You are having a busy day at work, you are in the middle of a meeting talking to your colleagues. Suddenly a terrible throbbing pain on one side of your head ensues. You now excuse yourself from the meeting and try to exacerbate the pain by taking your second painkiller of the day, grabbing a big mug of coffee and get back to the meeting room. However, now the pain has only worsened making it impossible for you to continue and you end up taking the day off…
Migraine can be terrible. It can be painful and debilitating keeping you confined in your bed with your hands on your head for hours together. Estimates show that 6 to 18% of the adult population suffer from migraines and women are three times more prone to getting migraines.
Prescription drugs and painkillers don’t offer an effective solution to migraines. Rather finding the root cause of your problem and then making the right adjustments in your lifestyle will be the right solution to treat migraine. Read on to find how to treat migraines naturally.
Causes of Migraine
A migraine causes throbbing pain on one side of the head or both, unlike tension headaches which usually affect the entire head. It can last for several hours or even days coupled with vision changes, nausea, vomiting, lack of coordination, sleeping problems and mood swings.
Here are some common causes of migraine:
- High levels of inflammation can affect the nerves in the brain and blood
- Poor diet and Nutrient Deficiencies
- Change in Neurotransmitter levels especially low Serotonin levels
- Chronic stress and High levels of Cortisol
- Hormonal imbalance
- Dehydration
- Lack of Sleep
- Eye Strain due to high exposure to light for a prolonged time
- Health conditions that affect the neck and spine or dysfunction in brain stem due to injury
- Medication side-effects including certain medicines that affect nerves, hormones or blood pressure
Natural Remedies for Migraine
There are many options to get rid of migraine when it comes to the natural way. Making adjustments to your diet is the key along with the right supplements and herbs. Following are the ways to see what works best for your body
1. Foods that Help Migraine
Omega 3-Fatty Acid – Promotes blood flow and lower inflammation levels in the body. Include nuts, flax seed, chia seeds, fatty fish and fish oil.
Organic Vegetables and Fruits – Magnesium-rich leafy vegetables help to control blood flow and counteract effects of toxin exposure. Some of the best sources include spinach, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, almonds, avocado, fig, dates, bananas, and sweet potato.
Clean Lean Proteins – Opt for vegan sources including beans, lentils, legumes, and millets. For meat options, it’s best to include grass-fed beef and poultry or fatty fish.
Vitamin B Foods – Research suggests that people with migraines will benefit a great deal by eating more Vitamin B and Riboflavin. Some sources include green leafy veggies, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and certain dairy products.
Drink More Water – Dehydration can be a cause of migraine. That is why it is essential to hydrate yourself. In addition to water, you can also sip herbal teas through the day and avoid caffeine.
2. Foods to Avoid for Migraine
A poor diet rich in processed foods and sodium is often a common trigger for migraine. These include:
- Refined sugar
- Refined grains
- Conventional Dairy Products and Aged Cheese
- Gluten foods like bread, pastries
- Alcohol
- Chocolate and Caffeine
- Artificial food additives, flavor enhances and preservatives
- High sodium coupled with low intake of other electrolytes
- Very cold food
- Processed meat
- Junk, fried food rich in MSG
3. Herbs and Supplements for MigraineIf you suffer from migraine you can include the below supplements:
Omega-3 Fish Oil – Studies have found that omega-3 supplements can decrease the severity and frequency of migraines
Magnesium, Vitamin B2 – Frequency and severity of migraine were shown to reduce drastically with a supplement of Magnesium, Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 and Q10.
5-HTP – an Amino acid supplement that can restore Serotonin levels naturally and lower migraines
Feverfew – is a perennial bushy plant belonging to the daisy family has been used for treatment for migraine. The plant compounds of parthenolide may inhibit serotonin receptors, prevent blood platelets from releasing inflammatory molecules, stop blood vessels in the brain from widening (vasodilation), and stop smooth muscle spasms.
4. Essential Oils
The soothing aroma and essence of natural oils can be inhaled to provide instant pain relief from migraines. Lavender oil, rosemary oil, and peppermint oil are the best essential oils that will calm down your nervous system and help to de-stress.
5. Shirodhara and Shirolepa
Popularly used in Ayurvedic treatments for migraine, Shirolepa is the application of herbal pastes including camphor, sandalwood, jatamansi and more on the forehead. Shirodhara is the process of gently pouring liquids over the forehead and is the first step of Panchakarma treatment.
The Ayurvedic View of Migraine
According to Ayurveda, Migraine arises from a vata(Space/Air) or Pitta(fire) imbalance. An imbalance in Pitta dosha can be exacerbated due to heat and an imbalance in Vata can be due to irregular routine.
Rather than advocating short-term pain relief for migraine, Ayurveda focuses on cleansing the body from within and eradicating the disease from its roots. Therefore treatment is geared towards pacification of Pitta dosha and restoring the digestive function in the body.
For millions that suffer from this painful problem and who have tried everything in the books, hope is not lost. Explore natural treatments and Ayurveda to mitigate your pain once and for all.