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

Put simply, migraine involves excess contraction or dilation of the blood vessels in the brain. There are at least three major theories regarding the physiological mechanisms involved and there are many different types of migraine (the major ones being: migraine with aura and migraine without aura) – and several sub-types within each classification.

To treat migraine, identify the trigger and eliminate it – which is often easier said than done. There is little doubt that food intolerance is a major cause of migraine and many studies have demonstrated that detecting and removing the offending food(s) can improve or even eliminate symptoms in the majority of sufferers. A study in the Lancet found that 93% of sufferers found an improvement on eliminating allergenic foods from their diet. Non-food triggers include lack of exercise, stress or strong emotions, constipation, excess or lack of sleep, liver malfunction, weather changes, caffeine withdrawal, certain drugs, dental problems, flashing or glaring lights, low blood sugar or exposure to cigarette smoke. Some migraines result from oestrogen fluctuations and usually decrease after the menopause. Foods containing phyto-oestrogens (citrus fruits, apples, cherries, plums, oats, rice, wheat, carrots, potatoes, parsley and fennel) can have a hormone-balancing effect. The Pill may cause B6 deficiency resulting in migraine.

Diet adjustments – To maintain a steady blood sugar level, eat regular, light meals which include protein but are low in simple carbohydrates (such as sugary and refined foods). Eat extra amounts of almonds, fennel, watercress, and fresh pineapple. Reduce salt intake and avoid acid forming foods (meat, dairy, cereals, grain and bread). Avoid fried and fatty foods.

There are tests which can help to identify problem foods, but the most reliable method is the challenge test. Choose (say) five of the danger foods below and eliminate them from your diet for 3 weeks. If you are symptom free during this period introduce each food one at a time, at least four days apart, eating the food several times a day, and record any reactions – which may take up to three days to appear. If there is no reaction you can assume the food is safe for you to eat. If you do have a reaction, eliminate the food from your diet for at least 6 months before trying to include it again. Common migraine triggers, which you may like to start with, are: alcohol, dairy produce, chocolate, wheat, citrus and shell-fish.

Other possible triggers: Cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, caffeine, red wine, dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, ice-cream, yoghurt), foods containing gluten (wheat, rye, oats, barley), ‘aged’ foods (e.g. cured, pickled, soured, fermented), monosodium glutamate, red grapes, soya products (including tofu), garlic, onions, shell-fish, salmon, kippers, haddock, mackerel, mussels and scallops. Foods which contain tyramine (e.g. avocados, processed meats, bananas, beer, cabbage, hard cheese, canned fish, potatoes, raspberries, plums, tomatoes, alcohol, yeast, chocolate and spicy foods). As a rule of thumb, often the food you crave most is a problem food for you. However, many of these foods (especially the fish, fruit and vegetables) are very beneficial IF they do not cause migraines. Once eliminated as an allergen, they are safe to eat.

Other ideas
Over-the-counter painkillers may increase headaches, especially those which contain caffeine. If any prescribed medications contain caffeine, discuss changing them with your GP. Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine without contacting your GP. Exercise and deep breathing will improve blood circulation which should help. Some migraines may result from toxic metals in the system – consider having a hair mineral analysis if your lifestyle could expose you to toxins. Research has shown that magnesium or vitamin B2 supplements can help. Analysis can determine which – if any – is appropriate for you and a suitable level and chemical form of supplementation. Physiotherapy may also be helpful.

Supplements which should help (always use hypo-allergenic supplements)

Calcium/Magnesium (chelate form) to regulate muscle tone and nerve transmissions. CoQ10 (or Ginkgo or B3) to improve blood circulation to the brain. Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10). A less well known nutrient has also been found effective in helping migraine sufferers. CoQ10 is a naturally occurring substance similar in structure to vitamin K. It is not a vitamin because, subject to the availability of all necessary nutrients, it can be made in the body; but as so often occurs, production declines with age! Its main functions in are in energy production and as an antioxidant.

Now research by Dr Rozen at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation published in the International Headache Society’s journal (March 2002) has found that after three months taking 150mg CoQ10, 61% of patients had a greater than 50% reduction in the number of days with migraine – a significant reduction. The fact that patients in the study had no problems using it, together with other beneficial effects of the nutrient, makes CoQ10 a very appealing agent for migraine prevention.

Natural sources of CoQ10 include beef, chicken, ham, pork, salmon, sardines, mackerel, egg, spinach, sesame seeds and walnuts but no food can provide anything close to the dose used in the trial so supplementation would be necessary. Consult a nutritionist for the dose and best presentation of CoQ10 as there are some specifics to watch out for. All supplements are NOT equal!

EPO – anti-inflammatory and keeps blood vessels from constricting
B5 for stress and B6 to reduce water-retention, along with a B-complex
Quercetin or bromelain help control food allergies
C (buffered form) enhances immune system and aids anti-stress hormone production

Try either of these:
Amino acid chelated magnesium
B2 at 400mg daily

“I’ve got a headache.” This is not just an idle excuse to make fun of. Over twenty five million Americans suffer from migraines – 75% of them women. And it’s no laughing matter. But there are natural remedies that can give both immediate and long-term permanent relief.

Migraine episodes last, on average, between 6 and 48 hours and sometimes leave the person bedridden or unable to function fully. Symptoms are many, but always include intense throbbing pain, usually on just one side of the head.

Although specific causes are unknown, migraines are thought to be the result of inflammation. This can come from stress, hormonal changes (especially during menstruation, ovulation or puberty), medications (including birth control pills), MSG, alcohol, caffeine or eating certain foods (such as chocolate).

There are two main types of migraine headaches -common and classic. About 80% fall into the common migraine category without an aura. These are generally much less painful than the classic variety with auras. An aura is an array of visual disturbances (flashing lights, seeing spots, complex patterns or shapes, etc.) that occur shortly before the onset of a headache. Auras are sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Ocular migraines are often confused with classic migraines. But, although the aura experience can be similar, it occurs in only one eye. And if a headache follows, it’s usually less violent. The symptoms are only temporary and aren’t harmful to the eye. Ocular migraines can, however, interfere with reading or driving.

Migraine sufferers may find temporary relief by lying down in a cool, quiet, dark place or by applying an ice pack or cold compresses to the pulsing area. The headache will usually go away after a nap or a full nights sleep.

Once you’re free of the migraine, it’s a good time to start a prevention program. Making simple lifestyle changes can often permanently eliminate migraines. Begin by finding ways to live a less stressful life. This can take some work, but less stress will be worth the effort.

The next two steps are to start a regular moderate exercise program and switch to a healthier migraine-free diet. Avoid any food that might trigger headache symptoms. These include caffeine, chocolate, sugar, soft drinks, alcohol, processed grains and sweets (desserts, pastries, cookies, cake, sweetened cereals, etc.). These foods can be addictive, so you may have to wean yourself off of them gradually.

You can actually learn to enjoy eating a whole food diet with lots of nutritious vegetables, whole grains, fresh fruit, lean protein and pure water. This is an essential step. And, to reduce the inflammation and eliminate pain, add to your diet a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement.

Fortunately, most migraine sufferers, even those who’ve been suffering from them for many years, find they can prevent migraine headaches naturally by making these simple lifestyle changes. And, oh what a relief – to be migraine free!

When my debilitating migraine attacks had increased to the extent that they were occurring weekly, and affecting my ability to function and lead a ‘normal life’, it was time to find assistance.

To find relief and help, my first port of call was to my General Practitioner who was most unsympathetic, implying that three young children, moving house and working were bound to have a detrimental effect on my health and the combination of stresses had ‘chosen’ to manifest in the form of migraine. When I asked for suggestions for relief, anti-depressants were offered as the ‘best course of action’. The GP also intimated that in time the migraines would probably disappear; if not a hysterectomy may be the answer!

I wasn’t asked if any other family members had similar problems. Nor was I warned about the possible side-effects of the anti-depressants, including the potential of becoming addicted. The whole visit was over within five minutes, I left the surgery reluctantly clutching a prescription. Hopefully this was an atypical experience, and GPs these days are more sympathetic.

I decided to carry out research into the side effects these anti-depressant drugs could induce. I was horrified to find that the symptoms I suffered, headache, nausea, difficulty concentrating etc. could be further aggravated, and there were other potential side effects such as sexual dysfunction, hair loss and abdominal pain. My immediate instinct was to throw the prescription away; in no way did I want all those chemicals inside me, potentially doing untold long term damage to my body. Neither did I want a hysterectomy, as my migraines did not coincide with monthly hormonal changes.

After alternative advice from family and friends to change my diet, cut out all known triggers such as cheese, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and have more sleep, I decided to look into complementary therapies and a friend recommended me to try homeopathy. The use of homeopaths was not as widely known as it is today and many people inferred that their practices were somewhat dubious.

Unperturbed and determined to find someone to help me I used the local telephone directory to seek out registered homeopaths, finally arranging an initial consultation with the one who seemed the most genuinely interested and concerned with my plight during our introductory telephone conversation.

The first thing the homeopath explained to me was the ‘like-for-like’ homeopathic philosophy. She was not at all offended or alarmed by my questions about her training and qualifications, the answers to which were most reassuring.

My life and medical history were discussed in depth, including family history of migraine and my sister’s epilepsy and the thoughts I had that my headaches were an indication of me developing the same, which terrified me. We also discussed my present and past emotional states and the holistic approach to finding suitable relief.

During the consultation I explained that my migraine usually started at the back of the head and spread predominantly to the right temple, accompanied by a pounding, throbbing pain and was worsened by light, noise, jarring and cold hands and feet. From this and careful questioning about other life and family factors, the homeopath concluded that Belladonna would be beneficial for me.

She told me that Belladonna is also known as Deadly Nightshade. I was somewhat alarmed by this and expressed my concerns over using such a toxic and sometimes fatal plant. The homeopath carefully explained that the doses of Belladonna that I would be taking were very diluted but confirmed that it should only be used when prescribed by a qualified practitioner, and should NEVER be used as a self-help measure, for example picking it from the wild.

As an aside, Belladonna means ‘beautiful eyes’ in Italian and preparations of it were used in days gone-by to dilate the pupils and make women appear more alluring and sexy.

Although that was a fascinating snippet of information, I was even more interested to hear that Belladonna has been a beneficial remedy for over 500 years. I was relieved to learn that atropine, derived from Belladonna, is an ingredient of some over-the-counter cough medicines.

My homeopath explained that should Belladonna not be beneficial there were other homeopathic remedies such as Sanguinarine, which is used to treat migraines with similar symptoms but accompanied by vomiting, which rarely happened in my case. Therefore it was agreed that Belladonna be prescribed initially.

The recommended dose, for me, was 3 tablets each morning and 3 at night for 5 days. She then asked me to come back for assessment within a week. She also advised me to exclude cheese, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol for the time being, while keeping a headache diary to enable triggers to be identified and discussed during future consultations.

I continued visiting the homeopath on a weekly basis for several months, all the while continuing to take daily doses of Belladonna which were gradually reduced. The homeopath always made the visits productive and as she found out more and more about me, my life-style and triggers, she noticed that I have a tendency to clench my jaw and grind my back teeth when subjected to topics of discussion that were upsetting or made me angry. She advised me always to sleep with my mouth slightly ajar to prevent muscle tension. I still try to remember to do this, if I feel stressed, and even as I go to sleep. The improvements in the severity, intensity and frequency of my migraines were astounding and gradually they disappeared.

I strongly recommend that anyone who suffers from migraine attacks should consult with a homeopath as I’m sure they will find the experience and their professionalism as ‘life-changing’ as I have.

To repeat: Belladonna is another name for deadly night-shade, and should NEVER be self-administered. Use it ONLY under the supervision of a registered and qualified practitioner.

Migraine is the term used to describe a severe pain in the head. This can be cause by the contraction or dilatation of blood vessels in the brain and the irregular nerve activity mainly in the meninges. Migraine is caused by the stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, which release a substance inducing inflammation and also send messages to pain receptors in the meninges.

Migraines do not always require a prescribed or over the counter medicine. Migraines can be cured, or at the least lessened, by using folk remedies. More commonly called alternative medicine, home remedies are not complex chemical compounds but rather common sense and know-how.

There are many home remedies for migraines but the word remedy should be taken with a grain of salt. These remedies may not work for you when migraines are severe and disabling, and you should consult a doctor should migraines become frequent. There are many proven medical treatments that can help alleviate these horrendous headaches.

When you feel a migraine coming on, Chamomile is a wonderful preventive measure to limit the severity of the pain. Simply take a cup of chamomile tea when you start noticing migraine symptoms.

Take a wet washcloth and place in microwave for a few seconds. This works wonders for me, once I place the steamy hot washcloth on my face and head I can just feel the pain subside.

The flowers of henna have been found to be very effective at curing headaches and migraines. A simple home remedy is to dip henna flowers in vinegar and then rub them against the forehead for quick pain relief.

The crusts of lemon have also been found beneficial in the treatment- of migraine. These crusts should be pounded into a fine paste in a mortar.The paste should be applied as a plaster on the forehead. It will provide great relief.

With the essential oils, you can do another great thing at home for treating your migraine. And that is touching the oils. Here is how to do this for the treatment of migraine. Take some lavender or eucalyptus oil with or without peppermint. Have someone kneed across your shoulder and the back of the neck. Have the one press on the base of your skull with his/ her fingers and slowly release.

Both self-massage and acupressure can help. Two key points for reducing pain with acupressure are the web between your forefinger and thumb (squeeze there until you feel pain) and under the bony ridges at the back of the neck (use both thumbs to apply pressure there).

Millions of Americans suffer from migraine. It is a neurological condition where you will experience an intense headache on one or both sides of the head and often radiates from the eye. Migraine is a very disabling disease, you will experience pounding pain, vomiting and nausea. Some when having migraine attacks cannot get out of bed and cannot work at all or go on their daily routine. Fortunately you can apply home treatment for migraine during attacks to relieve the pains.

A good treatment for migraine attacks is making use of a towel which is frozen. For this, put water on a towel and squeeze it, then put it in the deep freezer for about five minutes. After that, just gently soothe it over the eyes and the head, which will provide quite some relief from the pain. Massaging is another treatment. This can be done by massaging the forehead as also your scalp by switching between fingers.

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.

A number of patients receiving Botox injections for the treatment of deep wrinkles on the forehead stopped having migraine headaches or had significantly fewer migraine headaches since starting the injections. About half of them completely recovered from migraines and there was partial improvement in about a third. When this was discovered by doctors, research on the use of Botox for migraines was begun

For sufferers of chronic migraines, prescription medication is often recommended by doctors. This kind of medication is taken on a daily basis in order to prevent migraines before they start. But for others, who suffer from migraines less frequently or are averse to taking daily prescription medication, a migraine home remedy is the best possible solution.

Nasya or medicated oil drops used for the treatment of migraine is of two types. The first is called “Shirovirechan”, in which strong, irritant medicines are instilled as nasal drops, which induce sneezing and watery discharge. The second is called as “Avapidak nasya’ in which a paste is prepared of a herb or several herbs, and the liquid is inserted in the nostrils. Usually, herbs like Vacha (Acorus calamus) and Pippali ( Piper longum) are used along with honey.

Natural treatment methods for migraine headaches are usually harmless and also cheaper than traditional pain medications. Sure, it’s possible you could experience a negative reaction or even increase your headache pain because of a natural treatment, but the odds are far less than with pain-relieving medications.

People are different from each other. A natural treatment that might relieve one person’s migraine headaches may not relieve someone else’s. But on the same measure, just because one migraine headache treatment does not work for one person does not mean it won’t work for you. There are many effective alternatives to taking medication when it comes to relieving migraine headaches. One of these alternative methods may be just what you have been looking for.

Chiropractic adjustments, or chiropractic manipulations, are a very popular natural treatment method for headache relief. Patients with migraine headaches have been visiting chiropractors for over 100 years, and with very good results. Studies have shown that over 80% of headache patients find relief with chiropractic care. Plus, chiropractic treatment has been shown to be extremely safe. Spinal problems do cause headaches and by correcting these spinal problems many headache sufferers find welcome relief.

Biofeedback is another form of treatment that is safe and can be effective in eliminating pain. Biofeedback is a training program designed to help a person develop the ability to control their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. Functions that are normally automatic can be controlled voluntarily. This technique makes it possible for a person to control their own heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, and of course, the relaxation of their tense muscles.

Stress can cause tension, which can lead to muscle tightness (muscle tension) and cause headaches. By relaxing these tense muscles, especially in the neck, it is possible to relieve the tension causing the migraine headaches. With biofeedback, once the technique is learned there is no longer any need for the biofeedback equipment. The patient with migraine headaches can now produce the desired effect at any. They can control certain bodily functions, such as muscle relaxation, which can help reduce and relieve their migraine headaches.

Most people are unaware that too much salt can cause headaches. And by simply lessening the salt intake headaches can sometimes be prevented.

Food allergies or sensitivities can also cause migraine headaches. Certain foods such as cheese, alcohol, monosodium glutamate (a food additive), nuts, beans, caffeine, chocolate and onions can cause migraines. Foods that cause headaches are called triggers. People who experience migraine headaches because of food sensitivities can eliminate their pain by simply eliminating the foods causing the pain.

However, its not always easy to discover which foods are the culprits. One way is to keep a food diary. Get a small notebook, with each page representing one day. On each daily page make three columns. The first column will contain the hours in the day. The second column will be a list of the foods eaten that day. And the third column will list the symptoms that you experience.

As an example, if you had eggs and toast for breakfast at 8 AM you would write eggs and toast in the food column that corresponds with 8 AM. Make a note of everything that is eaten on this list and at what time they were eaten.

When you eventually experience a migraine headache you write migraine headache or headache down in the symptoms column at the time it began. For example, if one of your headaches begins at 2 PM you will write headache in the symptoms column for 2 PM.

It may take a few weeks or even a few months, but after experiencing a few migraine headaches, with the help of the food diary, you will be able to tell which foods cause headaches. Over time, by figuring out which ingredients in these foods are causing your pain, you will be able to eliminate these ingredients and relieve some pain.

Another very common cause of tension headaches and migraine headaches is just plain stress. People who experience tension can get headaches from their increased tension.

Relieving tension can often relieve migraine headaches. Tension can be relieved in many ways such as with biofeedback training (as explained above), taking a warm bath or shower, lying down and resting in a quiet dark room, putting something cold on the back of the neck (at the base of the skull) or having someone massage your neck muscles and possibly your temporal region to help relieve your tension and muscle spasms. Regular exercise can also, over time, reduce tension.

These are just a few of the many natural treatment methods that are available to migraine headache patients. They are all considered safe and are effective for many people. If you have headaches it may be beneficial to try some of these treatments or search out others on your own. But as always it is a good idea to talk with your doctor before attempting to treat yourself for a health problem.

Ways to Identify Migraine Symptoms for Treatment and Relief

Is it? Is it not? Could it be just a headache? How can you tell it’s a migraine? These are questions every migraine sufferer asks when migraines first make an appearance into their lives. Not just that, there are two kinds – the classic migraine and the common migraine. The choice becomes even more difficult as you suffer – which one do you have?
First of all, a migraine headache isn’t just a headache. It is usually accompanied by one or more symptoms – nausea, dizziness, blurring of the vision, not being able to face bright lights, etc. Secondly, a migraine, unlike a headache, lasts a long time. From over an hour to a few days if it’s a bad case.
More often than not, migraine sufferers experience auras. This is one of the differentiating features of migraines. Migraines happen when the blood vessels which constrict because of serotonin, begin dilating and causing pain in the nerves. A tension headache on the other hand, affects the whole head and rarely lasts as long as a migraine. It is also not accompanied by these other symptoms.
Let’s look at the two types of migraines. You have the common one which develops more slowly. Before an attack, there is usually anxiety or depression. There could also be spells of yawning and tiredness or irritability. Once the pain starts, it usually settles on one side of the head.
A classic migraine on the other hand has various stages it goes though.
First comes the prodome stage which might begin with the same low feeling or with irritability like the common migraine.
It then goes into the aura stage in about 24 hours. Here, the blood vessels narrow and there is an aura you see which fills up half of each eye. There could also be other disturbing things like spots, bright flashes, zigzag lights, etc which you see. When it’s bad, there could also be burning sensations and weakness. This could last up to half an hour at times.
Then comes the third stage where the blood vessels dilate and let the blood flow into the brain. This is when the bad pain begins. In the classic migraine this could be on both sides of the brain or only on one side. Sometimes there is just one spot that hurts unbearably. Bright light and noise very often aggravate the condition. The final stage is utter exhaustion.
Only a migraine sufferer knows how bad his condition can be. That is why it is important to see a doctor as soon as you feel you have started getting migraines. At least you will have medication to help you through the very painful parts.
It’s tough to have your life come to a halt because of a migraine. It’s worse if you get them often. It could ruin your chances at your place of work and interfere with your personal and social life, too. That’s why a physician’s help is essential. Today, there are specialists who have experience in dealing with the problem. It is better to go and seek their opinion than to suffer so much pain.

There are a lot of ways we can suffer and a bad migraine is sure one of them. I have been suffering from terrible headaches for some time, yet thus far have been unable to find any sort of migraine relief. I know there exist some ways to provide a sort of partial migraine headache relief. I can sit in a dark room, trying to lay absolutely still and silent, and the throbbing will lessen somewhat, but even still, it can take hours and hours to go away. I have looked everywhere for some sort of migraine relief, but so far I have been almost entirely unsuccessful in finding it at all.

It would be difficult for you to really understand how important the search for good migraine relief is if you have never had a migraine headache. A migraine will start as a small blurry dot in the center of your vision. Then, slowly, it will keep expanding outward, farther and farther, until it comes to completely fill your entire field of vision. Then the pain begins. It is the most terrible pain that you can ever imagine, and it is splitting your head apart. You feel dizzy and nauseous, and all kind of sound or light is totally intolerable. At moments like that, I would almost sell my soul to get some migraine relief. The pain is so bad that migraine relief is the only important thing in the whole world for a good long time.

I have tried all of the migraine medications available to this date, but there are still some migraine relief options which I have yet to try. I have met chiropractors who say that they are able to cure migraines by simply manipulating the spine and the adjacent muscles, but let’s say that I am still a bit sceptical. I mean, if migraine relief were indeed so easy to do, wouldn’t everyone be using those methods instead of drugs which only work for some people, and take a lot of time to just kick in? If it were so easy to get rid of these terrible headaches with no pills, no pain, and zero inconvenience, I can not see why there would be any kind of migraine relief period? If chiropractors were able to really prevent people from having a migraine, who would not go to them? I guess it would be worth trying to get migraine relief with that method, but I am not sure that it will work.

I found out with the years that my migraine headaches started when I had greasy foods, sugar, chocolate or too much coffee. You have to discover for yourself what is your migraine trigger. Observe what you eat for a week or two. Stress is obviously a migraine factor. In other word, before running to the drugstore to buy a cure for migraine relief, try to find out what is the cause and you will be glad you believed what I said! The time you will invest searching for the perfect remedy for a true migraine relief will be time well invested.

Migraine sufferers will tell you that there is no pain like that of a migraine headache. An episode can mean hours or even days of incapacitation and symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smell. The triggers of a migraine may be different for each person but their suffering is the same, as is their desire to find effective treatment that will alleviate – or even prevent – migraines. Because of the prevalence of these debilitating headaches, ongoing research focuses on finding those lifestyle changes that will give relief to migraine sufferers; one such lifestyle change is the implementation of the migraine diet.

There are a number of different causes of migraine headaches; some of the more common causes include exposure to smoke, excessive caffeine, red wine consumption, high levels of stress, hormone fluctuations, inadequate sleep, and particular foods such as those that contain additives or preservatives. There has been a growing body of evidence that suggests that a migraine diet focused on the eating of whole, natural foods and the elimination of highly processed foods can effectively diminish, and sometimes eliminate, migraine headaches.

In addition to caffeine and red wine – both serious offenders when it comes to migraine headaches – there is also research that shows that chemical additives found in a variety of foods greatly add to the possibility of migraine headaches. Some other standouts include dairy foods, nut products, chocolate, processed meats, and alcohol.

Not every food product will trigger a migraine headache. But until a migraine sufferer can pinpoint their particular causes, it is best to practice a migraine diet that effectively eliminates those foods associated with migraines. In the meantime, a migraine sufferer would do well to keep a migraine journal that documents the frequency and details surrounding their episodes. If there is a noticeable pattern of foods that trigger a migraine headache then a personalized migraine diet can be constructed for that particular sufferer.

There are a variety of treatments available today to bring relief to those who suffer from migraine headaches. A migraine diet can be a first step in the ongoing battle against migraine headaches.

The National Headache Foundation says that 28 million people suffer from migraine headaches every year. For those who suffer from this debilitating and painful condition, sometimes it must seem like there are 28 million medication options as well. From the over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, and naproxen, to a regimen of doctor prescribed pain and prevention medications, finding migraine relief can be a confusing and expensive endeavor. And for those who wish to avoid taking medications it can be even more frustrating. However, there are other options.

There are many possible causes for migraine headaches, so it is no surprise that there are many different forms of migraine relief as well. A wise option for anyone who is combating migraine headaches is to keep track of the things they have done, eaten, and felt prior to the onset of a migraine headache. It may surprise some to learn that sometimes migraine relief does not need to come through the aid of medication; in fact, it can sometimes be found by eliminating or curbing the things that induce the headache.

Stress, lack of sleep, diet, alcohol, nicotine, and many other factors can trigger the onset of a migraine headache. By tracking your intake and exposure to these and other factors you may be able to identify the cause of your migraine headaches. However, if this strategy is unsuccessful, then there are other natural migraine relief options to explore.

Biofeedback has a demonstrated success in providing migraine relief. Biofeedback is a method by which individuals learn stress management skills to help them cope with the pain and duration of migraine headaches. The coping skills help the individual increase blood flow to the brain, and that has proven to be able to reduce the severity and duration of migraine headaches.

The ancient technique of acupuncture has provided migraine relief for some individuals as well. While it may seem hard to believe that inserting needles into your body can alleviate pain, studies indicate that acupuncture may induce the release of pain killing endorphins into the blood stream, helping the body reduce the pain of a migraine in a natural way.

Nearly all migraine sufferers are likely to endorse the pain relieving qualities of a good massage. While clinical trials studying the effectiveness of massage therapy have been inconclusive, the ability of massage therapy to reduce stress and relax the body are not disputed, and such techniques can be beneficial for some in their effort to combat the pain of migraine headaches.

Herbs are another migraine relief option that has demonstrated mixed results in clinical trials. Feverfew in particular has been the focus of clinical studies, and it has proven effective in the treatment of migraine pain, among other applications. Like herbs, aroma therapy has also provided migraine relief for some, but its effectiveness has not been validated by clinical studies. Most of the claims of migraine relief through the use of herbs or aroma therapy lie in the realm of anecdotal evidence. However, many of those anecdotes are quite convincing, so migraine sufferers who are seeking natural options may be wise to investigate them further.

Like any medical condition, people seeking migraine relief should research their options and consult their physician before starting a new pain management regimen. Armed with the facts and the help of a supportive physician, natural migraine relief is entirely possible.