Migraine is a neurologic disorder and a disabling disease affecting millions of Americans. It ranks as the 4th most burdensome disease in women and 8th most in the world.
If you are living with migraine and experience regular attacks, all you wish is relief. Some people take migraine medications prescribed by their doctors. However, there are other ways to best treat migraine, such as:
Rest in a Dark, Quiet Room
Most people suffering from migraine stated that their sensitivity to sound and light worsens their headaches. A study revealed that pain due to light is traced to intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). This group of light-sensing cells in the eye helps the pupil respond to light and maintain sleep-wake cycles.
Pain-transmitting cells and ipRGC cells are activated when you are exposed to light, and they remain active for a few minutes. The researchers of the study above stated that this mechanism could worsen headache pain in the light. Then, the pain improved between 20 and 30 minutes after being in the dark.
You can go to a quiet, dark room if you have migraine headaches. It helps you to sleep. Not all headaches may respond to sleep; chemicals released in the brain while you are asleep still help ease the pain. If you have sensitivity to light, staying in a quiet room would help block them.
Massage Your Temples
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, massage helps relax muscles and helps with pain management for headaches and other several conditions.
While some people find massaging their temples, others experience more pain. Some individuals with migraine may be sensitive to touch. So, their pain feels worse after having a massage, especially if they suffer from allodynia. It is a migraine symptom where you become extremely sensitive to touch.
Even normal activities like resting your head on a pillow or brushing your hair can be very painful if you have allodynia.
Exercise Regularly
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular exercise helps improve sleep and reduce stress. Remember that these stress and sleep disorders can trigger migraine attacks.
Exercising between migraine attacks helps reduce the number of attacks compared to exercising in the middle of an attack, making the pain worse.
Exercise does not trigger a migraine in many people, contrary to popular belief. You can try aerobic exercise to prevent and reduce migraine attacks through psychological mechanisms like improving cardiovascular health and reducing inflammation.
Try Herbal Treatments
In many cases, herbal treatments are used to treat migraine. You can choose from different herbal treatment options, such as:
- Lavender
Lavender’s scent offers a calming effect, which helps relieve stress. According to research, getting aromatherapy using lavender essential oil for 4 weeks helped improve stress, anxiety, and depression.
This essential oil has been studied as a treatment for migraine. For example, a study revealed that lavender oil benefits people with migraine attacks. Those who inhaled the oil for at least 15 minutes experienced less headache severity compared to those who did not.
- Butterbur
Purified butterbur root extract is often used as an herbal remedy. Butterbur in pill form is used to treat migraines and headaches. According to a 2022 study, when Butterbur is taken in 50mg to 70mg doses twice a day, it becomes an effective way to prevent migraine.
- Peppermint
Peppermint oil, alongside menthol, its active ingredient, is available in liquid capsule form. You can also find tea versions for east brewing.
According to a 2010 study, menthol was effective at easing nausea and stopping migraine pain when applied to the temples and forehead in a 10% solution. While research is limited on peppermint’s clinical effectiveness, applying it topically still helps relieve migraine pain.
- Ginger
Ginger is famous for its antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. A 2024 study suggests ginger powder is as beneficial as sumatriptan, a common migraine drug. However, ginger has fewer side effects.
This herbal remedy is found in different forms, such as extract, supplements, or dried or fresh ginger root. You can also drink ginger water.
Meditate
According to Rebecca Well, MD, 8 out of 10 people with migraine linked stress to headaches. One way to manage stress is through mindfulness meditation, where you have to focus on what happens in the present time.
Many researchers try to determine whether or not practicing mindfulness meditation can help someone in migraine management and change the ability to respond to stress. In a 2020 study, it is discovered that this type of mindfulness may help treat migraine in some people by improving depression, quality of life, and disability.
Conclusion
As migraine becomes a more common burdensome disease, you can find plenty of ways to relieve migraine pains. We hope the methods above will help you reduce the pain you experience with migraine. You can check out clinical trials for migraine at Power if you are looking for additional treatment options for migraine.