By Ana Margarita Olar | Executivechronicles.com
A migraine is not a debilitating disease, but it causes troubles just as any other illness. The attack may be during your working hours or on your busy schedule or during an unholy hour in the night so you have to know how to manage it. Here are some of migraine remedies that you can try:
- Retreat to a calm environment. At the first sign of a migraine, stop your usual activity and take a rest. Turn off the lights, cut off the noise and try to have a relaxing environment.
- Try temperature therapy. There is an evidence that both hot and cold compress can relieve a headache depending on the underlying cause. A cold compress can constrict expanded blood vessels and relieve the pressure on the nerves. Meanwhile, hot compress relaxes tightened muscles that may be causing the headache. Other people find that alternating the two compresses works best.
- Scalp and shoulder massage. Researchers found out that massaging that area at the back of the head at the base of the skull known as the greater occipital nerve can reduce a migraine. Also, massaging the neck, back, head, and shoulder or rubbing your temples also offer temporary relief.
- Stretching. Upon a migraine attack, try these stretches to relieve a headache:
- Neck exercises: chin to chest, chin upward, toward each shoulder
- Shoulder exercises: shrug up, up and forward, up and back
- Neck isometric: press palm into forehead and hold, press hand on each side of a head
- Breathing Technique. Take a deep, full breath using your diaphragm and fill up your lungs, then inhale slowly.
- Imagery. This technique is supposed to be guided imagery coaches, but you can also do this on your own. This exercise provides a mental escape to a calm, peaceful, happy place. Start by finding a quiet environment. Add a soundtrack that play nature sounds such as water, singing birds, or the sound of a forest. Then picture beautiful sceneries in your imagination, it could be a waterfalls, a sky full of different colors, rolling hills, or waves on the sand. This is a proven technique to help alleviate a headache.
- The power of natural oils.
- Lavender oil- add 2 drops on 2-3 cups of boiling water and inhale the vapor
- Peppermint oil- may also be inhaled as it is known to have both vasoconstricting and vasodilating effects that control blood flow.
- Other natural remedies.
- Cayenne- is one of the spices which have capsaicin content, a compound known to treat pain and inflammation. Mix ¼ tsp cayenne powder to 4 ounces warm water. Stir well. Dip the cotton buds and dab into each nostril. The burning sensation is a sign that it is working.
- Nuts. Instead of taking a pill for a headache, try munching on nuts like almonds. It contains salicin that has pain reliever properties.
- Feverfew. It contains a substance called parthenolide, which relaxes tension and constricted blood vessels. It also reduces inflammation and pain. Just boil 1 ounce fresh or dried flowers to 1-pint water. Drink half a cup twice daily.
