If you have ever had a migraine, you know that the experience can be so painful that you just want to curl up in a dark quiet room alone. Your head aches with a sharp pain, your eyes are sensitive to light and loud sounds are excruciating. When your symptoms start to strike, you want to find relief from the pain as quickly as possible.
Many people use over the counter prescriptions to relieve the pain of migraines, others prefer to use natural therapies and remedies to help. There are many healthy natural cures that can help to prevent and reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks – without the side effects and chemicals of prescription drugs.
Here are a few of the ways that you can prevent and relieve migraine headaches naturally:
Exercise
Many studies have shown that exercise helps to prevent migraines. In fact, a 2011 study by the University of Gothenburgh in Sweden found that aerobic exercise was equally as effective at preventing migraines as the medication topiramate. However, exercise has none of the adverse side effects that the medicine does.
If you suffer from migraines, it is recommended that you do at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week – ideally spread over the course of the week. However, be careful not to make your exercise routine too intense – or you might trigger a migraine. Try gentle exercises such as swimming, walking, dance or yoga and see if they have a helpful effect.
Chiropractic Care
There are also other options for natural migraine medications, which will treat the source of the problem and will prevent migraines from even occurring. One of these is chiropractic care, which has shown great success in correcting the cause of the migraine attacks.
Many doctors have theorised that migraines can be caused by spinal interference – which is when a bone is out of place in your spine. The bone which is out of place will exert pressure on the surrounding nerves – causing pain and migraine headaches.
A chiropractor will help to put the misaligned bones back into their correct place – which means that the severe migraines will no longer be a problem. A chiropractor will make gentle and precise adjustments to the bones, which is a safe, drug free and natural solution.
Magnesium
A number of studies have linked magnesium deficiency with migraines and it is through that as many as three out of four adults are deficient in magnesium. Our bodies are not able to manufacture magnesium, so it is important to rely on supplements or sources in our diets to obtain it.
When you take a magnesium supplement, it will help to relax your muscles and nerves – as well as transmitting nerve impulses throughout the body and the brain. Also, magnesium prevents your nerves from becoming “overexcited” when helps to prevent and reduce migraines. If you think that magnesium supplements might help you with your migraines, talk to your doctor to find out which dosage would be right for you. Also, you can increase the magnesium in your diet by eating more black beans, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, spinach, Alaskan salmon, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, halibut and flaxseeds.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Another nutrient which can help prevent migraine headaches is Omega 3 fatty acids. This is a healthy type of fat that is found in a number of food sources, including seeds, fish and nuts. It has been proven in a number of studies in Denmark and Sweden that eating more Omega 3 fatty acids can reduce migraine attacks. This is because the Omega 3 fatty acids help to protect the brain cells and reduce inflammation.
If you want to give it a try, you can take an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement or increase the amount of it in your diet by eating more rainbow trout, Wild Alaskan salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel, walnuts, sardines and flax seeds.
These are just a few of the ways that you can naturally relieve the pain of your migraine headaches and prevent them from occurring. Before you try the prescription medications – which can have negative side effects – try some of the natural remedies first to see if they have a beneficial effect.
John Holmes is a chiropractor and natural health practitioner. He is interested in nutrition, holistic care, supplements and he believes that health is not just about popping a pill – but paying attention to the well-being of the entire body.
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