Try hot or cold packs on your head or neck.
Some say it also works to put cold packs on your head (either on your
forehead and the back of your neck or wherever it hurts) and heat packs on your
back and/or your feet. [Once when I was getting physical therapy for my neck I
told the therapist that I had a bad migraine, she had me lay on a very large
heat pack (it felt like it had sand or something similar in it) that covered my
entire back. The migraine was almost gone in about 20 minutes. They keep
several heat packs in a warmer for when they want moist heat.]
If you don't have them very often, you can try those
migraine pills like " Tylenol Migraine" or similar products.
- NOTE: OVERUSE CAN CAUSE
REBOUND HEADACHES
Bright or florescent lighting can cause migraines. Try
wearing sunglasses or a hat if you need to be in bright light. [I have
sunglasses with me all the time. Even if I don't need to wear them
outside, I usually put them on when I go into offices or stores. I have a big
problem with florescent lights.]
Migraines can be caused by dehydration, so drink water
throughout the day.
Try eating several smaller meals instead of 3 larger
meals. Some migraines are affected by [low] blood sugar. However, if
you are in the middle of a bad migraine, it may be difficult to eat.
I found that acupuncture worked very well on the “hot spots” that I get during a migraine. I just told the acupuncturist where the worst pain usually was and she did the rest.
If all else fails, lie down or sit in a comfy chair in
a dark quiet room. Make sure there are no strong smells (smells can cause
migraines) and you are not going to be bothered for a while. [This worked for me
when I first started getting migraines. However, this might not be
possible if you have to be someplace.]
Common triggers include processed meats (such as deli
meats), MSG, caffeine, red wine or port, chocolate, sulfates (contained in some
dried fruits), aspartame (in diet sodas and lots of other foods), fermented
cheeses, beer, dried fish, and peanuts. [I have problems with any form of corn,
except high fructose corn syrup, and I may have problems with processed meats
and MSG, but I'm still trying to figure that out.] Also, dieting or
changing your diet might be a problem for you. Keeping a diary that tracks
foods and migraines can help you identify offending foods.
http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/migraine/mig_food_list_sensitive.htm
Its better to eat several small meals to avoid sugar lows.
http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/migraine/mig_causes.htm (Low Blood Sugar or Hypoglycemia)
Most adults should sleep between 7.5 and 8.5 hours
every night. Too much or too little sleep can cause migraines.
It helps to maintain a consistent schedule where you go to sleep and wake
up at approximately the same time each day.
Also, sleep apnea (if you snore this could be why) and interrupted sleep
can bring on a migraine.
Sometimes smells (like cigarettes, perfume, or
cleaning products).
Changes in the temperature or humidity, atmospheric pressure,
or extreme heat or cold.
Loud, high pitched, or sudden noises can be a problem for
some people. Of course any noise
can make you worse if you already have a severe migraine.
Your jaw is out of the socket (this is the only joint that
most people can move in and out of the socket at will) and causing strain.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001227.htm
If you have tension in your neck and/or arms, it will
likely make your migraine worse..
9. Vitamin,
Mineral, or other Deficiencies
These are mostly covered under “Preventing
Migraines”.
You should consider prevention if you frequently get
migraines.
Some migraines are caused by magnesium deficiencies.
An herb. [This worked for my sister-in-law.] -
NOTE: OVERUSE CAN CAUSE REBOUND HEADACHES
[I'm trying this one right now.] There have been
studies that showed riboflavin to work for some people.
The current trend is 20 minutes of aerobic exercise
at least 3 times per week.
Botox didn’t work well for me, but it is an option.
Lifestyle
changes you should make: Keep a
daily migraine diary to determine possible migraine triggers so you can avoid
them. Maintain a regular
exercise and sleep schedule and eat a healthy diet and regular meals.
Include mostly healthy foods in your diet that are high in nutrients your
body needs, such as calcium (spinach, broccoli, kale, green leafy veggies),
magnesium (spinach, wheat grass, garlic), and
riboflavin (Spinach, broccoli, yogurt), as long as these are not also triggers
for you.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Raw-Food-Health-Solutions-For-Migraines&id=1839483
http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/nutrition/calcium.html
http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/magnesium-foods.htm
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=93
There are also several medical- related things you can try
to relieve or prevent migraines. To get these you need to go to a neurologist or
a headache clinic.
Prescription Medications (there are several different
kinds that have proved effective for some people) are usually what they start
with. They will likely do tests to see if there is a health problem that
is causing the headaches.
If migraines are becoming a problem, you might want to keep
a migraine diary to help you determine how your headaches are progressing
http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/migraine/mig_causes.htm
Overuse of some medications [e.g., ibuprofen (aka Motrin), acetaminophen (aka Tylenol), aspirin,
Vicodin, Darvocet, etc., or any over-the-counter migraine formula] that you take
for pain can cause
migraines. If you take these types
of medications more then two or three times a week it is more likely to cause
rebound headaches.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/migraine/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120
http://www.headache-migraineclinic.com/
http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/neurology/migraine.html
http://www.migraines.org/help/helpclin.htm
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/headachemigraine/a/Migraine.htm
http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/migraine/mig_treatmnet.htm
Not as “authoritative” sites:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Raw-Food-Health-Solutions-For-Migraines&id=1839483