What can you do for migraine relief?
This week, the weather in Florida has been very stormy and we have had lots of rain. One of my worst migraine triggers is the weather, and this week has been a “doozy!” Saturday morning, I woke up with the worst migraine in a while, and of course, it was thundering and lightening and just pouring with rain. You know the feeling – are you going to throw up, your head is pounding, you feel miserable and you just don’t know if you will make it through the day without having to stay in bed. Well, I decided I had better get up and get something to eat and drink. I had a little coffee and a slice of toast (as the carbs and caffeine seem to help me). Then I went and grabbed my little bottle of oil, and rolled it on the back of my neck – the occipital area and the side of my temple which was hurting. I am not kidding you, but within five minutes, I could feel it acting with a type of anesthetic effect on my head and it felt like it was being absorbed into my body. Within a half hour, my head and neck tension was gone, and aside from that “dragged out” feeling when you have such bad head tension, I felt fine the rest of the day. I was so thankful for the great relief I got. If you haven’t tried it, you should. You can get more information by emailing me at lwadsworth@verizon.net.
Migraines and headaches can be traced to various causes, which can include such things as dehydration, emotional and mental stress, muscle tension, hormones, nutrition, and even bowel problems. Migraines are a “special” type of headache and can last for days. Each one of you will have distinct experiences. Some of the symptoms can include irritability, cold feet and hands, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea and sensitivity to light.
There are also many triggers for migraines and even headaches. Some of these include sensitivity to smells and cigarette smoke, food sensitivities, poor posture, wine, weather and much more.
So just how do you deal with the severe head and neck tension even before you have to reach for the medicine bottle? Well, as I mentioned above, personally, I use various oils and have had tremendous success with them. I carry them with me all the time.
Recently, I read that a little sea salt followed by two glasses of tepid water can provide relief. I haven’t tried that yet myself, but if you try it and it works, let us know.
If you are suffering from migraines, you have probably noticed that there is a strong connection between migraines and food sensitivities. So here is a list of a few that may help counteract your migraine.
Celery: This actually helps relieve me
nstrual cramps and pain. So if your monthly cycle has triggered a migraine, celery may be a good food choice for you. It is certainly worth a try!
Ginger:
If you drink ginger 
tea, it actually helps improve circulation, which can be a contributing factor with migraines with the constriction of blood vessels, etc. All you do is grate ½ teaspoon of ginger and pour hot water over it. Strain and sip. Another great thing about ginger is that it aids digestion and nausea which, I am sure you know, is a symptom associated with migraines. So next time you are suffering, why not try this simple solution and see how it works for you?
Cayenne: Just ¼ teaspoon of cayenne mixed with warm water stimulates circulation. Again, this is something beneficial to us as migraine sufferers.
Sage:
This wonderful herb helps with mental exhaustion. Just put 1 teaspoon of herbal powder into a cup of warm water, add a pinch of cayenne; mix and drink. Here is a combination worth trying out — the kick of the cayenne to aid the circulation, and the help of the sage to remedy mental exhaustion. We all know
how physically, mentally and emotionally draining migraines are. So again, this is another one worth trying.
Vitamins and Minerals:
There are several vitamins and minerals that help with migraines. Try a good Vitamin B complex – one capsule daily after meals. This will help calm the nerves. Potassium can be taken every hour until the pain is gone. However, do not take more than 8 tablets in a day. Feverfew is a good herb to try. You can buy it in capsule form and it actually is useful taken on a daily basis as a preventative and also to decrease the severity of the headache. Magnesium is another great mineral to use as a migraine preventative. Purchase something like a Magnesium Asporotate to help with the absorption process.
Foot or Bath Soak:
A foot soak
can help bring instant relief to you. Just soak your feet in hot water for one to two minutes and then quickly put your feet into cold water. Congested blood from the head will be drawn out and downwards to your feet. This is such a simple, but effective thing to try.
There are numerous other natural remedies you can try, but these are just a few that may help you. You might try the oils like peppermint and lavender. I have recently learned that by applying a drop of each to your neck each day can also be useful as a head or neck tension.
As always, remember each one of us is individual and each one of you may react to different things in different ways. Some natural remedies may work for you but not for someone else. Each one is worth trying until you find something that really work for you.