Migraine Home Remedies For Instant Relief

Migraines can be mild or severe. When it's mild, you will find the pain to be more of an annoyance. When it's severe, it can affect your focus and concentration and often times, you will find it hard to perform at work.

Many people are affected by migraine headaches every now and then. Fortunately, the pain is usually temporary and goes away after some time. Here are some recommended remedies that you can try to get some quick relief.

Tip 1: Proper rest. Sometimes, stress can be the primary cause of migraine headaches. If you have been under a lot of stress lately and you are starting to get migraine headaches, the first thing you should do is to stop your work and get some proper rest. That means taking the day off. No more phone calls and no more meetings. Take a warm bath and lie down. If you can, nap for a while. If not, simply keep your eyes shut and mediate.

Tip 2: A little massage goes a long way. Get someone to give you a head massage for instant relief. Do not underestimate the effectiveness of a massage. Of course, since you are feeling pain, whoever doing the massage should do it gently. The goal is to stimulate blood circulation and promote healing. In addition, a quick massage gives you a short break from work, which may be exactly what you need to get relief from migraine headaches. If no one else is around you, just stop whatever you are doing and give yourself a head massage. It can be just as effective.

Tip 3: Applying medicated oil. Oils like peppermint have been known to relief pain and aches. They are usually applied externally on areas where the pain is felt. Applying the oil has the same effect as giving a massage. You are essentially using oils to promote blood circulation. The gentle rubbing movements of the fingers also create heat, which can also help relief pain.

Tip 4: Drink lots of plain, cool water! Sometimes, migraine can be caused by over-exposure to heat. You may not notice this consciously when you are in the sun. When you get back home, you start to feel pain in your head. This is a sign that you are dehydrated. To prevent this from happening, always drink water regularly. You should be extra mindful of your hydration on warm days. On warm days, due to the heat, your body loses water a lot quicker than normal. When the body starts to weaken, that is when migraine headaches set in.

Tip 5: Compression techniques. There are people who recommend using vegetable and fruit paste to apply on the head. While there is no scientific evidence supporting these techniques, there may be some truth in these recommendations. These methods probably work because of the pressure you apply on the painful areas.

Migraine headaches are both treatable and preventable. As a general rule of thumb, drink more water, get plenty of rest, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly. That should keep the headaches at bay.

Why Do I Have More Headaches Certain Times Of The Year?

One of the reasons you may be experiencing more headaches at certain times of the year is due to the amount of pollen in your area. Pollen is a powder that contains seed plants that is part of nature's reproductive cycle. Unfortunately for us, this may disturb our sinuses, creating inflammation that leads to pressure because of swelling of the membranes in the lining of these cavities. Pain may occur because air, puss and mucus may be trapped in the sinus area.

As usual, there is a lot of controversy as to what constitutes a true sinus headache. Some say a sinus headache has to be part of the symptoms associated with sinusitis. This is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses from infection, allergy and sometimes may be part of autoimmune issues. Most headaches have a sinus-related component such as runny eyes and nose and pain in the sinus area. Migraines, in particular are known to bring on sinus symptoms.

The one thing to pay attention to is the color of the mucus - if it is clear or slightly milky looking there is probably no need for concern. If it is darker in color it may be part of a bigger problem. In this case, making an appointment with your health care practitioner would be a good idea.

So, enough of all these facts…. You're probably wondering what you can do about your sinus-related headaches. I've got some ideas I'd like to share based on feedback from my massage clients and the regular research I do on headaches and health in general.

-Don't bend over forward if you don't have to. This seems to worsen symptoms.

-Get rest, keeping your head elevated.

-Put an essential oil such as eucalyptus or peppermint on your palms and rub together. Then slightly cup your hands and bring them up in front of your face (about 2-3" away) and just breathe deeply for a few minutes.

-You can also take those same oils and put a few drops in a pot of steaming water. Then drape a towel around it to hold in the moisture and put your head underneath the towel. Breathing in the moist air with the oils will help drain the sinuses. It works better when you use oils but if you don't have any you can just use steaming water.

-Try using a neti pot. You can purchase one at most health food stores. Irritants such as pollens are washed away with nasal irrigation. It also increases drainage by shrinking sinus membranes.

-Drink warm or hot fluids as these also increase drainage, loosening congestion. One tea that is especially beneficial is fresh ginger tea. After boiling the water let the cut up ginger steep for a few minutes then drink.

-Eating spicy foods, especially jalapenos, can also increase drainage.

-Something else you can try is to alternate hot and cold compresses either on the top of the head or directly on the sinus area. Of course, you need to make sure you don't burn or freeze your face where the skin may be more reactive.

-Squeeze along the eyebrows with your thumb and the side of your pointer finger. When you get to the area just under the eyebrow where it meets the top of where it goes down into the nose you will find a sensitive spot. Press up into this area with your thumb as it will help release sinus pressure.

-Run your pointer fingers down the side of the bridge of the nose and out and under the cheekbone. When you get to the nostrils press deeply in here from both sides. You will also find a tender spot just about in the middle under the cheekbone arch- it's about in line with the pupil. Press deeply on his spot and you may actually feel a release in sinus and/or headache pain.

So, now you have a few ideas for home treatment of headaches that seem to be brought on by sinus irritation. And of course, sinus problems, as mentioned earlier, may be just one component of the myriad of symptoms you experience when you get a headache. Whether you have a true sinus headache or are just experiencing pressure in this area, the above suggestions may help.

Paying attention to your body during pollen season is just one more step in becoming Headache Free & Naturally

Health and Fitness: Headaches Migraines Article Category

Everyone gets a headache at some point in his or her life but dealing with chronic headaches can be a very stressful and debilitating condition. Caused by so many different things, it can be difficult to determine the exact source, making curing them nearly impossible in some cases. Symptoms and activities before, during and after such an attack are at times the only way to determine their cause, effect and treatment.

Causes

Chronic headaches can be caused by certain behavior or actions that allow stress to tighten the muscles of the neck, shoulders and back, leading to stress headaches developing. These will occur every time the stressful situation occurs, becoming almost psychological in its frequency and intensity. Being around certain foods or chemicals can cause headaches for hours afterwards, with the patient never realizing that their presence was the cause. Testing for allergies would then be the first step to treat that type of headache.

Physical ailments can also have headaches as its main symptom, as well as its potential cause. Someone that has suffered an injury to an arm or leg can begin to unconsciously tailor their movements so that they avoid triggering any pain associated with that injury and in doing so, put added stress onto joints and muscles while compensating that normally would not have happened. This can lead to spinal maladjustment or a pinched nerve, resulting in severe cervical pain and headaches from the physical stress.

People known to abuse substances like alcohol and drugs will often develop severe headaches when they try to abstain, because the chemical they have become dependent on are no longer present, causing the body to feel as if it is starving, with headaches becoming the prevalent symptom.

Avoiding Misdiagnosis

A continuing problem when it comes to diagnosing headaches is treating it with pain medications without uncovering the true source of the pain. This can lead to too much dependence on the medication, without having any true effect of the condition. One way to avoid misdiagnosis is for the patient to keep a headache journal during treatment, so that the doctor can see everything that occurred in their lives before the attack, how long it lasted and what the patient did immediately afterwards that did not bring on another attack. This can be especially helpful when the headache is actually brought on by what can be termed allergic triggers or when something within their regular routines may be contributing to their illness, like stress or psychological traumas.

Treatments

The only effective treatments for chronic headaches will be those that eliminate or solve the root cause of the problem. For stressful situations that bring on headaches, relaxation techniques, for example, will have more of an effect on the headache than prescribed medication. Lifestyle changes can make allergy based headaches a thing of the past, while chiropractic treatments will remove the physical condition causing the headache to occur. At its heart, the only true treatment for this condition is honest dialogue between doctor and patient.

Getting Headache Relief Without Using Medication

Most people view headaches as a condition and use medication to treat their aching head. The truth is that more than 90 percent of the time, a headache is a symptom of the true condition that should be addressed. The body uses the ache to tell the brain that something is wrong. Medication simply masks the pain and can have harmful side-effects. True headache relief usually requires addressing the origin of the pain, which is often the upper neck.

Data from the National Headache Foundation reveals that more than 45 million Americans experience chronic headaches. Adults are not the only sufferers, as approximately 20 percent of children and adolescents experience significant headaches. The most common headaches experienced by children, adolescents and adults are called tension headaches and are due to muscle contraction.

Many experts believe that neck muscles and tissues cause cervicogenic headaches. When these muscles spasm, the pain travels to the head, rather than being experienced in the neck. "Cervicogenic" means that the pain is caused by an issue within the cervical section of the spine, also called the neck. A whiplash injury is a common cause but trauma or injury is not the sole cause of this type of headache. Anything that irritates neck muscles or the cervical portion of the spin can be the cause.

Cervicogenic headaches are one of the five primary types of headaches in the National Institutes of Health classification system. They originate from neck disorders, including anatomical structures innervated by the C1 to C3 cervical roots. These headaches are often caused by a prolonged period of awkward positioning of the head or some type of neck movement. Arm, shoulder, or neck pain or restricted range of motion in the cervical area often accompanies the headache.

There are no dedicated scans or neurological, laboratory, or orthopedic tests for diagnosing a headache. A headache is classified as a clinical diagnosis, meaning that it is based on knowledge obtained through physical examination and medical history. In the under ten percent of cases that are due to disease, an MRI or other test is used to determine the cause. However, the majority of people suffering from headaches are accurately diagnosed by a thorough case history.

A cervicogenic headache is similar to a tension or a migraine headache, making it difficult to diagnose. In fact, this type of headache can lead to other types including cluster, stress, tension, or migraine. A conventional treatment such as medication does not usually provide relief. Overuse of medication can even cause a rebound headache. This is a reaction to toxicity in the body created by taking too many pain relievers. For successful cervicogenic headache treatment to occur, the source of the pain must be identified.

The neck region contains approximately 20 muscles, providing numerous opportunities for issues. Neck muscles in spasm sometimes restrict areas through which nerves pass, resulting in irritation, pain, and in extreme cases, loss of functioning. A typical symptom of a cervicogenic headache is pain originating at the base of the neck and moving into the head. At the onset, the base of the neck may be tender to touch. Moving the head or neck can worsen the headache.

A cervicogenic headache does not usually cure itself so treatment should be obtained for headache relief. Treatment many times involves chiropractic techniques such as spinal manipulation. There is strong evidence supporting chiropractic spinal manipulation for treatment of cervicogenic headaches. The February 2010 issue of The Spine Journal included a study that provided supporting evidence and research that chiropractors have the education, training and skills to treat those people suffering from headaches.

Health and Fitness: Headaches Migraines Article Category

Many people suffer from tension headaches. In fact, four percent of the adult United States population have headaches on a daily basis. Approximately 7 million people suffer from headaches at least every other day, which translates into millions of lost workdays and severely impacts work efficiency.

In medical terms, a stress or tension headache is called a cervicogenic headache which means it originates with irritated nerves and joints in the upper neck, and refers pain into the head.

There is much research and anecdotal evidence that chiropractic care can help headaches. This article will describe a typical first visit to a chiropractor to determine if a patient can be helped by chiropractic therapy, or if the patient would best be seen by another health practitioner.

As with all visits to a doctor you will be asked to give some written information. This information will allow you to detail when your headaches originally began, how often the headaches occur, how the headaches vary in pain intensity, what other doctors and specialists you have seen, and any diagnostic testing you have previously had.

Next, you will meet with the chiropractor so that you can talk further about your headaches. He will want to know in which areas of your head you feel the pain. For instance, some people get headaches in the back of the head, where others get pain in the side of the head or around the temples. Still others get pain in the forehead or around the eyes or frontal sinuses. The doctor of chiropractic will want to know if anything triggers or causes your headaches to begin. Examples of this would be: fatigue, stress, posture, work station set-up, certain foods, and weather or environmental factors. It will be helpful for the chiropractor to know if you have had loss or disturbance of vision or hearing, weakness, or loss of consciousness. The chiropractor will ask of there is anything you do on your own to help your headaches such as take medication, use ice or heat applications or rub an ointment or cream on specific areas. It is always helpful to know how your headaches might keep you from being able to sleep normally, perform chores in the yard or at home, do your usual job and employment duties, enjoy social activities, sports, or hobbies.

Next, the chiropractor will want to check you physically. Palpation, or feeling the upper neck, might reveal muscle tightness or spasm, swelling and inflammation, and pressure points of tenderness. Checking for proper movements of the head and neck might show a loss of the normal range of motion of the neck. Looking at your posture might show that a "slouched" upper body appearance may be causing or contributing to your discomfort. There are neurological tests and orthopedic tests that the chiropractor has been thoroughly trained in that will be helpful in rendering a diagnosis.

Following this, the chiropractor may take x-rays of your neck which might show signs of misalignment, degeneration, or arthritis. The chiropractor will also inspect for fractures, dislocations or bone destruction.

Once these steps have been accomplished, the chiropractor can determine a diagnosis and be able to give you a good idea if your condition is one in which he might be able to help, and accept your case.

Many people suffering from headaches have responded well to chiropractic therapy. If you have seen other doctors and tried other types of care but have not seen a chiropractor for you headaches, it is certainly a prudent next step. If the chiropractor can help you, he will let you know. If he can't, he will tell you that also and make an appropriate referral to someone else.

Why Do You Get Headaches?

Knowing what causes your headaches is an important step in treating them. It is a good idea to first have a physical examination to make sure you are in good health.

There are many reasons why people suffer with headaches. Take an active role in assessing your particular causes by playing a detective-type role. Below are some of the main contributors to headaches to help you get started in your investigation.

-Some people have a genetic predisposition to headaches. If this is so, other family members will also experience headaches.

-The way we were brought up can play a significant role in our health due to learned habits of coping or caring for ourselves. All kinds of physical problems, including headaches, can manifest if one has been brought up in an abusive family situation.

-Medications can play a part in the development of headaches. Be sure to ask your doctor if headache pain can be a side effect of any medications you are on.

-Dietary factors are another consideration. Sometimes people are successful in eliminating certain foods, one at a time, to see if their headaches stop or are less frequent. You may also be tested for food allergies.

-Psychological problems such as repressed emotions, depression, fear, anger and stress can lead to headaches.

-Physical disturbances in the body such as digestive problems or nutritional deficiencies can lead to headaches. Again, consult your health care practitioner.

-Environmental factors play a large role in the development of headaches. These include weather changes, chemicals or certain odors, to name a few.

-Hormone imbalances may be another consideration. This is another good reason to see your health care practitioner.

-When the structure of the body is not functioning properly it can lead to tightening of muscles, bringing on headaches. Also, problems with the cervical spine can lead to intracranial pressure causing headaches. Other structural problems could cause pinched nerves or blocked flow of fluids, both potentially leading to headaches. Structural problems should be evaluated by your health care practitioner, especially your chiropractor or osteopath.

-Lifestyle factors such as disturbances of sleep patterns and other poor health care are considerations in the management of headaches.

Please note- you may experience headaches due to multiple causes and there may be other reasons, not noted here.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms please consult your doctor immediately- -sudden changes in the severity of your headaches -changes in your memory, personality, behavior or consciousness -changes in your vision or ability to walk -if you are experiencing headaches constantly with no relief -if you are experiencing weakness, numbness, loss of senses, seizures, unexplained fever or fever with a stiff neck or rash, breathing problems, a sore throat or respiratory infection -if your headache came on after coughing, straining, exertion or injury

Hopefully this compilation of possible causes will help you uncover the reasons you experience headaches so that you can become "Headache Free & Naturally."

Foods That Trigger Silent Migraine Attacks

A silent migraine can be induced by various causes including different types of foods. Being able to identify these foods and avoiding its consumption can provide the sufferer a long-term relief against the condition. Some of the foods that you have to watched out for include the following:

* Fruits, Pickles and Legumes: among all types of foods that can trigger migraine attacks, legumes are considered as the primary culprit of the condition. Certain types of beans including Lima, fava, garbanzo, pole, navy, Italian and pinto beans can all trigger the condition. Aside from that, pickles and other fermented foods can also trigger the attacks. Notice the effects of kimchi, sauerkraut, raw garlic, olives and onions after consuming it. There are certain fruits that can also stimulate silent migraine episodes. Consumption of papaya, figs, prunes, overripe bananas and avocados can trigger an attack.

* Caffeinated and Alcoholic Beverages: all forms of alcoholic beverages, particularly red wine can trigger a silent migraine attack. You can conduct an experiment by testing each type of alcoholic drink to see how it affects your condition. You will surely find at least one type of alcoholic drink that can trigger the attacks and make sure that you avoid this next time. Some individuals also experience the condition after consuming caffeinated drinks. To determine if this too can trigger an attack, you can reduce its consumption or consume it alternately to see how it affects your silent migraine condition.

* Chocolate: this is also considered as the main trigger factor of the problem. Take note that chocolate contains various chemicals. Although some of these contents can actually soothe the condition, some can exacerbate the symptoms of the condition. If consuming chocolates trigger attacks, it would be best to avoid its consumption or take note of the particular type of chocolate that causes silent migraine symptoms and exclude it from your list of considerable chocolates.

* Aged Cheese: aged cheese is considered as the most reactive trigger factor for almost all types of migraine conditions. Experts believe that the older the cheese, the more problem it can cause to the condition. Cheese contains a chemical known as tyramine, which is associated to the development of various kinds of migraine problems. The longer the cheese is aged, the more tyrosine is contained. Tyrosine can also contribute to the elevation of blood pressure. The aged cheeses that should be avoided include Stilton, Gouda, brick, blue, brie, gruyere, camembert, parmesan, Romano, provolone and cheddar. Certain types of cheeses also contain MSG, which can result to various symptoms such as Muenster, Roquefort, processes cheese slices and feta.

Taking note of these and avoiding its consumption can greatly help you prevent silent migraine attacks and alleviate its symptoms. Remember that although the condition is not accompanied with headache, it can still be considered as a debilitating condition, especially in case of severe aura or visual problems. If you are experiencing extreme symptoms of the condition, it would be best to consult your physician for proper diagnosis and relief for the condition.