condition is higher in many people’s agenda.

Acupressure, not to be confused with acupuncture, has been used in many cultures and societies for, it is believed thousands of years. Detailed records do date back as far as 800 years ago in China.

But do these methods really work?

Actually a lot of the methods are very effective. Not because they use some magical energy that flows through your body, but because the simple massage techniques have a positive impact on your health and body.

For example there is one technique where you can massage a point on your body called the GB20 or more traditionally ‘The Gates of Consciousness’. This all sounds very magical but it is in fact a point about 1 inch below the base of the skull either side of the spine. During a migraine if you massage this point with your fingers or thumb it can relieve tension and begin to relieve the pain of the migraine.

This works effectively because it is often muscular tension at this point at the base of the skull that is the direct cause of the migraine itself. Massaging will relax the muscles and release the tension therefore curing the migraine.

So does acupressure migraine headache relief really work? Yes, but not because of some weird and wonderful images we have when they think of acupressure. But because of the direct and effective benefits that acupressure massage can have on tight and tense muscles.

A 2004 article suggested that there are over 20 million migraine attacks happening every single day. Yet so many people suffering from migraines still don’t realise how you can simply and effectively treat migraines and relieve the pain and suffering. In this article we shall discuss 3 simple techniques to relieve migraine headache relief.

A very common natural technique for relieving migraine headache pain is to apply either a hot or cold cloth to the area of most pain. This is a popular technique for relieving these types of headaches.

However here are 3 simple and effective techniques that can relieve migraine headaches.

Apply a Compress

Applying either a hot or cold compress on the head or the area of the most pain is an effective way of relieving the pain caused by these types of headaches. A common area where the pain is generally severe is around the front of the ear.

Damp Cloth

A common technique for those who suffer from headaches which occur with a stabbing pain at the back of the eye is applying a warm or cool damp cloth on the area of most pain, covering the eyes. This is a natural technique which many migraineurs use to relieve the pain of headaches. It also provides benefit to those who suffer the discomfort of photosensitivity.

Taking a Shower

Another popular technique that provides relief is to take a hot or cold shower which relieves the pain throughout the body, generally relaxing the muscles and stimulating the brain.

Many people aren’t aware of the relationship between upper cervical (neck) trauma and headaches. With all that modern science has accomplished, there are still more unanswered questions than answered ones. This is also true in the case of headache research. It’s been difficult to pinpoint the exact reason(s) why certain people suffer chronic headache pain. However, research is beginning to point toward upper cervical trauma as an underlying cause for many types of head pain, especially migraine, cluster and tension headaches.

The upper cervical area of the spine refers to the two vertebrae located at the top of the spine, directly underneath the head. C1 (known as Atlas,) along with C2 (known as Axis,) are chiefly responsible for the rotation and flexibility of the head and neck. Like the rest of the vertebrae, they are extremely vulnerable to injury and trauma, especially trauma to the head through auto or sporting accidents.

Because so many nerves transmit through the cervical region (to and from the brain,) trauma to this area results in problems to other parts of the body. This is where the relationship between the upper cervical area and headaches becomes evident. If these vertebrae become displaced, even slightly, chronic head pain can occur. Unless the neck injury is addressed, the symptoms persist.

Chiropractic care involves correcting the position of these injured cervical vertebrae, particularly C1 and C2. Realigning these vertebrae may reduce or eliminate many types of headaches.

The most common types of headaches for which people seek upper cervical chiropractic treatment are migraine, cluster and tension headaches. Migraine headaches are characterized by intense pain on either one or both sides of the head. Pain is usually located around the temples or behind one ear or eye. The pain is so severe that it often causes extreme sensitivity to light, dizziness and may even lead to vomiting. Migraines may occur with or without ‘aura.’ Aura refers to visual symptoms which occur 10 to 30 minutes prior to the onset of the headache. They are usually in the form of flashing lights, lines, blind spots or even temporary blindness.

Cluster headaches almost always occur on only one side of the head. Their onset is so sudden and intense, cluster headaches have been described as “worse than childbirth.” In fact, the doctor who originally identified and researched cluster headaches characterized their pain as being able “to drive normal people to *******.”

Tension headaches are sometimes called ’stress headaches.’ They often start midday and usually consist of a dull, aching pain rather than a sharp, intense one. They start gradually and slowly build in intensity. Tension headaches may last anywhere from less than one to several hours.

Of course, not every headache falls into one of these categories. The type and degree of pain varies from person to person. However, if any headache occurs more often than on an occasional or sporadic basis, it’s safe to assume that there may be an underlying cause. Continually treating chronic and recurrent headaches with pain medication may temporarily ease the symptoms, but it won’t cure the problem.

Many of these headaches are successfully treated with upper cervical chiropractic care. The number of treatments required varies by individual, as well as type and frequency of headache. A first visit to a chiropractor usually involves a spinal exam and diagnostic tests such as x-rays. From there, the practitioner will determine a plan for treatment. Patients almost always notice an improvement in symptoms, sometimes after only a few treatments.

A video testimonial for the Brain Based Therapy treatment offered by Valentine Chiropractic in Fountain Valley, CA. This patient was treated for a chronic migraine condition that did not respond to traditional treatments. As you can see, she had a very positive experience with our Brain Based Therapy treatment regimen. Visit our site for more information.

It is a well known fact how devastating a migraine headache can be. Although, there is no ’switch on – disappear’ approach to treat migraines, there are a few home methods that could be tried which could ease out the pain and bring about a relief from the pain. The usual method is to resort to drugs in the form of pain relievers and anti-depressants prescribed by the doctors. This method, though it provides minor relief, it is not the best way to treat your headache as it can have harmful side effects and it can end up creating dependency on the drug, which is even worse in a long term.

Some of the simple techniques listed below could be followed at home to gain a relief from migraines:

Massage of The head:

Massage of the head, neck and shoulder region could help ease out the pain. Touch of a human hand with love and care is very healing and it can help relax the body and mind. Mild aromatic oil could be used. Choose an aroma or flavor that your body is not allergic to.

Effective Breathing:

Slow down your breath and let the breathing become deep and long. This cuts down on the accompanying anxiety and lets you focus on the moment. It also improves the circulation of blood to the head region which greatly improves the headache condition offering good relief.

Hot and Cold Treatment:

Take a towel and dip it in hot water. Gently rub and massage the painful areas with the towel. Keep the temperature of the towel to a level that feels comfortable. Some people prefer Cold water or ice cubes instead of hot water or steam. Find out what works best for you to bring you relief.

Aroma Therapy:

Aroma therapy is gaining popularity these days as a treatment for migraine headaches. It consists of using herbal and essential oils that can be put into air by means of a suitable diffuser. It could also be mixed with water and steamed on the face. It can be coupled with gentle music or guided relaxation music to bring in a gentle relaxing atmosphere to the place offering great relief from the pain.

FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION IN MIGRAINE HEADACHE

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AUTHOR:BHURGRIGHULAMRASOOL,BILAWAL,SHAMIM-UR-REHMAN,RAJ KUMAR,ANISREHMAN.

SUMMARY:

In this prospective study migraineous patients were enrolled who wre manifested the symptoms of depression.There was considerable psychiatric morbidity there was necessay find out all migranes aand treated them symptomatically.It proved that we should not bypass the chaces of dpression in cases of migraine especially female patients.

Key words:migraine, depression,psychiatry,males, females,cluster ,tension.

INTRODUCTION:

“Migraine is a mysterious disorder characterized by pulsing headache (feeling of weightage,fullness over forehead),usually restrictedto one side,which comes in attacks lasting 4-48hours and is often associated with nausea,vomiting,sensitivity of light, and sound, vertigo,loosemotions and other symptoms.”(Tripathi-2006)

“Migraine is very common type of headache,with a prevalance of 10-12%,migraine ranks 19th among disease” (cephalalgia 2004)

“migraine is a complex disorder inwich many psychological,inviromental,biochemical,neurophysiologic,and genetic factors play a role to tiger attacks. The diagnosis is based on headache characetrized and associated symptoms specified internationl headache society” (westermanCJetal 2003)

“The typical headache is unilateral,throbbing and may be severe.If untreated, the migraine attacks typically lasts 4 to 72 hours. The attacks are usually associated with nausea,vomitting, or sensitivity to sound,light and or movement.In addition to this, migraine with aura is characterized by transient focal neurological symptoms,which are usually visual,and may precede,accompany, or flow the headache attacks.”(stewart WF et al 1994)

“Thereare two types of migraine headaches.The first migraine without aura(previously called common migraine) is severe,unilateral,pulsating headache that the typically lasts from 2 to 72 hours.These headaches are often aggrivated by physical activity and accompanied by nausea,vomiting,photophobia(hypersensitivity to light) and phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound.Approximately 85% of patients with migraine do not have aura.In the second type migraine with aura (previously called classic migraine),the headache preceded by neurological symptoms called auras which can be visual, sensory,and or cause speech or motor disturbances. Most commonly these prodromal symptoms are visual, occuring, approximately 20 to 40 minutes before headache pain begins. In the fifteen percent of migraine patients whose headache is proceded by aura,the aura itself allows diagnosis.The headache itself in migraine with or without auras is similar.For both typesmigraines,woman are three folder more likely thanmen to experience either type of migraine.

Migraine-there is chance for family tenency,females are more affected than male,it develops unilateral,variables in onset,characterized by pulsating,throbing.Cluster-ther in family chance,males are more than females it develops during sleep,at behind or around head,characterized by sharp,steady.

Tension-Type-there is family history,it develops understress,bilateralcharacterized by dull,persistentent type.(Richard D etal 2006)

” Depression may means the symptom of feeling of said, meloncholic or low in spirit, or it may mean the syndrome of depression as characterized by low mood,lack of enjoyment, reduced energy and changes in appetite, sleep and libidpolic.(A.W.CLARE 1998)

“Clinically significant depression is often reffered to is as major cause of disability and of succide.Medically unexplained symptoms that may result from depression include chronic fatigue,chronic wide spread pain,weight loss and conginitive impairment (deprssive pseudodementia).Dpression comorbid with a medical condition magnifies any associated disability,diminishes adherence to medical treatment and rehiltation, and may even shortet life expectancy.Recent research suggests that patients who have a major depressive disorder soon after myocardial infarction or stroke die sooner than who do not even when disease severity is controlled.(lloyd& sharpe MC 2002).

“It is widely accepted that the limbic system has a role in control and expression of emotion.These structures from a reverbrating (papez) cercuit inwhich inputs from various cortical areas,especialy those involving in perception, are fed in together with other inputs from the brain system and spinal cord.Output is mainly from the hypothelmus,through releasing hormone, and the reticular formation and autonomic nuclie of the brain stem. The hypothelmus plays a part in hormonal disturbabce in depression.The reticular formation and autonomic nuclie contol aroused and autonomic function,both of which are often altered in depression.The limbic system also contains sructures involved in the control of memory,depressed patients often express their disorder in terms of adversely disorted recollection of past events.The limbic system may act as a regulatory system for emotional states.Noradrenergic and 5HT neurones abuond in these areas of the brain,and the system’s close link with the LHRA axis provides a pictures how disturbance of these systems might be linked in depression.”(cantopher1991).

‘Types of depression.Major depression-It is probably one of the most common forms of depression,lack of interest,walk around with weight of world on his or her shoulder, hopeless atate,lack of interest in sexual activity and less appetite and weightloss.

Atypical Depression-individuals somtimes experience of happiness, but fatigue,oversleeping,overeating weightgain.typical depressio can last for months or a suffer may live with it forever.

Psychotic Depression-Individual of psychotic dpression begin to hear and see imajinory things-sound,voicesand visual that donot exist.

Dysthymia-Individual characterized by sad,blue,or meloncholic.it is a condition that people are not even aware of but just live with daily,feel life is unimportant,dissatisfied,frightened and simply donot enjoy their lives.

Manic depression:It is highly exuted,emotional disorder people who suffer from manic depression have an extremely high rate of succide.”(Any Berhman 2004)

METHODS:

We interwiewed after informed consent one hundred and two patients reporting atMedical and the psychiatric outpatients Department at Muhammad Medical College Mirpurkhas sindh,between March 2007 to to April 2008.These patients were screened for presence of depression symptoms in concomittently with migraine/half headache in head.Depressive symptoms were measured through depression scale and clinical interview,weeping,lonlelessness,sadness,confusion main questions were asked during interviewed in cases of migraine.

RESULTS

:There were thirty seven males (36.27%)and sixty five females (63.72%)who were examined during attacks of headache,17(45.9%)patients were manifested depressive symptoms and 43 (66.1%)females were developed symptoms of depression in cases of migraine.

Case Processing Summary

As any seasoned migraine will tell you, they can list the migraine food triggers that send them off into a headache.

For me, alcohol is the winner. And I mean just about all forms including most wines, beer and mixed drinks. (Hey, the good news is..I will never be an alcoholic. The pain is just not worth it!) Funnily enough, when I was young, I thought a horrible pounding headache with nausea and vomiting just after drinking a few drinks, was normal! Hmm.. With alcohol, the most common culprit is red wine. Generally, the dryer and redder the wine, the bigger the risk for migraine attack. This is due to the amount of tannins in red wine.

Another huge trigger is MSG or monosodium glutamate. This little chemical is a food additive that is a taste enhancer. Unfortunately for some people, even a small amount can trigger a severe migraine. Historically, it was used in cooking in Chinese restaurants here in the U.S., and while many restaurants now claim to be MSG free, I can assure you that some are not! Occasionally, it is still used in salad bars as an enhancer and a preservative.

What about caffeine? Well, caffeine by itself doesn’t cause a migraine, but if you have chronic severe migraines, all caffeine does is make them worse. It irritates nerve tissue (that would be your brain!) and over time revs up headaches. Many people are unaware of just how much caffeine they imbibe on a daily basis. The average cup (not mug!) of coffee has 107 mg of caffeine. Red Bulls come in at 80 mg per can, Mountain Dew is 55mg. How about the national favorite, Starbucks? Well hang on: a short coffee is 180mg, a tall is 260mg and the grande is a whopping 360mg of caffeine. Oh yes…decaffeinated coffee at Starbucks has about 60 mg of caffeine.

Let’s talk about the MYTH OF CHOCOLATE causing headaches. Not really true. Nope. Nada. Zip. One recent study suggested that since chocolate contains copper, it may increase copper levels and then trigger a migraine. However, you would have to eat a LOT of it not just a few pieces to cause a headache. So why do you get a migraine after eating chocolate? Migraines have a pro-dromal phase where you “feel” something is coming one. During this time certain parts of the brain are firing off and one of them can stimulate food cravings, particularly sugar or sweets. Well we all loovve chocolate, right? Then after eating it, the headache always follows. Hence the assumption, chocolate causes headaches. So next time, recognize this, it may be the beginning of a migraine phase. Still doesn’t give you or me permission to eat a pound of the stuff but you get the idea.

Additional Migraine Food Triggers:

Nuts, aged cheeses, foods containing nitrates (bacon and lunch meats), smoked or pickled foods. Some patients tell me onions are a trigger, as are packaged foods with lots of chemicals.

Some recent studies are now looking at the effects of gluten or wheat products in the diet and migraine. Aspartame (artificial sweetener) is also known to trigger migraines.

Try to identify those foods that are a trigger through keeping a diary for at least 90 days to find your triggers..then avoid them. Sort of under the old adage of: if it hurts when you do that..don’t do that. As your migraines settle down and become less frequent, eventually you will be able to tolerate small amounts of a previously identified migraine food trigger.

In Part 1 of this article, we looked at two categories of natural remedies for migraine headaches. We presented 7 nutrients and 2 means of manual therapy for migraine relief.

In Part 2, we will look at additional natural remedies you can take for migraine headaches.

Choosing a Natural Remedy for Migraine

If you choose a natural remedy for migraine treatment, you get no guarantees. One person’s natural remedy for migraine may or may not work for the next person. Since prescription medications also offer no guarantees, and do have side effects, you may want to try a natural remedy for migraine. You should, of course, ask your physician for advice.

Simple Home-style Remedies

A natural remedy for migraine need not be complex. For years, people have been applying simple, home-style remedies that are FREE or low-cost. You may use any or all of these for migraine relief.

1. Sleep

This is a free natural remedy for migraine. Have the migraine sufferer lie sown in a quiet, darkened room and sleep for several hours. Sleep is the body’s time for healing, and is an important factor is migraine relief.

2. Ice Pack

A second free natural remedy for migraine is a simple ice pack. Try placing a cold compress on the sufferer’s head as he or she lies in a dark, quiet room. You may use a purchased ice cap filled with ice, but it is just as effective to use an unopened bag of frozen vegetables. A bag of frozen peas is especially easy to use, since it readily conforms.

3. Warm bath

A warm, soaking bath in a darkened room will often relieve migraine symptoms. Keep the water as warm as comfortable. Candlelight is sufficient, and can add to the soothing effects.

4. Epsom Salts Bath

Epsom salts is a natural mineral – magnesium sulfate – that is a sedative for the nerves and a muscle relaxant. Add one or two cups of Epsom salts to hot bath water and soak, keeping the water comfortably hot.

CAUTION: People with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease should not use this natural remedy for migraine.

5. Deep Breathing

Sit quietly in a darkened room – soft candlelight is fine. Take a breath, as deep as possible, and slowly, slowly exhale it. Take a second deep breath, focusing on its depth, and the feeling as your lungs expand. Slowly release the breath, focusing on the lungs contracting. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly for 5 to 10 minutes, feeling calm and relaxed.

Aromatherapy

Since no one natural remedy for migraine will work for everyone, you may want to try aroma therapy as a complement to other remedies for migraine. Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils, or applying them to the skin. It is important not to apply them directly to the skin, but to mix them in a “carrier” oil such as sweet almond or apricot kernel that “carry” the essence. You can mix a small amount in your hand, or mix them ahead of time in a small, roll-on bottle.

1. Lavender

Lavender oil, extracted from the small, blue-violet flowers of the lavender plant, is a calming, soothing, sedative for the nerves. You will want pure lavender oil, not a perfume or lavender-scented oil. There are several ways you can use lavender oil as a natural remedy for migraine.

Inhalation: Place 2-4 drops in 2 cups of boiling water and inhale vapors.

Application: Moisten your finger tips with pure almond carrier oil. Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil, and gently massage your temples, behind each ear, and your neck.

CAUTION: Side effects are rare, but some people may develop an allergic reaction to lavender following inhalation or absorption through the skin.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using this natural remedy for migraine.

2. Other oils

In addition to lavender, you may want to experiment with other essential oils. A few that help migraineurs are: bay, eucalyptus, jasmine, melissa, peppermint, and rosemary. Since migraineurs’ attacks can be triggered by certain smells, you will want to choose the one that works best for you.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Surprisingly, apple cider vinegar can be a natural remedy for migraine. Boil together equal parts of natural apple cider vinegar and water in an open pan. When fumes begin to rise, and become comfortably strong, inhale for 50 to 60 deep breaths.

A third article in this series will round out our consideration of natural remedies for migraine headaches. Remember that all migraine sufferers should seek professional advice before using a natural remedy for migraine.

The National Headache Foundation says that more than 29.5 million Americans have migraine, and although some rely on prescription medications, a growing number prefer natural remedies for migraine headaches.

A natural remedy for migraine headaches might be anything from herbs to supplements, acupuncture to aromatherapy.

Choosing a Natural Remedy for Migraine

If you choose a natural remedy for migraine treatment, you might try something from one or more of these categories.

Seven Nutrients

These nutrients are listed alphabetically to avoid indicating a preference.

1. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)

5-HTP is a compound the body produces from tryptophan, an amino acid. The body uses it to make serotonin. Since supplements that affect serotonin levels are used for migraines, 5-HTP has been put forward as an effective natural remedy for migraine treatment.

2. Butterbur

An extract of butterbur root has been found to be an effective natural remedy for migraine in children and adolescents. A clinical trial of this herb was reported in an early 2005 issue of the journal “Headache”. Butterbur appears to relieve pain and spasms.

3. Fatty Acids

Research done in the U.S. suggests that fish oil combined with magnesium taurate may be a great natural remedy for migraine. Both reduce blood vessel spasms, which appear to be the main cause of migraines.

4. Feverfew

This herb has long been considered a natural remedy for migraine and other headaches. 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.

5. Magnesium

This mineral is one of the most promising natural remedies for migraine headaches. Contained in fish, nuts, seeds, soybeans, whole grains, and vegetables, magnesium is needed for healthy muscle, nerve and blood vessel tone. As a natural remedy for migraine, it is thought to help prevent blood vessel spasms.

6. Petasite (Petasites hybridus)

It was in Germany that Petasite was found to be an effective natural remedy for migraine. German researchers showed that people taking Petasite had fewer migraine attacks, and their attacks were shorter. They also had less pain than those taking a placebo.

7. Vitamin B2

Belgian researchers in a 1998 double-blind study learned that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) gave more effective migraine relief than a placebo. This natural remedy reduced both the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Manual Therapy

Since no one treatment will work for everyone, you may want a natural remedy for migraine that involves manual therapy. Two possibilities are acupuncture and shiatsu.

1. Acupuncture

The Chinese art of acupuncture triggers relief by inserting delicate needles at specific points in the neck and head. Many people, including German researchers, have found it an effective natural remedy for migraine. Acupuncture is commonly used for migraines in Germany.

The researchers gave almost 900 patients one of three treatments: standard migraine drugs, traditional Chinese acupuncture, or “fake” acupuncture. Those who received “fake” acupuncture treatments had needles inserted in areas of the skin not used in traditional practice. In each group, virtually the same percentage of people cut in half the number of days affected by migraine each year.

2. Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of acupressure rather than acupuncture. As a natural remedy for migraine, shiatsu massage helps relieve tension and reduce stress. Whereas migraine tends to block blood flow or cause “overflow” to the lower head, shiatsu massage releases the blood flow and energy, restoring natural flow.

You can learn to do shiatsu for your own migraines, and get almost instant relief. Or have a family member give you shiatsu. The technique is simple, and regular massages are both preventative and remedial.

In a future article, we will consider the value of additional natural remedies for migraine headaches. If you are pregnant, be sure you ask your health care professional before using this advice. All migraine sufferers should seek professional counsel on using a natural remedy for migraine.