Migraine headaches (also called migraines) are common in women. (For a discussion of the causes and symptoms of Migraine Headaches, see our Q&A called Migraine Headaches.)
Many ways to prevent, manage, and treat migraine headaches are available, including the following self-care, naturopathic, homeopathic, and psychological approaches:[1, 2]
Eat a healthy diet, including fresh, organic vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and freshly-caught fish.
Eat abundant amounts of leafy, green vegetables, which stimulate the flow and action of bile in breaking down foods.
Eat at regular intervals during the day and evening.
Avoid eating red meat and organ meats.
Limit your consumption of dairy foods, especially fermented dairy foods, such as sour cream, yogurt, and aged cheeses.
Avoid eating foods (such as chocolate) that contain caffeine.
Limit your consumption of sugar.
Avoid eating peanuts.
Avoid eating soy sauce.
Avoid eating prepared foods containing the sugar substitute, aspartame.
Avoid eating prepared foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is used to enhance the flavor of some foods at restaurants and delicatessen counters in groceries.
Avoid eating prepared foods containing preservatives such as sodium nitrite, which is found in smoked fish (including lox) and preserved meats (such as bacon, bologna, corned beef, hot dogs, pastrami, pepperoni, and sausage).
Avoid taking supplements containing yeast extract.
Drink lots of water, which helps stimulate adequate urination and bowel movements that remove metabolic breakdown products from your body.
Avoid drinking beverages (such as coffee, tea, and cola) containing caffeine.
Limit your drinking of alcoholic beverages to a moderate amount.
If your migraine headaches are triggered or worsened by red wine, avoid drinking red wine.
If you are taking birth control pills, consult your integrative medical physician and gynecologist for consideration of other methods of birth control.
If you are taking hormone replacement therapy or estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms, consult your integrative medical physician and gynecologist for consideration of other approaches to treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Apply a small amount of prescription natural progesterone cream to the skin. Consult your integrative medical physician and gynecologist for guidance on the dose that is appropriate for you.
Get adequate sleep.
During a migraine headache, use a contrast of different temperatures for exposure of different parts of your body. On your head, place either an ice pack or a cold, wet wrap. At the same time, place your hands and feet in a tub of very warm water.
During a migraine headache, take a bath containing Epsom salts.
If your migraine headache includes symptoms of tightness of forehead and neck muscles, apply a warm compress to the affected areas.
If your migraine headache includes symptoms of a red, flushed appearance of the skin of the face and/or distended veins in the face, apply cold compresses to the affected areas.
During a migraine headache, apply deep pressure on two places (approximately 2 inches to the sides of and) beneath the flat bone at the back of the skull. When the pain is lessened or disappears, release the pressure.
During a migraine headache, massage your scalp and the trigger points or areas in the forehead, neck, and shoulder muscles where you feel tightness.
Take a supplement containing the botanical medication, feverfew. Consult your integrative medical physician for guidance on the dose that is appropriate for you.
Take a homeopathic remedy such as Belladonna, Carcinosin, Iris versicolor, Kali phosphoricum, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Magnesia phosphorica, Natrum muriaticum, Nux vomica, Sanguinaria, or Sepia. Consult a homeopath ( a healthcare professional experienced in the use of homeopathic remedies) for guidance on the homeopathic remedy and dose that is appropriate for you.
If glare from a television screen triggers or worsens your migraine headaches, reduce the amount of time you watch television.
If glare from a computer screen triggers or worsens your migraine headaches, use a glare-lowering cover for your computer screen and reduce the amount of time you use the computer for non-work activities.
If overexposure to sunlight triggers or worsens your migraine headaches, limit your time outdoors during sunny days.
If noise triggers or worsens your migraine headaches, try to work in a quieter environment and try to make your home environment quieter.
During a migraine headache, lie down in a place that is dark and quiet.
Exercise regularly, but avoid excessive physical exertion.
Perform breathing exercises for 5 minutes twice daily, involving deep, slow, smooth inhaling and deep, slow, smooth exhaling. While you are performing these breathing exercises, conceive that any pain from migraine headaches is being released. Such breathing exercises can help your lungs and cardiovascular system function properly, bring adequate oxygen to the body, increase your stamina, raise your ability to function well mentally, increase your ability to relax during situations that are stressful, relieve migraine headaches, and improve your overall wellbeing.
During a migraine headache, do whatever other things help relieve stress.
Consider psychological counseling to help deal with emotional stress, including feelings of frustration and anger.
If the self-care, naturopathic, homeopathic, and psychological approaches discussed previously do not resolve the symptoms of migraine headaches, consult your integrative medical physician for guidance on other approaches, including:[2]
Medications for pain
Medications called vasodilators, which dilate the blood vessels
REFERENCES
1. I. Ikenze. Menopause & Homeopathy: A Guide for Women in Mid-Life. 1998. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
2. J. Reichenberg-Ullman. 2004. Whole Woman Homeopathy. Edmonds, WA: Picnic Point Press.
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