5 Natural Migraine Remedies Using Stuff You Already Have at Home
We’ve all been there – suffering from a tumultuous migraine only to find that all of your headache pills have mysteriously disappeared. There are millions of people around the world who suffer from migraines on a regular basis and although taking over-the-counter medications can be convenient, they’re not particularly healthy for your body over the long run. With that being said, there are plenty of different at-home remedies that you can use to your advantage.
In comparison to other DIY projects that still require you to visit the store in order to get the right ingredients, these 5 natural migraine remedies include ingredients that you most certainly already have in your house – especially if you’re a fan of natural and holistic medicine.
1. Increased Levels of Magnesium
The majority of people who suffer from chronic migraines and headaches are likely to have low levels of magnesium and according to several different studies, improving these levels will not only treat migraines but also prevent them from happening. With the right levels of magnesium, the pain transmitters in your brain can be blocked and it helps to improve the function of your platelets, two factors that are responsible for painful migraines.
There are two main ways that you can use migraine at home, you can either take vitamins, though you may not have any directly in your house, or you can focus on foods you most likely have in your fridge and cupboards.
Beans, seeds, nuts, broccoli, leafy greens, and squash are all foods that have incredibly high levels of magnesium and are phenomenal for keeping any pain at bay. You might also want to think about coffee, meat, and dairy products to help eliminate migraine pain.
2. Essential Oils
If you’re someone who has delved into the idea of alternative medicine in the past, you undoubtedly have a collection of essential oils in your home. The two most important to look out for are peppermint and lavender, as they are phenomenal for soothing migraine relief.
Peppermint offers a cooling effect that lasts a long time on the skin and it helps to soothe muscle contractions. By applying a small amount of peppermint essential oil to your temples, you’ll immediately start to feel the soothing relief.
Lavender is also imperative as it acts as a slight sedative and mood stabilizer. We all know how stressful it can be to deal with a migraine, and the most important thing you can do is sleep it off. With the help of a lavender essential oil, you can lull yourself to sleep to give your brain the relaxation it needs to conquer a migraine.
3. Focus on Hydration
You’d be surprised to learn that the vast amount of people who deal with migraines on a daily basis are likely dehydrated, especially if you focus on consuming various liquids aside from water. Although sugary drinks and coffee may quench your thirst at first, they are also phenomenal for dehydrating your body faster than you might know. With that being said, coffee is a great way to conquer migraines, but it should always be consumed in conjunction with one to two glasses of water.
The best part about drinking water to help conquer a migraine or bad headache is that it’s entirely free and readily available. If you’re not particularly a fan of plain water, you can always add sliced fruits and vegetables to a pitcher to add a little bit of flavor. Another great way to improve your daily hydration is to actually start eating more fruits and vegetables as the vast majority of them have over 90% water.
A few of the best vegetables and fruits for hydration include: watermelon, grapefruit, cauliflower, green peppers, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers, celery, and oranges.
4. Detoxifying Baths
Most people know of detoxes where you have to drink certain concoctions or monitor the food that you eat on a regular basis, but did you know that you could also have detoxifying baths on a regular basis? Not only that, but they are a phenomenal tool for battling migraines. There’s nothing more relaxing than being able to turn off all of the lights, full the tub to the max, and sit back and relax.
To have a detoxifying bath you’re going to need one of three items: essential oils, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar.
Similar to how you can topically apply essential oils to your skin for migraine relief, you can add them to your bath water to help draw out impurities and soothe your entire body and mind. Baking soda works in a similar way, pulling out bacteria and minimizing skin irritability.
However, the best item to use in a detoxifying bath for migraines is by far apple cider vinegar. Although it might not smell as luxurious as you hoped, apple cider vinegar is phenomenal for pulling uric acid out of your body, which is responsible for gout, arthritis, and headaches.
5. Hot and Cold Compresses
Above all else, the simplest way to combat a migraine right away is to rely on a hot or cold compress, choosing between either will depend on your personal preference as some people like cold compresses more than warm and vice versa. All you need is a cloth and warm or cold water. Once the cloth has been thoroughly soaked, you can sit back and place it over your eyes and forehead, ideally in complete darkness.
Not only will the compress itself help to alleviate the pain experienced from a migraine, but it can also help to soothe your body to where you can fall asleep, allowing your body to fight off the pain on its own.
If you want to add some extra migraine-fighting power to a traditional compress, you can also add some peppermint and/or lavender essential oil for added help from aromatherapy.
When to Visit a Doctor
There are plenty of natural at-home remedies that you can use for migraines, but in the event that you are concerned about your overall health, it’s important that you talk to your family doctor. There are plenty of medical conditions that can lead to migraine headaches and in order to treat the symptoms, you must first diagnose the problem.
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