How Graham Got Rid of His Migraines

Every January, I go to Orlando to recharge my batteries – not by going to Disneyland but by attending the Wizard course (www.wizardcourse.com).

It’s so awesome to hang out with over 3,000 Avatar Masters around the world all of whom are interested in taking more personal responsibility for their lives. Exploring my mental blueprint in 2005 was my first step to a fuller life, a life without migraines and I haven’t looked back since.

I met an good friend and kindred spirit I never met. What I mean is that I had never met him in person. I had chatted with him, knew what he looked like, shared migraine stories but we had never spoken to each other. We were facebook friends.

He had told me that like me, he used the Avatar tools to get rid of his migraines. So I asked him if he would write something for my blog viewers who suffer from migraines and who want to get rid of them. He said he didn’t know what or how to write something inspiring. I asked him just to tell his story (and asked and asked and asked until finally..!) here it is:

Dear Sile,

Here’s the piece, you’ve asked me to write… sorry, it’s been a long time coming.  I’m not a writer, really, so I put off  putting pen to paper. Anyway, here it is.  I like the idea of sharing my story on the internet if it means that more people will know that with the right training, they can get control over their migraines. I can still hardly believe it myself when I think about it.

Back to the beginning:

Migraines. The word itself put the fear into the biggest of man. My first contact with it was as a child not understanding it. I think I was about 10 years old. My mother had it and when she did she would tell my father that she would go into her room, lock the door, drew the curtains and we didn’t see her for days. I sat outside the door and listened to her as she sobbed herself to sleep.

I now know that from an early age I started getting migraines even though I didn’t know they were migraines because they were different to what most people complain about. I didn’t actually have the pain and still don’t. I got the numbness, lack of any feeling in my arms, legs and face and my words and speech would start to slow down. It was like my body would shut down. I was paralysed.

My father put it down to growing pains and didn’t give it any attention all these years. I don’t blame him though, as he didn’t know any better.

As an adult, I was afraid of driving long journeys for fear that if I got a migraine mid journey, I would put my family at risk. I’m over 45 now so I’ve had this a long long time. I carried pills with me, had an inhaler and when I felt a migraine coming on, I would have to stop what I was doing, pop some pills and press my head down on the (cold) ground until I felt fine again. Not the sort of thing you want to do in the middle of business meetings or if you are driving. But that was the only thing that helped me cope and feel better.

Until…

This time last year, I  did an Avatar course (www.avatarepc.com) which is all about looking at your own belief system and how you feel about the world we live in and how we can shape our future the way we want.  I loved it and continued to do the Masters course in the summer in Germany. Well, in the middle of the course, I had a migraine and as everyone knows too well, the panic started to set in which always made the problem worse. I wanted to leave course immediately. One of the trainers, John, came over to me gave me a specific exercise to do which was about deliberately directing my attention in a specific way. I did it for 20 minutes and the numbness vanished and it was ok for me to carry on the day. That was my first and fastest experience of getting on top of my migraines. In the last year I just did this exercise when I felt a migraine setting in and I’d get better faster and faster. Just knowing this makes me much more relaxed. And I know I am getting more and more in control of it.

I would never have believed it if you just explained it to me. I had to try it myself and it worked and was one of the best tools I’ve learned (and not just for migraines because I don’t think about them too much anymore)!

Lots of love,

Graham

PS I’ve thrown away my inhaler but still keep my pills in my bag, just in case. But before you ask, I haven’t taken a pill in a year.

ooo—000—ooo

I find Graham’s story very inspiring and insightful and I hope that you do too.  If you liked the post please leave a comment below. If you’ve gotten rid of your migraines without medicine, please leave a comment to share how you did it so that you can inspire others to do so too.

When Tummy Aches are Abdominal Migraines

Abdominal Migraines in Children

Migraine headaches usually involve head pain, but there’s another category of migraine that affects children known as abdominal migraine syndrome. Abdominal migraines in children are not as uncommon as most people believe. Children aged between 5-9 years old are most prone to this form of migraine. According to an article published in Family Practice News, abdominal migraines in children may account for a full 15% of unexplained, abdominal pain that recurs on a regular basis.

What is Abdominal Migraine Syndrome?

This is a frequently under diagnosed condition where a child experiences recurrent abdominal pain that lasts for anywhere from an hour to three days at a time. The child usually describes the pain as a dull soreness that’s difficult to pinpoint – although it’s most common in the mid-abdominal region. A child with abdominal migraine syndrome may vomit and be unable to eat. He or she may appear pale and experience episodes of flushing – although this isn’t always seen. Some kids experience sensory symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and sensitivity to light – similar to that seen with a migraine headache.

Why is It Called Abdominal Migraine Syndrome?

It’s called an abdominal migraine because many children who have this condition go on to develop typical migraine headaches. In fact, children who are diagnosed with this condition are four times more likely to develop migraine headaches later on in life. Many children with this syndrome have a parent who also experienced migraine headaches.

Although this form of abdominal migraine is primarily seen in children, it can occur in adults as well. The abdominal pain is severe enough to interfere with nomal daily activities. The pallor is often accompanied by dark shadows under the eyes.

Other disorders such as peptic ulcer, urogenital disorders needs to be ruled out by the physician before concluding it as abdominal migraine.

What Should You Know About Abdominal Migraines in Children?

It’s important to remember that the diagnosis of abdominal migraine is made only after other causes of abdominal pain are ruled out. Conditions such as appendicitis, peptic ulcer disease, obstruction of the intestines, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and viral and bacterial infections of the intestines can be difficult to distinguish from abdominal migraines. Some of these conditions can be life threatening if not treated – so always have a child evaluated by a doctor if he or she has abdominal pain.

How is Abdominal Migraine Syndrome Treated?

Treatment depends on the age of the patient, but usually consists of anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the pain and medications to relieve nausea. Most of the emphasis is on prevention of abdominal migraines which means avoiding stress and determining foods that seem to trigger the symptoms and avoiding them.

In children, acute attacks of abdominal migraine are treated with rest and this frequently resolves with sleep.

Abdominal migraine symptoms

The patient suffers from recurrent ( more than 5 attacks ) of Abdominal pain lasting between 1-72 hours. Symptoms including pallor, vomiting and nausea or anorexia is experienced.

The child suffers from recurrent Abdominal pain with one or more symptoms of vomiting, nausea or anorexia. The pain occurs mostly in the mornings on awakening and can also include sensitivity to light and sound.

If its not related to any other gastrointestinal or such disease, the diagnosis is made by the pediatrician. There is no diagnostic test to conclude abdominal migraine.

Most children with abdominal migraine will later develop migraine headaches.
They are also likely to develop migraine with aura or migraine without aura.

Abdominal Migraine Syndrome: The Bottom Line?

Any child who has abdominal pain needs evaluation. Don’t assume it’s an abdominal migraine until other causes have been ruled out. Most kids outgrow abdominal migraines, but, unfortunately, go on to develop migraine headaches later on.

How Can Yoga Help Manage Migraines?

What is Yoga? Yoga is an ancient Hindu discipline aimed aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. This is achieved through a system of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind.

The actual word is Hindi for Union between mind and body.  Its wisdom is as relevant today in understanding the human condition as it was over five thousand years ago. Perhaps even more so as the 21st century being is subjected to more stimuli in one year than our early ancestors had in all of their lifetime.

Yoga can be practiced by anyone regardless of age or fitness levels because there are so many practices to choose from or adapt to suit the individual. Yoga self awareness practices help us to identify our “trigger” habits to enable us to disarm them. Yoga teaches us to live in the present moment, an ability that promotes healing at all levels or our being.

I believe that stress is an important (and not fully discussed) trigger for migraine headaches. Whether you believe stress is unavoidable or not, it may help you to know that how it is managed can defuse the trigger – yoga stretches, breath work, meditation and relaxation all help us to manage stress. Yoga will help you develop an emotional suit of armour against all kinds of stress.

Yoga breathing practices will help sufferers manage, relieve and reduce pain. Poor posture produces chronic muscular tension, particularly in the upper back, shoulders and neck. Chronic neck tension often causes headaches. Regular practice of yoga relieves neck tension. An experienced yoga teacher will show you how to adjust and realign your posture to avoid neck tension.

Can yoga cure or prevent migraine headaches, and if so, what postures are recommended? If you have had a recent migraine headache or feel the start of a new one, yoga instructors will recommend a restorative practice.

Establish a regular home practice where you are in charge of determining your level of effort from day to day, and find an experienced teacher to guide you when difficulties arise. This will lead you on the road to better health, especially when it comes to coping with a health condition such as migraines.

Preventative Pose–Wide-Legged Forward Bend
Stand with your feet one leg length apart. Bend forward at the hip and place the palms of your hands on the floor. Rest the top of your head on the floor and relax into the pose. If you are unable to reach the floor, you can rest your head on a chair or bend your knees to assist the stretch. Hold the pose for 10 to 20 seconds.

Preventative Pose–Downward-facing Dog
Start on your hands and knees, with your hands directly beneath your shoulders. Lift your hips toward the ceiling so that your body forms an inverted V. Press both heels and the palms of your hands into the floor. Hold the pose for 10 to 20 seconds, then release back to your hands and knees. Repeat if desired.

Preventative Pose–Extended Puppy Pose
Start on your hands and knees and extend your arms forward and lower your forehead to the floor. Your hips should be in the air, and there should be a slight arch in your back. Hold the pose for 10 to 20 seconds, then release back to your hands and knees. Repeat if desired.

Restorative Pose–Legs Up the Wall Pose
Lie on your side, approximately 5 inches from a wall, with your hips facing the wall. Turn over onto your back and extend your legs up the wall. You should be able to relax and have your legs remain upright without any effort. If not, then adjust your position until your legs stay in place on their own. If needed, support the neck with a pillow or stack two folded blankets under your lower back. Rest your arms at your sides or on your belly. Cover your eyes with a cool compress or an eye pillow. Relax into the pose for up to 10 minutes. To release, roll onto your side and sit up.

Restorative Pose–Reclining Bound Angle
Sit with your legs extended and bring the soles of your feet together, making a diamond shape with your legs. Support the knees with pillows if the stretch is too intense. Lie back and rest your hands on your belly. Cover your eyes with a cool compress or an eye pillow. If needed, support the neck and lower back with pillows. Relax into the pose for up to 10 minutes.

Restorative Pose–Corpse Pose
Lie on your back with your legs extended and your arms relaxed at your sides. If needed, support the lower back and neck with pillows. Cover your eyes with a cool compress or an eye pillow. Relax into the pose for up to 10 minutes.
Practicing Yoga With a Migraine: When experiencing a migraine headache, certain forms of yogasanas and in particular Pranayama are helpful postures in relieving the pain. It is important to practice yoga in a calm and composed environment with dim lights. Always remember to conclude your yoga session with shavasana with the help of an eye pillow or a small piece of clean (preferably cold) cloth over the eyes. Before you initiate the corpse pose, get started on the Dirga Pranayama which involves Oslo and deep breathing technique that arises from the stomach and the chest. It is important that you understand and examined the reasons for recurrent headaches or migraines.  Yoga can help to deal and control headaches related to migraines or cluster headaches. A number of yogasanas help to release the tension and the stress in the neck and shoulders, while encouraging blood circulation to their head and stimulating the nervous system. This can help in relieving headaches. In a majority of cases, headaches are the result of mental trauma such as depression and acute stress. Due to major imbalances, the brain is deprived of oxygen and the requisite amount of blood. Due to the lack of oxygen and blood in the head, the muscles then to contract and the consequent results take place in the form of a headache.
Deep breathing techniques as well as mental relaxation are known to be effective steps in curbing the occurrence of migraine headaches. Important yogasanas for relieving headache are the easy yoga posture, the downward facing dog position, the Cobra pose, the seated forward bend, the knee press, the reclining posture etc. One of the most easiest and common practices of yogasanas is the easy yoga posture which helps in straightening the spine, regulating the metabolic rate and keeping the mindset is. The shoulder stretch as well as the spinal twist are other forms of yogasanas and are important in containing headaches and relieving them. Other useful poses include the cow and cat position, the bridge pose, the reclining twist, the child’s pose, the corpse position and the pose that involves the movement of the legs up the wall. All these yogasanas are simple and safe and can be done during the day; especially in the mornings on an empty stomach. The daily practice of the above-mentioned yogasanas will greatly help in reducing the occurrence of headaches and neck pain.

Meditative Poses Deep breathing and meditation can help relieve migraine pain. Sukhasana is a standard meditative pose designed for relaxation. Individuals sit cross-legged on the ground with their hands on their knees and backs straight. With the eyes closed, slow, deep breaths are taken. This pose helps straighten the spine, open the hips, relieve fatigue and slow breathing, heart rate and metabolism. It also has a calming effect on the nerves and allows the user to keep her mind still and find inner tranquility.

Stretching Poses Because migraines can be caused by stress, it is important to relieve stress daily. Stress is often carried in our upper back, shoulders and neck. Yoga shoulder stretches can alleviate any tension in the upper body. A basic premise in yoga is the benefit of lengthening the entire body and muscles. A long, lean body is thought to function better. When the body is compressed, our organs and systems can suffer because they are not allowed to function properly. Stretching poses also relieve tension from the ribs and core, allowing you to breathe easier. Basic shoulder stretches are done by sitting on the floor, with a straight back and calves tucked under the upper legs. Holding a towel with both hands, individuals bring the arms straight out in front of the chest, then overhead and behind the neck in one sweeping motion. The idea is to make a half-circle around your head and release tension in the shoulder area.

Inversion Poses According to The Daily Headache website, “If you have a migraine or headache at the time of your practice, never do an inversion, which is any posture that raises your heart above your head. Blood rushing to your head during a headache or migraine will make it worse. For some people, doing inversions at all can trigger a headache.”

What types of yoga is best for me? There are many types of yoga that can help migraine sufferers. Hatha yoga practice can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. One contemporary theory of how migraines occur states that the arteries that feed the brain narrow temporarily due to a variety of factors, stress and muscular tension being two common ones. For a migraine sufferer, there is then a sudden shift in the blood vessels and they abruptly dilate, increasing the blood flow to the head. This sudden shift results in the intense pain of the migraine episode.

If you can somehow keep your body’s nervous system more relaxed from day to day, the initial narrowing of the blood vessels that predisposes someone to a migraine might be eliminated and the chance of the migraine minimized. A yoga practice can be of any intensity that you desire, as long as there is a conscious effort to keep it steady and even, and as long as you spend time gradually increasing the activity and then gradually cooling down through the course of a given practice.

Finding the yoga practice that suits you is an exercise in itself of trial and error.  I like an intense workout that brings 100% of oxygen to my body and found my ideal workout with Bikram Yoga.  www.bikramyoga.it

If you liked this post, please leave a comment in the box below.

Oranges Can Cause Magnesium Deficiency… and Migraines

The next post is brought to you thanks to Amber Stephenson  who is a member of my facebook page aptly called Natural Migraine Relief. She found the part about oranges causing magnesium deficiency in some migraine sufferers, interesting. I have to say I was intrigued as well.

Here is the article:

The idea that oranges are considered a possible trigger for migraine has surprised many of us, as orange juice is usually considered to be beneficial in our diet.

Not if you are sensitive to citrus. The citrus group of foods is a known allergen, including fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. Additionally, a lot of commercial orange juice is squeezed with the rind on, subsequently bruising it and releasing synephrine, a vasoconstrictor.

There have been links between migraine headaches and synephrine as well as related vasoconstrictors, so it makes sense that this could be a trigger. Many patients found that freshly squeezed orange juice made at home had no adverse effect.

A 2004 study found that: “In migraine patients, plasma levels of octopamine and synephrine were higher compared with controls, although in migraine with aura, the difference was not significant”.(1)

Synephrine is a stimulant that raises blood pressure, which can also cause migraines. The theory being that migraine sufferers with a citrus allergy can gain relief from a low dosage of daily blood pressure medication.

Citrus fruits also cause magnesium deficiency in some patients, and magnesium deficiency has been linked to migraine without aura. In a study where thirty migraine patients were treated with magnesium versus ten treated with placebo, the number of patients experiencing relief was so high that the possibility of the test results being coincidental was less than a 1 in 1000 chance.(2) The magnesium was administered as a magnesium citrate supplement, 600mg per day, orally. Patients were assessed by computerized tomography before and after the three month treatment period.

Citrus fruits also contain histamine, another suspect in food related allergies. A study at Texas Tech in El Paso TX found a correlation between high histamine levels and migraine attacks in susceptible persons.

An unhappy relationship between hypoglycemia and migraine can be heightened by drinking of orange juice, lemonade or other citrus juice in an attempt to raise the blood sugar – the orange juice can actually increase the migraine pain and the blood sugar level is blamed instead. This justifies the importance of maintaining a food diary and testing for food allergies.(3)

One woman related how she had taken migraine medication daily for years, washing it down with an 8 oz glass of orange juice each morning. Finally, when her sons were diagnosed, it became apparent that by giving them juice daily, she had simply been stimulating the cycle of migraines. Incidentally, orange flavored drinks such as Tang and Sunny D also contain migraine triggering substances similar to the natural fruits, so if citrus is a problem for you, avoid them as well!

Elimination of citrus is much simpler than many other migraine trigger foods, and is relatively easy to live without. For people suffering severe food intolerance migraines, living without orange juice, lemonade and key lime pie was a minor exclusion from their diet.

Sources:

(1) pubmed15159465.do, Cure Hunter, 05/25/2004
(2) Magnesium Research, Jun 2008;21(2):101-8. PMID: 18705538, by Koseoglu E, Talaslioglu A, Gonul AS, Kula M. Erciyes University, Medicine Faculty, Neurology Department, Kayseri, Turkey
(3) Leira R, Rodriguez R, Revista de Neurologia 1996 May;24(129):534-8

Research by Grace-Alexander

When I used to have migraines, bananas would give me migraines and I thought it was the excess potassium but I couldn’t find any back up in science.

I was allergic to a number of foods (any kind of cheese except cottage cheese, coffee, chocolate, tuna fish, grapes, not gluten or wheat though etc) Since I got completely rid of my migraines, I also got rid of my food allergies and thankfully now can eat anything.

I believe that you can too.

Amber told me she’s researching all types of foods that trigger migraines and that don’t and that she’s really starting to go head over heels into Migraine Research which is GREAT because there is a lot of information on the web and I would love all the natural solutions, remedies and treatments be listed on one website (err.. this one!) for your benefit.

So thank you again Amber  for sharing this with everyone.

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?

Supplements: a natural alternative to migraine relief?

If you suffer from migraine headaches, you know how debilitating and painful they can be and the search for natural relief may not always be obvious. Often times, migraines cause so much pain that people become physically ill and suffer additional symptoms such as stomach ache and blurred vision. The symptoms can be so bad that people miss work, leave family events, or become unable to function.

So, what can you do to relieve such horrible pain?

Many people treat migraine headaches with prescription medications. These medications can be effective, but they are not without some serious side effects. Some of these prescription medications are taken orally, while others are inhaled by nasal spray into the nose. Either way, some of the more common side effects include tingling at the site, unusual taste, or dizziness. If you happen to suffer from the more serious side effects, these can include high blood pressure and elevated risk of heart disease.

Because of the serious nature of the side effects, and because migraine sufferers need relief quickly and on a regular basis, natural and alternative and natural remedies are becoming a more popular way to treat migraine headaches. Before we take a look at some of the best supplements to treat migraines, let’s look at the nature of the migraine headache. It is easier to understand your treatment plan if you understand the nature of the headaches themselves.

Most people consider the term ‘migraine’ synonymous with ‘migraine headaches’, but migraines are actually a condition that has headache as one of its many symptoms. Because the headache is the most painful, most obvious symptom of a migraine, people tend to think that a migraine and a migraine headache are the same thing. Migraines are actually a neurological syndrome. The headache is the worst part, perhaps, but the syndrome can also be characterized by nausea and unusual visions that according to some sufferers can almost be hallucinatory in nature. Oddly enough, the very fact that a migraine is coming on is sometimes signified by an ‘aura’, described by most as an almost out-of-body sense that the awful headache is about to occur. Then, when it does, it is sometimes accompanied by odd visions or senses as well.

Once the headache sets in, and even after the person feels physically ill, he or she may also suffer from increased sensitivity to bright lights and loud sounds, preferring to remain in total silence and darkness until the headache subsides. The problem is, migraines often last for quite some time. The average migraine lasts for about four hours, although chronic sufferers can experience migraine symptoms for up to seventy-two hours sometimes! They will feel a severe and painful throbbing in the temple region, usually on one side, for the duration of the migraine. These are the individuals who need the most help.

So what help is out there? To begin with, there are some dietary changes that may help, but not for everyone. One of the most common changes to try first is to get rid of all gluten (wheat) in the diet. Other common triggers include foods such as hot dogs, wine, chocolate and cheese. This may help some people and not others, since there are so many triggers for migraine and not all of them have to do with diet. Some other triggers include the weather, sleep changes, and even stress; certainly, it is better for these people to explore supplements since they can do nothing to change the weather!

One supplement that has been shown to be effective in relieving migraines is Feverfew. Feverfew is an herb that you can buy in your local vitamin store or on the internet, and it is good for prevention of migraine as well as treatment of the symptoms once the headache has onset. Especially good for the treatment of symptoms is the combination of this herbal supplement with a natural caffeine source, such as guarana.

Ginger has long been used as a digestive aid and as a treatment for nausea, but there is also some evidence that it is helpful for migraines. You can eat ginger, of course, but if you don’t like the taste you can also find ginger capsules or ginger tea that has other flavors included in it.

Sometimes migraines come about because of fatigue or irregular sleep patterns. If this is the case for you, you may want to try taking melatonin before bed. Melatonin is produced naturally in the body, but the production of it slows as we age. If you supplement with it, your body’s sleep cycles will become more regular and you may find it helps prevent the migraines from coming back.

B vitamins such as vitamin B12 and riboflavin have also been known to help, as well as magnesium. These are such commonly used supplements that you should be able to take a multi-vitamin and mineral tablet and get your requirements.

Rather than suffer these debilitating headaches or resign yourself to taking prescriptions for the rest of your life, try these healthier alternatives. You just may get the relief you have long been seeking.

Symptoms of Tension vs. Migraine Headache

Do you have a tension headache or a migraine? Do you know the difference? When do auras occur and what might they mean?

If this video has been useful, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a comment below. Thank you!

Migraine Auras – Unpleasant or Beautiful?

An aura is a warning sign that a migraine is about to begin. Recognizing auras is the first step to treating a migraine. Find out from this video the different kinds of migraine auras people have and what celebrities have them and how auras inspired them to do their best work!

All About Migraines

Migraine Headaches are paroxysmal ailments, that are accompanied by a severe headache. The headache normally occurs on one side of the head. Migraine is associated with disorders of digestion, liver, and sight.

Migraine headaches occur sometimes due to great mental tension and stress. Migraine headache patients are typically smart, inflexible, disciplined. Sudden migraine attacks may occur due to overworked muscles in the head and neck and due to continuous stress. The blood flow drops because these tight muscles squeeze the arteries. When the person suddenly relaxes these tight muscles expand and stretch the blood vessel walls. The blood pumped with each heartbeat then pushes the vessels further causing immense pain.

Migraine headache Symptoms

Pain on one side of the head

Migraine headaches have a certain pattern: Normally, the pain is on only one side of the head and often starts from behind the eye. The migraine attack is concentrated on the left side on once occasion and on another you have a headache on the right side.

A short period of depression, irritability and loss of appetite
Migraines and depression are sometimes related in some persons. The affected person may have a period of depression prior to a migraine attack. Migraine headaches also are sometimes preceded loss of appetite and irritability. Migraine attacks may occur every day in some people or may occur with a weeks gap or a month or may be over a year. There is no predictable migraine attack cycle that has been established yet.

Pounding pain, nausea, and vomiting

Symptoms of migraines include pounding pain, nausea and vomiting. You can feel the blood pulsating through the affected side of the head.

Numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, or on one side of the face
Migraine pain may be preceded by numbness and weakness or an arm or a leg. The eye may start paining or one side of the face gets numb prior to a migraine headache. In some cases the entire face and tongue may get numb making the speech slurry. Digestive problems are experienced sometimes as the headache develops.

Common Migraine (without aura) symptoms

Irritability, laziness, stiff neck, yawning are signs of common migraine (migraine without aura). Confused thinking, weakness, difficulty in concentrating are some other signs.

Classical Migraine with aura symptoms

Migraines with aura may have all the symptoms of those without the aura. But has one additional symptom: a visual C shaped aura. A C shaped arc of flashing lights with the center as gray or blind and the colored lights at the end of the C. This migraine aura starts as a small dot and expands in about 30 minutes.

Cause for Migraine Headaches

Low blood sugar, allergy infection, excessive intake of certain drugs
Migraine headaches maybe caused by low blood sugar, allergy infection, excessive intake of certain drugs, nutritional deficiency, consistent overwork, improper sleep and rest, excessive smoking, drinking,and sexual indulgence.

Menstrual Migraine: Menstruation in women

Menstruation in women is also one of the important cause of migraine headache. Commonly known as menstrual migraine, this usually abates after menopause.

Herbal Remedies for migraines headaches

Migraine relief using Grapes

Migraine relief can be obtained from the juice of ripe grapes and is an effective home remedy. Grind fresh ripe grapes and drink without adding any water.

Migraine relief using Niacin

Niacin has proved helpful in relieving migraine pain. Valuable sources of this vitamin are yeast, whole wheat, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, nuts, sunflower seeds, liver and fish. Vitamin I complex tablets containing 100 mg of niacin can be taken for migraine treatment.

Relieving Migraine using Cabbage Leaf Compress

Cabbage leaf compress can help relieve the pain of a migraine headache. Crush a few cabbage leaves, place in a cloth and apply on the forehead for extended period of time. Use fresh leaves when the compressed leaves dry out.

Migraine treatment using Lemon Crust

Lemon crusts can cure migraine. Grind lemon crust and apply as a paste on the forehead. Migraine cures using this remedy has been found very effective and long lasting by many.

Natural Migraine headache treatment using Vegetable Juices

Carrot juice combined with spinach, beet and cucumber juices are good for migraine treatment. Use on the 2 following mixtures as migraine therapy:
1: Mix 200 ml of spinach juice with 300 ml of carrot juice. 
2: Mix 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juices with 300 ml of carrot juice.

Migraine relief diet

Fasting on orange juice and water

Cleansing the body of toxins is important for effective treatment of migraine headache. Fast for 2-3 days on orange juice and water. Alternatively, fast on juices of carrot, celery or cucumber.
Avoid foods like white flour products, sugar, tinned or preserved foods, etc
To prevent migraine avoid or reduce white flour products, sugar, confectionery, rich cakes, pastries, sweets, refined cereals, greasy foods, tinned or preserved foods, pickles, condiments and sauces.
All-fruit diet
3-4 fruit based meals for about 2-3 days after the juice diet could help relieve some of the migraine pain.
Well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts etc.
Adopt a well-balanced diet consisting of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits. 
Include milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, vegetable oils, and honey. 
All fruit diet for a couple of days each month can keep your body cleansed as a migraine therapy.
Eat frequent small meals, Copious drinking of water is essential.
Drink water regularly and in good quantity. Eat frequent smaller meals than lesser large meals. This help your digestion process.

Other migraine treatment

Take warm-water enema to cleanse bowels
Cleanse the bowels by taking warm water enema during the fruit juice diet.
Hot bath, cold compress applied to head
A hot foot bath, fomentation over the stomach and spine, cold compress applied to the head, and towels wrung out of very hot water and frequently applied to the neck will go a long way in relieving migraine headaches.
Plenty of exercise and walk in fresh air is essential
Exercise regularly and frequent fresh air walks help relieve migraine tension.

Source: http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Migraine.html