Effective ways to treat Migraine Headache

Here are a number of safe home remedies and suggestions for preventing and alleviating migraines and their symptoms. I want to emphasize that migraine symptoms can be specific to the individual so some these suggestions may be great for one person and not work for someone else. They’re worth a try though. Nothing here can hurt you and you might find some real relief!

For those of you who don’t get migraines, they are a whole body neurological phenomenon that affects your vascular system, messing up your head and stomach, and generally making you feel like you’ve got food poisoning while you have the flu.

There are medications that you can take to help prevent migraines and medicines that you can take to abort a headache that has already started. But (I know from lots of personal experience) this is often not enough. migraine medicines don’t always work and often work very slowly. So what do you do then?

(Also, migraine medicines can have a rebound effect, so the less you take, the better.)

Here are some things to try:

• Do Deep Breathing Regularly
• ​Rest, Relax, Sleep in a dark room
• Drink Plenty Of Water
• ​Eat Some Healthy Food (Protein)
• Apply Hot Or Cold Compress
• Have a nice cup of tea.
• ​Ginger
• ​Exercise
• Adjust Your Environmental Temperature
• Feel Better!

Do Deep Breathing Regularly

This is good for everyone. Pain and discomfort make us tighten up and restrict our breathing. This is the worst possible thing you can do for a migraine. Instead, remind yourself to take deep, slow breaths with long exhales. If you’ve ever done any meditative or deep breathing (lamaze counts here), this is exactly what you’re looking for. If not, try these beginner steps from Harvard Health:

First steps: Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down. First, take a normal breath. Then try a deep breath: Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your chest and lower belly to rise as you fill your lungs. Let your abdomen expand fully. Now breathe out slowly through your mouth (or your nose, if that feels more natural).

Breath focus in practice: Once you’ve taken the steps above, you can move on to regular practice of breath focus. As you sit comfortably with your eyes closed, blend deep breathing with helpful imagery and perhaps a focus word or phrase that helps you relax.

You’re going to be okay. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable and anxious and scared, and you’ve survived. Breathe and know that you can survive this too. These feelings can’t break you. They’re painful and debilitating, but you can sit with them and eventually, they will pass. Maybe not immediately, but sometime soon, they are going to fade and when they do, you’ll look back at this moment and laugh for having doubted your resilience. I know it feels unbearable right now, but keep breathing, again and again. This will pass. I promise it will pass.
Daniell Kapke

I sometimes do these breathing exercises by counting to 6 or 8 during the inhale and again during the exhale. After a while you don’t need to count anymore.

​Rest, Relax, Sleep in a dark room

One of the simplest and the best treatment for migraine headache is to lie down and take proper rest in a dark room. When you have an acute migraine headache look for the quietest, darkest and the most comfortable room of your house and lie down and relax. Always ensure that the room atmosphere is soothing and relaxing so that you feel completely comfortable.

Relax your mind and body as much as possible but always keep your eyes open. You can always cover your eyes with a scarf, blind fold, handkerchief or any other material but ensure that your eyes are open. Researches show that if you shut your eyes in order to cope with the pain you eventually end up using extra facial and jaw muscles that increases the pain. If you want to treat the headache successfully then relax by keeping your eyes open.

Drink Plenty Of Water

Drinking plenty of water everyday also helps to treat migraine headaches to a great extent. Regular consumption of water generally prevents the onset of the acute headaches to a considerable extent. Drink at least 8 – 10 glasses of water every day at regular intervals to treat migraine successfully. Even mixing a teaspoon of honey in a glass of water and drinking it every morning is also one of the best natural remedies for treating acute migraine headaches. Follow these 6 effective home remedies regularly to treat migraine headaches successfully.

​Eat Some Healthy Food (Protein)

It is very important to follow a healthy diet regularly in order to treat migraine headaches successfully. A healthy diet not only treats migraine quickly and easily but also reduces the chances of its frequent occurrences. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Also eat foods like nuts, whole grain, honey, milk and yogurt. Even having apples every morning helps to treat migraines to a great extent. A well balanced and a healthy diet thus keeps you fit, healthy and free from acute migraine headaches.

Apply Hot Or Cold Compress

Both hot and cold compresses are equally effective for treating acute migraine headaches. Apply cold compress around the neck forehead and armpits using ice bag. This cold compress provides almost instant relief from acute migraine headaches.

This varies for people with migraines. For some people a very hot shower gives relief. For others, popsicles and ice packs are the way to go. Targeting the face, neck, upper back and shoulders with heat or cold can greatly relieve migraine symptoms and sometimes even stop the migraine before it takes hold. Try these ideas and see what helps you. You may find a combination works for you:

• Lie down or sit with an ice pack on the back of your neck.
• Alternate very hot and icy cold (damp) washcloths on your face and neck.
• Put hot packs on the back of your neck and shoulders.
• Hold ice or a popsicle to the roof of your mouth.
• Take a hot shower or bath. Focus the hot water on the back of your neck and shoulders.
• Press an ice cube against the painful points around your eyes and forehead.

Have a nice cup of tea.

Or other drink with caffeine. Tea is good because there’s not much in it to upset your stomach.

​Ginger

Ginger tea or candied ginger may help with the nausea. This folk remedy can be helpful for the stomach upset that comes with a migraine.

​Exercise

Regular exercise is very important to help prevent migraines from starting. Exercise reduces stress, loosens tight muscles and helps with blood sugar levels. Whatever you like to do is good. Just try to avoid things that stress your neck. (Which most of us should probably be avoiding anyway.)

I find exercising with a migraine sometimes helps the headache, but check with your doctor first to see if it’s okay for you.

Adjust Your Environmental Temperature

Being too hot or too cold makes a migraine worse. Try adjusting your thermostat. Add or peel off layers of clothing or blankets as you get warmer or cooler. Adjust as often as you need to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Feel Better!

I hope some of these easy home remedies help your headaches. I know there are many more things to try (I think I’ve tried them all!), but this is a very good start. And everything on this list is good for you even when you don’t have a migraine. Good luck and feel better!