Natural Home Remedies for Migraines Headache at Headaches-Migraine-Relief.com

The intense throbbing pain in one particular area of the head is known as a migraine headache, which is often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting. For some people migraine can be predicted through the onset of “aura”(visual disturbances or a temporary loss of vision), which precedes the migraine. The triggers, which cause migraine headache, can be anxiety and stress, lack of food or sleep, exposure to light and hormonal irregularities.

The treatment to migraine with drugs can be approached in two ways either by preventing the attack or by relieving the symptoms during the attack. Most of the people take a combination of treatment by preventing future attacks and taking medications to relieve the pain and restore function. If the migraine headache is associated with menstrual cycle, then, hormone therapy can be useful. The occurrence and severity of migraine attacks can be reduced through other stress management strategies such as exercise, biofeed back, relaxation and the like.

The disabling effects of the headache can be limited to a great extent, by taking a combination of drugs to prevent and treat migraine attacks. Taking the right medicines prescribed by the physician and avoiding triggers that cause migraine can prevent migraine headache.

When a physician analyzes a patient’s medical history to carry out the appropriate treatment, his objective is to prevent or reduce the number of migraines, which is known as the prophylactic treatment, and to alleviate the symptoms and cut short the actual duration of migraine, which is known as the abortive treatment.

Prophylactic treatment: This is prescribed for patients who suffer from frequent headaches- as many as three or more a month-which are not cured by abortive treatment. The treatment is first started with one medication, called mono therapy, but a combination of medicines may be needed and if that is effective, the dosage is often reduced or the drug may be discontinued.

Most of the drugs used for migraines, invariably, have adverse side effects. Beta-blockers are generally preferred medications, but asthma and diabetic patients should use them with caution. The side effects include insomnia, gastrointestinal upset and low blood pressure and may also cause problems in nursing infants. Anti seizure drugs used for treating migraine may cause nausea, sedation, liver damage and tremors.

Infrequent migraines, which occur less than three times a month, can be relieved using over-the-counter medications, like analgesics, which should be taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. During a migraine headache, people prefer to rest or sleep alone in a quiet and dark room. Cold packs can also be applied to the head for temporary relief. But frequent use of analgesics can cause rebound headaches and the side effects include dizziness, stroke, high blood pressure and many more. Stress management techniques and stress reducing activities like meditation, yoga and exercise may help to prevent migraine headaches.

When a person develops a migraine headache, the primary and immediate concern is relief from the incredible pain. All too often individuals in this situation grab a bottle and down one, two or three of the common over-the-counter headache medications to fix the issue. The problem is, that does not fix the issue. People who take 2-3 or more of these medications per week are at strong risk to become caught in a desperate rebound headache cycle, where they have near daily headaches of one degree or another.

There has got to be a better way to fight this modern day scourge on mankind. A person in such a situation has lost control of his or her life. They are slave to an evil taskmaster that will not allow them to do many of the things that they would like and not to enjoy so much of what life has to offer.

Through testing, three of the most effective herbal remedies for migraines are feverfew, butterbur and pine bark. Let’s take a look at all three of these promising alternative treatments for migraine.

Feverfew

Feverfew comes from the same tribe of plants (asteraceae) as the daisy. Since the 1st century A.D., it has been used for the treatment of headache, stomachaches and fever. Feverfew has anti-inflammatory, stimulant, relaxant, decongestant and anti-coagulant properties.

Feverfew is mainly used for the treatment and prevention of frequent and serious migraine headaches. From the Natural Health (2007-03-01) we are told that “in a recent, well-designed clinical trial, 170 German patients took a placebo pill or an extract of feverfew for 16 weeks. Those taking Feverfew had significantly fewer migraines.”

Feverfew should be taken daily as a preventative, rather than a treatment for migraines. Herbal experts recommend tapering off the dose if you are going to quit taking the herb.

Butterbur

Traditionally butterbur has been used to treat spasms in the respiratory and digestive tract. In addition, Butterbur is said to inhibit the production of histamine, which helps to keep air passages open. This may help to relieve allergic congestion and seasonal allergies.

Butterbur is very popular in Europe and becoming increasingly popular in America as a sound way to minimize neurological discomfort. The exact cause of this is still unclear but neurologically severe headaches may be caused by a number of biological factors. Some researchers believe that they stem from an imbalance in the central nervous system that encourages the release of blood-dilating peptides. This could result in inflammation of the brain’s thin outer layer, the cerebral cortex. As pressure builds, blood flow becomes more restricted, potentially enhancing migraine headache symptoms. (Carle, R., Plant-based antiphlogistics and spasmolytics’ (translated from German). Z Phytother. 1988; 9: 67-76).

Other physicians think that many commonly consumed food items trigger migraines or that they could be hereditary. A 12 week clinical study showed that the active compounds in butterbur can prevent peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis, which is an inflammatory process that has been linked to the onset of mgraines. (Bickel D, Roder T, Bestmann, J. Identification and characterization of inhibitors of peptide-leukotriene-synthesis from Petasites hybridus. Plant Medica. 1994; 60:31-322).

Also of note is the writing ‘Petasites Hybridus Root (Butterbur) is an effective prevention for migraine” by Lipton, Einhaupl and Gobel (Neurology, 2004; 2240-4).

One thing to note about butterbur is that the plant contains liver toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). So it is important to choose a formula that is PA free.

Pine Bark

Dr. Sirichai Chayasirisobhon of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center set out to address the question of whether free radical damage can contribute to migraine headaches. (“Use of a Pine Bark Extract and Antioxidant Vitamin Combination Product as Therapy for Medication”, Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, Vol 46, No. 5, May 2006) He chose a dozen patients who had a long-term history of migraines with little to no success with various drugs (antidepressants, beta-blockers and anticonvulsants).

At the start of the study, subjects completed a questionnaire which was called the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS). The MIDAS was designed to assess the impact of migraine flare-ups on activities at home, work and while interacting with friends and family. This is a great way to start an unbiased test, so that the results before the test are well documented and there can be no dispute.

For the three month study period, each subject was given daily supplements that contained 600 mg of vitamin C, 300 IU of vitamin E and 1,200 mg of a pine bark extract. Subjects were allowed to continue using the medications they were currently taking.

Upon the end of the trial period the subjects completed a seconds MIDAS questionnaire. Their responses indicated a significant improvement.

The overall MIDAS scored improvement was more than 50%.

The average number of migraine days was reduced from 44 days in the three months prior to the trial, to 26 days during the trial.

The average migraine severity score (which some will argue is the most important factor) was reduced from 7.5 (out of 10) to 5.5

One subject dropped out of the trial. Of the remaining 11, two reported no change in frequency, duration or severity. Among the other nine, the overall MIDAS score improvement was almost 68%.

These three herbal remedies for migraines have all shown very good results when tested as alternative treatments for migraine headaches. If you suffer from headaches of these three appear to be well worth a try. It is possible that people in this country need to take a new approach toward migraine headache relief. Herbal remedies may be the answer.

Visit the Herbal Remedies for Migraine Headaches website for more information on herbal remedies for migraine headaches and great product offers. There are ways to help defeat the battle with migraines or headaches in general that many of us are facing.

Millions of people suffer from painful migraines. So, what can you do when an excruciating migraine strikes all of a sudden? Following are some great home remedies for migraine headaches that you can apply quickly and get fast relief.

A migraine is an acute headache that is extremely painful and can even be a disabling condition for many. Migraines are common among the population as a whole. In the U.S., 18% of women and 6% of men report having had at least one migraine headache in the past year. Migraines affect about 30 million people in the United States. They may occur at any age, but usually begin between the ages of 10 and 40 and may begin to diminish after age 50. Some people experience several migraines a month, while others have only a few migraines throughout their lifetime. Approximately 75% of all migraine sufferers are women.

Some people complain that visual problems accompany their migraines. These visual symptoms include; bright shimmering lights around objects or at the edges of the field of vision, zigzag lines, wavy images, or hallucinations.

Other symptoms may include severe pain in the area of the temples, around the eyes or in the back of the head. In addition, migraines may be accompanied by nausea, fatigue or tiredness, and mood changes a day or two preceding the headache.

In some cases, migraines appear to run in families. If one of your parents suffered with migraines, there is a good chance that you will get them too.

So, what events trigger severe migraines? In most cases, migraines are brought on by the following triggers; stress, anxiety, fatigue, certain medications, alcohol and certain foods. Monosodium glutamate (also know as MSG), is thought to be a factor in the cause of severe migraines for a number of people. MSG is frequent used ingredient in Chinese and Asian cuisine.

Conventional home remedies for migraine headaches focus on trigger avoidance and symptom control. If you find that eating certain foods or situations are frequently followed by a migraine, avoid it in the future. This is common sense, but many people do not make the connection between the two occurrences.

Another one of the good home remedies for migraine headaches is moderation in your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. These are common triggers. Home remedies for migraine headaches should also include getting adequate sleep, eating meals at regular intervals, and drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydration is also a very common trigger for severe migraines.

Massage therapies are often very effective forms of home remedies for migraine headaches. If you feel a migraine coming on, get a massage. Headaches and severe migraines are frequently caused by stress. When you are stressed, your muscles tighten up. A massage works to delicately stretch these tight muscles and help alleviate the accumulated stress in your body. By working the muscles in your neck and shoulders, as well as those at the base of the skull, muscles relax and the discomfort will be eliminated. Ideally, this technique works best if someone else does it for you but, if that is not an option, it is possible to give yourself a neck and head massage. A massage is one my personal favorite home remedies for migraines.

Some people get some relief by applying either a cold or warm compress to the effected area. Most people report that a cold compress works best, but if that is not effective, try a warm compress.

Acupressure is also one of the good home remedies for migraine headaches. Like acupuncture, it is a well-known alternative treatment for many medical problems that has been used for thousands of years. To get headache pain relief, squeeze the fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger for at least five minutes for one of the quick remedies for migraines. Many folks also can relieve migraine pain by gently rubbing [using small circular motions] the little indentations just in front of your ears.

If you have tried these home remedies for migraine headaches and are still in pain, there is another good alternative. Get additional information by downloading my other fast acting Home Remedies for Migraine Headaches.