Ice therapy: Fast and Effective Migraine Relief

Cold packs or cold face towels are a fast and effective way to prevent and relieve the pain of a Migraine Headache, naturally. The application of ice causes the blood vessels in the area to constrict (or get smaller). Constricting the blood vessels has a strong anti-inflammatory effect that stops the pounding sensation common in vascular headaches like migraines.

Ice therapy works especially well in the first stages of the migraine – before the pain has become intense.

In searching the web for more information on ice therapy, I came across a novel product to treat migraine headaches using a natural and proven alternative to drugs or medication. Introducing the Headache Ice Pillow. This pillow uses time-honored and medically recommended cold therapy in treating dull, moderate and severe headaches, like migraine and tension headaches.

The advantages of the pillow is that it:

• Helps relieve headaches and neck stiffness.
• Uses medically accepted cold therapy.
• Clinically proven.
• Designed to support your neck and head in their most natural positions.
• Great for travel.

This pillow uses a unique, compact design to help relieve headaches by providing support to your neck while sleeping or resting. An anatomically designed, soft-frozen gel pack can be inserted into the pillow for added relief. Great for travel, reading or sleeping, this pillow also can provide relief from pinched nerves, stiffness, sprains, neck injuries or other traumas. The gel pack stores in your freezer until needed. An optional massage unit provides gentle massaging action for added comfort and relief. Clinically proven to relieve headaches, this pillow was shown to categorically help nearly 80% of uses.

Not surprisingly, you can order an ice pillow from China (where I think 95% of this planet’s products are now manufactured) and I am considering ordering one. I would be interested to know if you or anyone you know tried it and how well it worked.

What Are Menstrual Migraines?

Menstrual headaches or migraines appear to occur when estrogen levels in the blood drop during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen is involved in setting the threshold for pain activity. Falling estrogen levels are associated with a greater sensitivity to pain and increased activity in body systems that cause inflammation. These changes can make women more susceptible to experiencing several different types of pain, such as headache, cramps, and muscle or joint aches, just before or during their menstrual period.

Taking oral contraceptive pills (i.e., birth control pills) can exaggerate the drop in estrogen levels before the start of menstrual bleeding. Consequently, taking the pill can sometimes worsen migraine patterns. Many women will experience an improvement in their health and a decrease of or even no migraines after menopause.

There are a number of natural medicinal and non-medicinal treatments for the prevention of menstrual migraine.

Non-Medicinal Treatments for Menstrual Migraine
Women with migraine are generally more susceptible to dietary, physical, environmental, and other triggers for migraine attacks during the week before and the first few days of their period. Following are some guidelines that can decrease the likelihood of having a migraine from these triggers.

• Eat regularly scheduled, well-balanced meals. Avoid missing meals because low blood sugar and hunger are frequent triggers for migraine attacks. On the other hand, avoid eating sweets or meals the contain a lot of carbohydrates because doing so might lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels two to three hours after you have these foods (this is sometimes called a “sugar or carbohydrate crash”).

• Drink plenty of fluid. Avoid dehydration because this too is a frequent migraine trigger.

• Get a good night’s sleep. Follow a regular and consistent schedule of waking and sleeping. Avoid going to bed late, “sleeping in,” becoming sleep deprived, or a haphazard sleep schedule.

• Stay away from well-known migraine triggers such as wine, beer, or other alcohol containing drinks; chocolate and other sweets; aged cheeses such as cheddar or Brie; and salty foods, especially during the week before your period.

• Participate in a regular aerobic exercise program. If you have not been exercising regularly, discuss exercise plans with your doctor and set up a physical conditioning plan that matches your needs. Start your exercise program slowly and gradually build up your level of activity as your physical condition improves.

• Learn and regularly practice biofeedback and other relaxation techniques. These types of treatment have demonstrated excellent benefit in clinical studies; and best of all, there are no potential side effects.

Above content provided by the National Pain Foundation in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.

10 Things You Don’t Know About Massage Therapy

Scottsdale, Ariz. (PRWEB) October 22, 2009 — Timeless and universal, massage therapy offers numerous health and therapeutic benefits that are proven to help conditions such as arthritis, migraines, back pain and even fibromyalgia.

Massage therapy is not only a stress-reliever, but can help those with conditions such as arthritis and chronic migraines.

Indeed, given today’s restless environment, more Americans are turning to therapeutic massage treatment for relaxation and tension relief from the daily stresses of their hectic lives, or simply for good health maintenance and a balanced lifestyle. Many people use massage as part of their wellness plan with much success.

In honor of National Massage Therapy Awareness Week (October 25-31, 2009) Massage Envy, the nation’s largest massage therapy provider is offering some eye-opening facts about this age-old wellness treatment.

Fun Facts about Massage Therapy:

1. Massage may be the oldest form of medical care – Egyptian tomb paintings show people being massaged.

2. As touch is the first sense to develop in humans and the last to fade, there are approximately 5 million touch receptors in our skin – 3,000 alone in a finger tip.

3. Almost one-fourth of adult Americans say they’ve used massage therapy at least one time for pain relief.

4. While the use of massage is growing, the reasons people are turning to massage therapy are also expanding. Of the people surveyed who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent report they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.

5. Any kind of touch stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, can reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure – imagine how good you would feel after a one-hour massage.

6. A study conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine showed that ongoing massage could lower anxiety, reduce pain, and improve grip strength for those that suffer from arthritis.

7. Research indicates massage therapy can boost immunity and reduce hypertension.

8. Benefits of prenatal massage include increasing circulation, promoting relaxation, preparing the muscles for childbirth, and enhancing joint flexibility.

9. A recent study by the American Massage Therapy Association showed that in adults with migraine headaches massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms. It also increased serotonin levels, believed to play an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep and appetite.

10. The number of hospitals offering massage therapy increased by 30 percent from 2004 to 2006. Sixty-seven percent of those hospitals with massage therapy programs offer massage to their staff for stress management.

About Massage Envy
Massage Envy Limited, LLC, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States. The national franchise of massage clinics is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage services to consumers with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has opened nearly 600 clinics in 41states with new locations opening every month. For more information, visit www.MassageEnvy.com.

And here’s a video showing a neck massage which I have tried to naturally relieve my migraines and it works.

Alternative supplements for migraines

I’ve been looking on the web for alternative supplements that relieve migraines naturally when I came across this one that says what it does on the tin: Migraine Relief. I haven’t personally tried this supplement but I would be interested to hear if anyone has and if this works.

Migraine Relief from Ridgecrest Herbals is a carefully formulated homeopathic and Chinese herbal remedy which relieves headache and migraine pain naturally without side effects. Works quickly and effectively.

Migraine Relief contains safe, effective homeopathic plant extracts. The science of homeopathy is hundreds of years old and is widely used in Europe and Asia. It has recently gained popularity in the United States.

It also contains a proprietary Chinese herbal formula. Chinese herbs have been used successfully for thousands of years throughout Asia, with great results.

Research shows that combining herbs and homeopathics into one formula creates a synergistic effect that significantly enhances the effectiveness of the formula. Benefits Relieves migraine and headache pain naturally and without side effects.

Active (Homeopathic) Ingredients:
Cyclamen 8x: headache remedy.
Belladonna 10x: for congestive pain.
Bryonia Alba 10x: pain remedy.
Spigelia Anthelmia 8x: for left ophthalmic migraines. Sanguinaria Canadensis 8x: for right ophthalmic migraines with hot flashes.
Gelsemium Sempervirens: for headaches and migraines.
Other (Chinese Herbal) Ingredients: Corydalis invigorates blood circulation.
Haliotis: Supports optic nerve function. Angelica for pain.
Gastrodia controls pain.
Gypsum for fever, toothache and migraine.
Ligusticum for migraine and abdominal pain.
Fang-feng for migraine.
Heal-all for ocular swelling and pain.
Scute has an analgesic effect on central nervous system.
Gambir calms nerves.
Red Magnolia relieves abdominal pain.
Vitex for migraine and ocular pain.
Mint for migraine and toothache pain.
Poria (Fu-ling) soothes nerves. Dong-quai for migraine, chest and abdominal pain.
Licorice has anti-inflammatory effect.
Ginger for abdominal pain.
Costus for stomach pain.
Tangerine peel for chest pain.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose.

Yoga Hand Mudra to naturally relieve migraines

If you are looking for a natural alternative to relieving your migraines, this healing hand mudra is an extremely simple exercise and it works!

I’ve noticed that it has a calming effect on me and my head feels clearer, particularly when I have a lot to get done fast. Try it and please leave a comment to share how it works for you.

Types of Migraines – Complicated, Abdominal, Hemiplegic and More

Most people have heard of migraine headaches, but most don’t realize that there are many different types of migraines, each with its own unique symptoms and need to be understood before we can look at natural relief. Let’s have a look at them in detail.

An abdominal migraine is also called periodic syndrome. It occurs usually in children, and usually ones with a prior family history of migraine attacks. Abdominal migraines are characterized by bouts of pain in the abdomen lasting for around two hours. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, flushing and pallor. Standard natural migraine treatments usually work for abdominal migraines.

A basilar migraine is one affecting the circulation in the back of the neck or brain. This usually occurs in young women and can cause dizziness, loss of balance, double vision, confusion, fainting, slurred speech and disorientation. Some people will even lose consciousness during an acute headache. Often people are mistakenly believed to be suffering from some other condition.

A complicated migraine is a type which is accompanied by one or more neurologic deficits, for instance, paralysis. It sometimes features an aura that lasts for hours or days, as opposed to the half hour or hour which is the usual. There are a few different forms of complicated migraine headaches. One is the ophthalmoplegic migraine, in which the patient develops some paralysis of the nerves required for eye movement. In a retinal migraine, the visual symptoms occur from the person’s retina rather than from the part of the brain used for vision. Another form of complicated migraine is the hemiplegic migraine, which is often inherited and is linked to one of a few different chromosomes.

Cyclic Migraine Syndrome refers to patience who experience more than 10 migraine attacks a month.These are typically long-lasting and not associated with typical cluster headache symptoms. Studies have shown that cyclic migraine syndrome can be helped by lithium carbonate, as long as the patient’s medication level and thyroid functioning are both monitored.

A hemiplegic migraine is a rare type considered to be a severe variety. During an attack, the sufferer might experience temporary motor paralysis and some sensory disturbances on a single side of his or her body.These symptoms precede the headache itself. The symptoms will fade as the headache appears.

Nocturnal headaches refer to attacks experienced in the early hours of the morning, usually around 4:00 a.m. The person is often awakened by the pain. According to recent studies, these attacks are linked with changes in the person’s adrenaline and similar substances. As the levels reach their peak, the headache is experienced.

An occular migraine refers to a migraine in which the person experiences visual hints of an oncoming attack, usually the “aura” which produces flashing lights or spots or something related.

Ophthalmoplegic migraines are considered rare forms of migraine. In this variety, the pain surrounds the person’s eyeball and can last as long s several months. It’s caused by a weakness of muscles which surround the eye. A person should get a doctor to confirm the diagnosis, as similar symptoms might also be produced by a pressure on the nerves directly behind the eye.

Stratus migraines are attacks that persist for over 72 hours. One of the factors that might prolong a migraine attack is a sterile an inflammatory response to the migraine, which sometimes develops around the walls surrounding the affected blood vessels.

If there are other kinds of migraines that I haven’t mentioned, I’d be very interested to hear about them. What are the symptoms and when and where do they occur?