8 Remedies to Get Rid of Migraines Naturally
Migraines are a common condition that most people deal with on a daily basis.
Although you can medicate using drugs, it is important that you take care of yourselves by understanding how to prevent or cope with migraines when they set in.
Besides, most of these pain-relieving pharmaceutical drugs are not only ineffective but may also be addictive or have some severe side effects.
In this post, we will share with you some of the best ways that you can use to make that migraine go away without having to step in a hospital. Read on and learn how to take charge of your health naturally.
1. Drink Enough Water
Dehydration or lack of enough water may lead to migraines and headaches. In addition, dehydration can cause irritability, making your symptoms even worse.
Please note that most of the drinks that we consume such as alcohol, sugary drink, and even coffee have significant dehydrating effects.
It is therefore crucial that you form a habit of taking enough amount of water as this readily available and free remedy will keep you energized and migraine-free. If possible, try to include some veggies and fruits in your diet as well. Research shows that some of these nutritious veggies and fruits have more than 90% water content.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium can be an effective treatment against headaches and migraines. This is because magnesium helps regulates major body functions such as nerve transmission and blood sugar control.
For this reason, people who lack enough magnesium in their bodies are more prone to suffering from regular headaches and migraines.
A recent study showed that, people who use at least 600 mg of magnesium citrate daily experience migraines less frequently than their counterparts who don’t.
However, it is worth noting that magnesium supplements can lead to some side effects such as diarrhoea and digestive complications. It is therefore advisable that you start with a small amount of magnesium when treating migraines.
3. Craniosacral therapy
Research has shown that craniosacral therapy for migraine can be an effective natural remedy for severe headaches.
One of the best things about craniosacral therapy is that it works by identifying the root cause of the migraine. It has been found out that, migraines are mostly caused by either misalignment in the craniosacral system or blockages in the craniosacral system.
By using their hands, craniosacral therapy practitioners are able to identify what may be causing the migraines. According to a recent study, craniosacral therapy can remove the misalignments or blockages, relieving you from pain.
4. Limit Your Alcohol Consumption
You might be surprised to learn that, regular consumption of alcoholic drinks can cause migraines in more than a third of people who suffer from frequent head complications.
Alcohol acts as a vasodilation agent meaning that it widens our blood vessels allowing blood to move more freely. Some people don’t react well to vasodilation and may develop head complications.
Apart from that, alcoholic drinks act as diuretic agents meaning that they cause the body to lose electrolytes and fluids through frequent urination.
The frequent urination and fluid loss can dehydrate users causing or worsening migraines.
5. Find a Calm Environment
As soon as migraines sets in, try and find a calm environment. If possible, stop doing whatever is it that you are doing. You can try the following tips as well;
- Turn of the lights– Turns out that people suffering from headaches and migraines are more sensitive to sound and light. It is therefore crucial that you find a calm, quiet and dark room to rest for a while.
- Get a caffeinated drink– Small amounts of caffeine can help relieve you from headache. However, you should be careful as too much caffeine can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as headaches later on.
- Get temperature therapy– Try applying cold or hot compresses on your neck or head. While heating pads and hot packs help relax tense muscles, ice packs have a numbing effect which researchers argue can help reduce the pain.
6. CBD Oil
Short for Cannabidiol, CBD has been praised for its many health benefits such as relief from pain, arthritis and cancer symptoms. As research on this field goes on, it has emerged that CBD oil can also help with migraines without causing any severe side effects. The same cannot be said about other common painkillers which are not only addictive but may also be ineffective or have some adverse side effects.
In a study published in 2016, it was discovered that out of the 48 people treated with medical marijuana, more than 40% experienced fewer migraines during the period of the study.
Researchers believe that CBD oil can be an effective natural remedy for migraines because CBD boasts of excellent pain-relieving properties. However, it is crucial that you consult with your doctor before relying fully on CBD for your migraines.
7. Herbal Tea
Not only can herbal tea help keep you hydrated but it is also a great way of introducing other helpful natural compounds in your body.
According to a recent study, ginger tea acted the same way in reducing migraines as some other common medications for headache.
If you don’t love the taste of ginger powder in your mouth, you can try other equally beneficial herbs such as lavender, chamomile, and peppermint.
8. Rest and Relax
Resting or relaxing may be another effective way of eliminating migraines naturally. Rest or sit in a dark, calm room and try to relieve the tension that may have accumulated in your shoulders, back, and neck.
Some practices such as yoga, stretches, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation can also help you relax. If suffering from muscle spasms, you may want to try physical therapy as well.
As you can see, there are so many tips that you can employ to get rid of migraines naturally. Temples, head and neck massage have also worked great in eliminating frequent headaches.
However, if you try the above tips and your condition keeps getting worse, you may want to visit a qualified medical practitioner for specialized treatment.