Holistic Health / Supplements · November 12, 2021

How to Reduce Migraine Headache Pain without Medicine

How to Reduce Migraine Headache Pain without Medicine in America

A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.

Migraine attacks may come on suddenly without warning, or they may be preceded by certain known triggers, such as skipping a meal, being exposed to smoke or air pollution, or experiencing a change in hormone levels as part of the menstrual cycle. Most migraine attacks last from 4 to 72 hours.

Photo by Ivan Aleksic on Unsplash

Having migraine can be disabling and can lead to missing days of school or work, being less productive at school or work, being unable to perform household responsibilities, and missing out on family, social, and leisure activities. An estimated 1 billion people worldwide, and 39 million Americans, have migraine.

For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura occurs before or with the headache. An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as tingling on one side of the face or in an arm or leg and difficulty speaking.

Migraine triggers:

  • Hormonal changes in women – Fluctuations in estrogen, such as before or during menstrual periods, pregnancy and menopause, seem to trigger headaches in many women.
  • Drinks – These include alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine, such as coffee.
  • StressStress at work or home can cause migraines.
  • Sensory stimuli – Bright or flashing lights can induce migraines, as can loud sounds. Strong smells — such as perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke and others — trigger migraines in some people.
  • Sleep changes – Missing sleep or getting too much sleep can trigger migraines in some people.
  • Physical factors – Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, might provoke migraines.
  • Weather changes – A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
  • Medications – Oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can aggravate migraines.
  • Foods – Aged cheeses and salty and processed foods might trigger migraines. So might skipping meals.
  • Food Additives – These include the sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG), found in many foods.

Natural remedies for migraines

  1. Acupressure – Acupressure involves the application of pressure to specific parts of the body. Stimulating specific points of the body in this way is believed to release muscle tension and alleviate pain.
  2. Diet changes – Changing diet or eating patterns to avoid triggers may help to prevent migraines in the future.
  3. Essential Oils – Lavender is an essential oil often recommended as a remedy for stress, anxiety, and headaches.
  4. Ginger – The researchers found the effectiveness of ginger was statistically comparable to sumatriptan.
  5. Stress management – Finding outlets for stress, such as journaling, exercise, or meditation, may help to prevent future migraines.
  6. Yoga or Stretching – Yoga is thought to help improve blood flow and reduce muscle tension, which can help relieve symptoms for people who get migraines.
  7. Biofeedback therapy – Biofeedback takes practice and training. Sensors placed on the muscles feed into a small machine that gives real-time feedback about muscle tension, allowing users to release the tight areas better.
  8. Acupuncture – The study authors found that acupuncture is an effective treatment choice for people with migraine headaches, although they pointed out that other factors might be playing a part also.
  9. Massage – Massaging the muscles in the neck and shoulders can help to relieve tension and alleviate migraine pain. Massage may also reduce stress. Jin Shin Jyutsu and Onnetsu therapy are best examples of massage that could relieve migraine.
  10. Herbal supplements – Herbal supplements, may help reduce migraine frequency.
  11. Magnesium – Deficiency of magnesium, which is an essential mineral, may trigger migraine aura or a menstrual-migraine headache.
  12. B-complex vitamins – The B vitamins may have an impact on reducing migraine frequency and severity. B vitamins play a role in regulating neurotransmitters in the brain.
  13. Light Therapy – Body Light Pad therapy device products use infrared and red-light therapy to help relieve stiffness and discomfort.

If headaches are getting in the way of your daily life, and you’re not sure if they are a migraine symptom, it’s important to talk with your doctor. Headaches can be a sign of other issues, and while migraine can feel debilitating at times, there are many treatments available.

If you need help discovering the cause of your headaches or relieving pain without medicine, get in touch with Thermography Center. We also rent out light therapy devices, or sell them if you want one of your own. We’re happy to help! Just Click the button to go to our website, email us at thermography@thermographycenter.com, or give us a call:  (214) 352-8758