10 Effective Natural Treatments For Migraine Headaches

Migraine Headaches

Possibly harmful or addictive medications are not the only way to end headaches. Various natural treatment approaches are available that can be safer and often offer improved results, especially over the long term. Maybe it is time you tried a natural treatment approach.

There are a whole host of other treatment methods for migraine headaches in addition to pain pills. Natural forms of treatment can frequently be cheaper and more safe than customary headache medications. Many natural treatments can even do better than accepted pain killing medications.

Stress is usually a chief cause in tension-type headache symptoms. There are lots of causes of tension including on-the-job pressure, illness, monetary uncertainties, and other emotional dilemmas. Stress headaches can frequently be relieved by eliminating this emotional stress.

A frequently valuable way to take the edge off stress is through biofeedback education. Biofeedback is not actually a method of treatment, but an instructional program that is designed to teach someone how to control their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls functions without conscious intervention; you don't have to control them consciously. Autonomic functions include blood pressure management, regulation of hear rate, breathing, and muscle relaxation.

Biofeedback helps you become skilled at controlling the autonomic functions of your body. And of course this includes reducing muscle tension. Once learned, a person is able to produce the desired affect at will.

Besides biofeedback there are numerous other natural techniques that are able to decrease nervous tension. One way is taking a hot shower. Lying down in a serene and quiet dark room can also take the edge off tension and headache symptoms. A rubdown is also excellent for reduction of muscle tightness. Massaging your temples using your fingertips can go a long way to reducing tension. Using your fingertips and rubbing your head and neck in a firm but gentle circular fashion is best.

Ice compresses located on the back of the neck at the base of the skull can also help out. Ice, however, must not be placed directly on the skin. Dampen some cloth towels or a Tee shirt and then wring out the extra water and apply them as barriers between the ice and the skin. Using this protective barrier for the ice can help keep the skin from getting excessively cold.

An alternative technique can be very favorable for relieving headache pain, but it requires a good deal more effort. Over time, working out can minimize stress and also improve overall health. One time each week or two will not do a whole lot of good. This is not what we're inferring. Recurring exercise, both weight training and cardiovascular (walking) can help improve general vigor and thereby reducing or ending painful conditions such as headaches. It has to be mentioned that exercising during a migraine headache can actually increase the throbbing pain. For exercise to be most beneficial it must be done habitually. Make it a lifetime routine.

Another standard way for treating migraine headache pain is chiropractic therapy. Countless studies have shown chiropractic manipulation to be valuable. A number of research studies have proven that over 80% of headache patients attain relief from chiropractic manipulations.

Are you aware that overindulgence of salt can cause headaches? If you use more salt than you should, you're not alone. Many people salt everything on their plate not knowing that excessive salt has been established to cause headache pain. The solution to reducing these headache symptoms is basically decreasing the salt ingestion.

Not drinking enough fluids is yet an alternative cause of headache pain. Drinking adequate water each day is imperative for excellent health. And when we mention liquids, we don't imply coffee and soda. Sodas are usually overloaded with sodium which can deplete your body of water. Consume copious amounts of clean water every day and avoid processed drinks.

Additional causes of migraine headaches are food sensitivities. Foods that cause migraines are given the name migraine triggers. The best system to establish if you are susceptible to a precise food is to keep a headache log. Make three columns with one for the time of day, one for the food, and a third for the headaches and their symptoms. Every time you consume something or have a headache, mark it down at the appropriate time. Occasionally it can require weeks or months to reveal the problem foods, but with some patience it can usually be accomplished.

When a food trigger has been revealed it's just a matter of not consuming that food any more. Be sure to peruse labels cautiously for the reason that you might be shocked at the ingredients of various foods. The most common migraine triggers are MSG (food additive), yeast, wheat, nuts, cheese (especially strong cheddar), citrus fruits, avocados, beans such as lima beans, caffeine, dairy products, and chocolate.

The 10 natural methods of treatment we have talked about are all considered safe and can be successful for lots of people. This isn't a inclusive listing by any measure, there are many more, but by using some of these approaches, you might be nicely surprised at the good results you obtain using these safe and cheap natural treatments.