In Part 1 of this article, we looked at two categories of natural remedies for migraine headaches. We presented 7 nutrients and 2 means of manual therapy for migraine relief.

In Part 2, we will look at additional natural remedies you can take for migraine headaches.

Choosing a Natural Remedy for Migraine

If you choose a natural remedy for migraine treatment, you get no guarantees. One person’s natural remedy for migraine may or may not work for the next person. Since prescription medications also offer no guarantees, and do have side effects, you may want to try a natural remedy for migraine. You should, of course, ask your physician for advice.

Simple Home-style Remedies

A natural remedy for migraine need not be complex. For years, people have been applying simple, home-style remedies that are FREE or low-cost. You may use any or all of these for migraine relief.

1. Sleep

This is a free natural remedy for migraine. Have the migraine sufferer lie sown in a quiet, darkened room and sleep for several hours. Sleep is the body’s time for healing, and is an important factor is migraine relief.

2. Ice Pack

A second free natural remedy for migraine is a simple ice pack. Try placing a cold compress on the sufferer’s head as he or she lies in a dark, quiet room. You may use a purchased ice cap filled with ice, but it is just as effective to use an unopened bag of frozen vegetables. A bag of frozen peas is especially easy to use, since it readily conforms.

3. Warm bath

A warm, soaking bath in a darkened room will often relieve migraine symptoms. Keep the water as warm as comfortable. Candlelight is sufficient, and can add to the soothing effects.

4. Epsom Salts Bath

Epsom salts is a natural mineral – magnesium sulfate – that is a sedative for the nerves and a muscle relaxant. Add one or two cups of Epsom salts to hot bath water and soak, keeping the water comfortably hot.

CAUTION: People with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease should not use this natural remedy for migraine.

5. Deep Breathing

Sit quietly in a darkened room – soft candlelight is fine. Take a breath, as deep as possible, and slowly, slowly exhale it. Take a second deep breath, focusing on its depth, and the feeling as your lungs expand. Slowly release the breath, focusing on the lungs contracting. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly for 5 to 10 minutes, feeling calm and relaxed.

Aromatherapy

Since no one natural remedy for migraine will work for everyone, you may want to try aroma therapy as a complement to other remedies for migraine. Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils, or applying them to the skin. It is important not to apply them directly to the skin, but to mix them in a “carrier” oil such as sweet almond or apricot kernel that “carry” the essence. You can mix a small amount in your hand, or mix them ahead of time in a small, roll-on bottle.

1. Lavender

Lavender oil, extracted from the small, blue-violet flowers of the lavender plant, is a calming, soothing, sedative for the nerves. You will want pure lavender oil, not a perfume or lavender-scented oil. There are several ways you can use lavender oil as a natural remedy for migraine.

Inhalation: Place 2-4 drops in 2 cups of boiling water and inhale vapors.
Application: Moisten your finger tips with pure almond carrier oil. Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil, and gently massage your temples, behind each ear, and your neck.

CAUTION: Side effects are rare, but some people may develop an allergic reaction to lavender following inhalation or absorption through the skin.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using this natural remedy for migraine.

2. Other oils

In addition to lavender, you may want to experiment with other essential oils. A few that help migraineurs are: bay, eucalyptus, jasmine, melissa, peppermint, and rosemary. Since migraineurs’ attacks can be triggered by certain smells, you will want to choose the one that works best for you.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Surprisingly, apple cider vinegar can be a natural remedy for migraine. Boil together equal parts of natural apple cider vinegar and water in an open pan. When fumes begin to rise, and become comfortably strong, inhale for 50 to 60 deep breaths.

A third article in this series will round out our consideration of natural remedies for migraine headaches. Remember that all migraine sufferers should seek professional advice before using a natural remedy for migraine.

© 2007, Anna Hart. Member of a “migraine family” and sympathizer with all migraineurs, Anna invites you to read more of her articles about the treatment of migraine headaches at http://www.migrainereliefblog.com. You won’t want to miss Anna’s additional insights and perspectives on the use of aromatherapy as a natural remedy for migraine headaches.

Herbal remedies have been around for a long, long time and have been used to help cure a variety of health concerns. Most of the remedies used before comprised mainly of herbal remedies since there were no other alternatives at the time. Herbal remedies were used by different cultures in different ways for different ailments and diseases, all before the development of our modern day pharmaceutical medicines.

Nowadays, we have been used to using different pharmaceutically developed medicines for our ailments and diseases, reducing the need for herbal remedies. Although such is the case, a lot of people still are using herbal remedies to address their health concerns, even if there are pharmaceutical drugs readily available to us.

One of the appeals of herbal remedies is the fact that they are tagged as “natural”, which means that they are made up of natural ingredients, giving them the appearance of a much healthier alternative to our modern day medicines and drugs. However, though such is the case, people seem to forget that most of the pharmaceutical medicines and drugs that people are using nowadays are also made up of natural ingredients, similar to those herbal remedies that we see and use. The only difference is that the ingredients in pharmaceutical remedies have been processed and developed specifically so that they contain the exact amount of dosage and potency. These pharmaceutical remedies have been rigorously tested before they were even permitted to be sold in the market, which is why their effects and side-effects remain constant.

With herbal remedies, however, their potency is not constant and standard. The same type of herbal remedy may not be as potent as the other since a lot of factors help determine the level of potency that a herbal remedy gets. Factors such as soil conditions, rainfall, as well as exposure to the sun can greatly affect the quality of the ingredients that make up the herbal drug, and can influence the potency of the remedy. And since these herbal remedies do not undergo the same level of safety and preparation, as well as the same level of inspection and testing before approval for use in the market as with pharmaceutical medicines, their quality is not always assured.

Another potential danger of using herbal remedies is that there are over 37 percent of these herbal remedies that are either known to be safe, or whose safety is unknown. This is a large percentage for people to rely too much on herbal remedies in addressing their health concerns. Since herbal remedies are not regulated by the Food and Drugs Association (FDA), there is no way of knowing for sure if the types of herbal remedies that you are using are actually safe to use or not.

Also, what makes herbal remedies potentially dangerous is the fact that it is not just made up of the ingredients that it indicates that it is made of. Since there are no strict policies and rules on how these remedies should be prepared and produced, other natural ingredients may find their way into the herbal remedy. These other ingredients may have adverse effects on the person using them, which is why people using herbal remedies cannot be entirely sure of the quality and effectiveness of the herbal remedies that they are using.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor

http://primeherbal.com

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