If you are at all like me, you are always looking for ways to prevent and lessen the pain of migraine.
Although as I have told you before, in comparison to my almost daily headaches/migraines, I have very few, I am always looking for natural ways that can help prevent even those few I still have. I know during the most painful and frequent migraines of my life, I was desperate to find relief any way I could. That didn’t always involve natural remedies as for many years I was totally unaware of that avenue of help. Now I am more enlightened, I know the true benefits of using holistic and natural remedies. It leads to fewer migraines and lesser pain. What a great option!
In my Migraine Support Facebook Group, we discuss many ways to find natural relief. Recently we discussed ways to prevent migraines and I would love for you to join in with our discussions in that group.
I’m sure you are well aware that not all headaches are created equal. With tension headaches, caffeine headaches, sinus headaches, hangover headaches and full-blown migraine attacks, the causes and symptoms vary from headache to headache, not to mention, person to person.
In addition to that, symptoms of a migraine or headache can be wide-ranging and debilitating; also varying person to person. Sensitivity to light, sound and smell, nausea, vomiting, constipation, brain fog, and the throbbing, intense pain, are all ways migraines bring you down and totally ruin your day. For the milder migraine, maybe some of the options I am talking about in my blog this week could be effective for you and eliminate the necessity for expensive medications or prescription drugs.
Most of the time, I am sure your migraines are severe enough that your doctor has prescribed a prescription medication of some type; maybe preventatives and/or probably something like a triptan to abort an attack. While I know from first-hand experience that triptans can be very effective, often we can be reluctant to take them. Sometimes we just don’t like the side effects, and for other, we realize that taking a pill every time can actually make them worse.
Listed below are some drinks you can try that are safe with little to no side effects. They will help you stay hydrated during an attack, while helping with the symptoms.
Remember to keep a diary of your food triggers. Certain ingredients like almonds, citrus, and bananas can sometimes be triggers for people.
Just as we discussed in last week’s blog, dehydration leads to headaches/migraines, so drinking enough water every single day is very important for migraine prevention. Drinking water during a headache or migraine attack prevent it from becoming worse, and if the migraine/headache is caused by dehydration, can actually make it go away. Some people just don’t like the taste of plain water. If that’s you, try infusing it with fruits such as mango, raspberries, blueberries or strawberries.
Here are some other drinks for you to consider:
Almond Milk
Almonds* are high in magnesium, which is one of the most important minerals for migraine sufferers. A 2012 study showed that magnesium can help prevent migraines and may help treat them as well. A handful of almonds is another good choice, but drinking a glass of almond milk is an even easier way to fit in some magnesium to stop an attack. Almond milk also acts as a “dehydration fighter.” Another way you can try it is to thrown in a few fresh fruits and vegetable to make smoothies, which will nourish you and hydrate you.
Cayenne Pepper Water
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, capsaicin is the compound found in cayenne that makes it spicy. What is does is dull one of the neurotransmitters responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. Some studies have shown that cayenne can relieve cluster headaches or migraines, so adding a little to some warm water next time you feel a migraine coming on may be just what you need.
Feverfew Tea
If you steep feverfew leaves in hot water to create your own tea, this can act as both relief for a headache and prevention. If you don’t like plain tea, try adding a little almond milk and a spoonful of honey. Feverfew has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve a headache as well as aid inn the prevention of migraines.
Warm Lemon* Water
Drinking warm lemon water after waking up is something I advocate to many of my clients. Lemon is high in vitamin C and acts as a cleanser from the inside out. The citric acid kick-starts the digestive system, which can actually slow down during a migraine attack. If you are not thrilled with the taste, try adding a spoonful of honey.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is an ancient remedy. If you’ve followed me on Facebook or read many of my blogs, you know I mention this often. My doTERRA Peppermint Oil is great when it comes to muscle tension, head tension, etc. It has been used for years to soothe an upset stomach; but did you know it can also relax nerves and muscle spasm in the gut. An upset stomach is common during a migraine attack, so drinking some peppermint tea will definitely help soothe the stomach. It’s delicious, refreshing, and can be drunk both iced and hot, while helping to soothe your aching head.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is another ancient remedy for an upset stomach/nausea and is one of the most popular drinks for headaches and migraines. It can be easily brewed into a tea, delicious on its own or with honey. In 2014, the Journal of Phytotherapy Research published an article exploring ginger for migraine relief. They found ginger to be as effective as sumatriptan – which as we know, is a commonly prescribed medication for migraines. Ginger is safe to use in and is worth trying as an inexpensive and simple migraine relief. You can simply grate some fresh ginger, steep it in hot water for 10 minutes, strain and drink. (Again, you can add honey for a sweeter taste.)
If this doesn’t sound appealing but you want the benefits of the ginger, why not try making your own ginger ale. Try this simple recipe:
Ingredients:
• 1 cup peeled, finely chopped ginger
• 2 cups purified water
• raw honey (optional)
• sparkling water
• 1 lemon, juiced* (optional)
Preparation:
Boil 2 cups of water, and add the ginger. Reduce the heat to medium low, and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes.
Take it off the heat and strain.
(MigraineAgain.com)
Green Juices
Drinking a green juice is a fantastic way to give your body a huge dose of the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight a migraine. Juices are loaded with vitamins that are known to help headaches.
You can make a batch of three to four servings and store in the refrigerator for later use. See the recipe below.
Homemade Smoothie
Add watermelon, honey, cucumber and mint to a blender with coconut or plain water. These ingredients are full of vitamins and minerals and extra hydration. Watermelons are full of water, magnesium, and potassium which help reduce brain fog and increase focus. Honey is rich in many minerals that help to relax the blood vessels, thus promoting the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
* Know your triggers. Some ingredients mentioned above are reported to be migraine triggers by some. Migraine food triggers are a very personal thing, so if you think you are sensitive to some of the ingredients mentioned here, please make a substitution.
I would love to know if you try any of these drinks and what benefits you get from drinking them.Comment below to let me know.
Here’s to your healthy migraine journey,
P.S. My 4 Week Migraine Solutions Academy is open again. I have had great success with my beta testers and now would like to open up the Migraine Solutions Program to more of you. If you are on the fence about investing in this, let me assure you that this is a low-priced program that delivers lots of value. You will find yourself with fewer migraines and less intensity if you continually add these simple solutions to your lifestyle. With this low price, what do you truly have to lose?
Migraine Friendly Recipe
Ingredients:
2-3 kale leaves
1/3 cup spinach leaves
1/2 stalk of celery
1/2 cucumber
1/2 cup green apples
1/2 inch ginger root
1 tsp. chia seeds
1 cup coconut or almond milk
1 tsp. honey
1 cup ice
Optional: 1/2 avocado
Directions:
Throw all ingredients into a heavy duty blender, NutriBullet or Ninja and mix together.
Enjoy!