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Renowned naturopathic expert Dr. Hyman recommends magnesium for migraines, and we couldn’t agree more! Magnesium and vitamin B deficiencies are just a few examples of migraine triggers that the groundbreaking physician addresses in his most recent report on migraine treatments that work.

Migraine triggers

Migraines are a neurological illness that plagues millions of people all around the globe. Despite the rising incidence of migraine disorder in individuals of all cultures, there yet remains no actual cure for migraines.

Rather, prevention is in important key in managing migraines; by reducing the number of migraine triggers in your life, you have a better chance of avoiding migraine attacks and minimizing the impact that migraines have on your life.

Natural suggestions

In his article on effective ways to prevent migraines, Dr. Hyman suggests two nutrients that are included in most natural migraine supplements: magnesium and vitamin B2 (riboflavin).

Here are his 5 recommendations for preventing migraines:

1) Magnesium

A startling number of migraine patients suffer from magnesium deficiency without even realizing it. Magnesium relaxes the muscles, and a deficiency naturally results in frequent headaches and an increase in underlying migraine attacks. In his practice, he regularly prescribes magnesium for chronic migraine headache patients with excellent results, without the need for painkillers.

2) Vitamin B2

Another deficiency he mentions is riboflavin; Dr. Hyman has seen where prescribing vitamin B2 supplementation has helped a vast number of his migraine patients, and he recommends it often.

3) Restrictive dieting

It’s not always clear which foods are responsible for triggering migraines, as it differs for each individual. For that reason, it’s helpful to experiment with removing certain foods from your diet for a few weeks or one month, and see what happens when they’re reintroduced. You may find that an allergy to wheat, dairy, or even eggs is behind most of your migraine attacks!

4) Gluten-free

It’s controversial, but a rising number of people have found that removing gluten from their diet has resulted in better health, including reduction or complete elimination of chronic illness ailments such as migraines headaches and joint pain. To prevent inflammation from gluten, Dr. Hyman suggests avoiding gluten from wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt.

5) Hormones

If your migraines are hormonal, then your chances of preventing migraines are better if you take the time to relax, increase exercise, sleep better, and avoid alcohol, sugar, and starches.

About Dr. Hyman

Dr. Hyman authored the term “functional medicine” as a revolutionary means of finding the root cause of all chronic illness, including migraines, without depending solely on conventional prescription medications and “western” approaches to chronic care.

Functional medicine combines the best of both worlds- natural alternative complementary medicine treatments that don’t discard essential modern medical discoveries of the day.

Dr. Hyman has received many awards for his medical achievements, and currently holds a position as medical editor at the Huffington Post.

Tell us about yourself!

Have you tried experimenting with natural approaches to migraine therapy? Some popular nutrients include riboflavin, butterbur, coenzyme Q10, and magnesium.

How often do you get migraine headaches? Do you get migraine attacks without the headache?

Would you consider using natural treatments to reduce your need for pain relievers such as ibuprofen and opioids?

Please leave your comments below!

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By quitting gum, more than two-thirds of migraine sufferers can effectively prevent or decrease migraine headaches, according to the latest research on teen chronic headaches.

Out of hundreds of migraine triggers, who would’ve thought that chewing gum could be a culprit behind constant headaches? Scientists at Tel Aviv University did, and they proved it in this study on teen migraines.

Gum, migraine trigger

Chewing bubblegum can be relaxing and fun, but if you suffer from migraine headaches, then you’re better off leaving that gum wad on the bedpost. According to a study conducted by Israeli researchers, smacking your jaws on a stick of Dentyne for long periods of time can increase your chances of suffering from painful excruciating headaches.

The study, led by Dr. Nathan Watemberg of Tel Aviv University, took place at the Meir Medical Center.

It began when he noticed that the bulk of his migraine patients at the clinic’s child neurology department liked to chew gum- a lot. He wanted to see if cutting out the gum habit would have any effect on their headache frequency.

• To test his hypothesis, he put together a panel of thirty patients between the ages of six and nineteen.
• All suffered from either chronic migraines or chronic tension headaches.
• All were frequent gum chewers, about one to six hours per day.
• The test participants agreed to stop chewing gum for one month.
• Nineteen out of thirty patients stopped getting headaches completely by the end of the month.
• Seven patients saw a significant decrease in headache frequency and severity.

Doctors hope to use the results to help reduce the instances of pediatric migraines and tension headaches in school-aged children.

Natural migraine prevention

Avoiding migraine triggers is one of the best ways to prevent or dramatically reduce migraine headaches naturally, without the need for prescription medications. By following a migraine-friendly diet, your chances of finding true freedom from migraines are that much greater.

But knowing what to cut out of your diet isn’t enough. To really maximize on natural preventive care, it’s important to take the right nutrients that further improve your neurological health, a crucial aspect of migraine management.

For optimal results, doctors recommend using clinically-approved natural supplements containing magnesium, riboflavin, butterbur, and CoQ10 daily, several times per day, or as advised by your headache specialist.

Also read:

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One of Germany’s most famous composers also suffered from chronic migraines, to the point that his migraine auras became a point of obsession in his musical performances. Crushing head pain, bright scintillating lights, and overwhelming fatigue were the bane of his existence- sound familiar?

Recently, a study on the works of German operatic composer and migraineur Richard Wagner shed some light on the debilitating nature of migraines with aura.

Migraine study

Researchers from the Kiel Headache and Pain Centre in Germany conducted a migraine study scrutinizing the operatic works of the famous migraine sufferer, and found some interesting parallels and references that point to classic migraine with aura symptoms, such as extreme light sensitivity and eye pain.

While working on the famous opera Siegfried, Wagner complained of “tremulous headaches” that made it almost impossible for him for him to write a single note without heading for a dark room and a cold compress.

“…this is a life fit for a dog,” he wrote to a peer, in describing his battle with migraines.

During one part of the play, the star laments, “Loathsome light! Is the air aflame? What is it flaring and flashing, glittering and whirring, what is swirling and whirling there and flickering around?”

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Also, in a scene that builds up to a crescendo of violins and violas, the musical score chillingly emulates a migraine aura, nearly reaching the 17.8Hz perceived scintillation rate of migraine aura.

Migraines today

Migraine symptoms haven’t changed much in the years. Even now, we see how constant debilitating migraines continue to make it difficult to work, rest, socialize- or do anything other than worry about when the next migraine attack will strike.

Migraine auras occur minutes before a migraine headache strikes, and may cause stroke-like symptoms such as visual impairments, hallucinatory scents, weakness, fatigue, loss of consciousness, speech slurs, and partial paralysis.

Migraine headaches are difficult to treat, and may linger for hours or days.  Across the medical board, doctors advise natural preventive treatments as the best way to positively influence biological functions that trigger migraines.

Tell us!

Do you identify with Wagner in his description of migraine headaches? Do you believe that finding a better treatment for migraines would result in increased productivity and overall wellness?

Have you tried supplementing with natural ingredients that help with common migraine triggers- vitamins, minerals, and herbs such as vitamin B2 (riboflavin), magnesium, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and butterbur extracts?

Also read:

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So, you’re looking for a present for a really great friend who gets migraines, but you’re not sure what to buy…and afraid to give the wrong thing. Or, maybe you suffer from migraines yourself, and you want to send a message to some of your close friends, before they go out and buy you that big bottle of perfume, Au de Migraine Headache.

Keep in mind that many people who suffer from frequent migraines are sensitive to fragrances, so as a rule of thumb, avoid any lotions, candles, or soaps that aren’t described as unscented.

Also, many different types of food trigger migraines, so avoid buying snacks or drinks for somebody unless you know for certain that it’s not one of her “red light” items.

Finally, know that relaxation tools are always a no-fail option. If somebody suffers from chronic pain, then they will always appreciate receiving a warm blanket, fluffy pillow, or hot/cold pad- even if they already have one. Certain things, you can never have too much of, especially when migraines strike often.

So whether you’re shopping for a thoughtful gift for a friend with migraines or putting together your own migraineur’s holiday wish list, we think this Top 10 List will be just the ticket.

The following is a listing of stocking stuffer ideas and gifts that most migraineurs want.

1. A 1-month supply of the Migravent, which provides essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs proven to help people who suffer from chronic migraines. Doctor recommended.
2. A warm electric blanket, helpful for relaxing during a migraine attack. Also great for people who suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome, which sometimes occurs with migraine.
3. Warm pajama set, including robe and slippers, the ultimate in comfort attire.
4. Sound therapy,  by Conair- plays continuous environmental sounds throughout the night, to help you stay asleep, even with tinnitus ear ringing. Also helpful for relaxation and meditation exercises.
5. The original Backnobber, which is an acupressure tool that enables you to reach tight muscles and aches on your back, neck, and shoulders; great for rubbing away the pain.
6. Hot/cold pad– anybody who gets migraines will appreciate having an extra hot/cold pad to keep in the car or at work; excellent for relaxing tense muscles in the neck or lower back, or for stopping a migraine headache in its tracks.
7. Spa gift certificate, good for a soothing head message, acupressure treatment, or herbal wrap.
8. Sleep mask, because migraineurs need a nice dark room to rest in when migraines strike, especially if bright lights are a frequent migraine trigger.
9. A Foot spa is one of those gifts that people love receiving, but wouldn’t ordinarily buy for themselves; relief in a tub of hot bubbly water- who could say no to that?
10. When all else fails, an Amazon $25 gift card comes in every size and color, and is sure to please!

Can you think of any other great holiday gifts for people with chronic migraines? Please comment below!

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Migraines affect millions of Americans with crushing headaches and other devastating ailments that make it difficult to work or function normally.  Migrainous vertigo, a vestibular disorder causing dizziness, nausea, and balance problems strikes a large percentage of migraine patients.

Migraine associated vertigo (MAV)

Though it’s not always accepted as an indicator of migraine illness, dizziness and vertigo are common vascular side effects that occur often in people with a history of migraine attacks. Many doctors use a patient’s headache frequency as the measuring stick of chronic migraines, not taking into account other comorbid conditions that occur even without the prevalence of strong head pain.

Vertigo associated with migraines can point to a deeper underlying problem that requires medical attention, or at least signify the need for a change in migraine treatment.

Vestibular migraine

Nearly 35% of migraine sufferers experience vestibular disturbances such as dizziness, vertigo, and other balance issues. Scientists have seen high correlations between migraine disorder and a variety of illnesses that cause wooziness, unsteadiness, light-headed sensations, and confusion.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Ménière’s disease are examples of vestibular dysfunctions that occur often in people with chronic or episodic migraines.

Vertigo symptoms

Symptoms of vestibular disorders that may occur with migraine include:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo- a sensation that the room is spinning, similar to intoxication, even while lying, sitting, or standing still
• Sensitivity to movement of the head
• Motion sickness
• Extreme sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises
• Vision problems
• Difficulty keeping balance, disequilibrium
• Tinnitus or Ménière’s disease- ear ringing, headaches, ear fullness
• Neck pain and muscle spasms
• Confusion
• Loss of spatial awareness
• Anxiety

Testing and treatment

If you experience vertigo or dizziness before, during, or after a migraine attack, then speak to a physician immediately. He may want to order diagnostic tests to rule out stroke, concussion, or brain tumor.

For help, your doctor may recommend a visit to a neurologist, osteopath, or vestibular rehabilitation therapists.

Lifestyle modifications can help improve your tolerance for pain and help with migraine management. These include light exercise, meditation, reducing migraine triggers in diet, and supplementing with vitamins, minerals, and herbs that benefit migraine-specific neurological functioning.

Please tell us…

If you suffer from migraine, do you also experience severe dizziness, even without headaches?

What helps to relieve dizziness and nausea?

Also read:

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Recently, the American Headache Society released new recommendations for effective migraine treatment as part of their Choosing Wisely campaign, advising migraine sufferers against opting for the following tests and treatments.

The report, published in Headache, is part of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s campaign Choosing Wisely, the aim of which is to minimize use of migraine drugs and procedures deemed by health experts as unnecessary, risky, and overly costly.

“Our aim is to encourage doctors and patients to think carefully about medical care that can be harmful or unnecessary,” said Dr. Elizabeth Loder, head of the AHS.

“The article and recommendations identify situations that are felt by experts to be cases where patients and doctors should think very carefully before they decide to use that particular treatment or intervention.”

One treatment that headache experts advise against is the use of opioid painkillers- a controversial topic with many migraine sufferers who have difficulty finding relief any other way.  Yet many experts believe that using medications such as OxyContin and Vicodin may actually increase suffering by impairing your resistance to pain.

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Also on the list are various diagnostic tests sometimes recommended for migraine disorder.

The American Headache Society warns to avoid these 5 migraine treatments and tests:

1) Neuroimaging.

2) Computed tomography imaging. (Magnetic resonance imaging is a better option.)

3) Surgery to desensitize migraine trigger-points of the brain.

4) Opioids for chronic migraine headaches.

5) Long-term OTC painkillers

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We want your opinion!

Do you agree with the statements made by the American Headache Society?

What non-drug methods do you use to prevent or relieve migraines?

Have you tried using natural supplements to improve your body’s response to painful inflammation?

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Does the holiday season make it more difficult to manage migraine headaches? Many migraineurs dread the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.  Between the flashing lights, heady colognes, migraine-triggering foods, and holiday expectations, it’s enough to turn anybody into a Grinch.

Recently, the National Headache Society* asked, “What aspect of the holidays is hardest for you?” (See their Facebook page.)

Overwhelmingly, most replied that their holiday worries revolve around friends and family. Some feel that spending too much time with estranged family members is an unnecessary form of torture, while others wax nostalgic over holidays spent with mothers or fathers who have since passed on.

Not surprisingly, stress and other migraine triggers play a huge part during the months of November and December; more so than the rest of the year.

Here are some of the most popular responses to the NHS’s questions about migraine headaches during the holidays.

*Note: The National Headache Society has no affiliation with Migravent.

Holiday parties

While others are tripping the light fantastic, you may be stumbling over yourself just to get out of the room before your head explodes. Migraines make it difficult to be in a crowded room; add loud holiday music, mingling perfumes, food scents, and glaring fairy lights, and what you have is a recipe for the perfect storm.

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What is it about holiday parties that make life so unbearable for migraine sufferers?

• Having to put on a happy face when I feel like screaming
• Pretending I’m not suffering
• Feeling guilty about turning down party invitations for fear of migraine attacks
• Stress of hosting a party with a headache
• Always being “on”
• Not being able to rest in a dark room with an ice pack, for fear of being unsociable
• New Year’s eve drinking

Family

Most migraineurs responded that their migraine attacks have a strong impact on their family relationships, especially during the holiday season.

• My martyr husband who steps in and heroically makes all the necessary preparations for the holidays- shopping, cooking, cleaning- without once complaining.
• My in-laws are always amazed that I’ve “still got that headache,” months after our last visit.
• Often, taking care of family members who are ill is a much harder task during this season.

Loneliness

An astonishing percentage of migraine sufferers also experience chronic depression. Feelings of loneliness and despair are magnified during these months, when it seems like everybody else is out having the perfect Dickensian Christmas, and you’re the odd one out.

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• During family get-togethers, I excuse myself to sit in my room with an ice pack, while the party goes on without me.
• I miss people more during this time of year.
• Thanksgiving is often a reminder of special people who have moved away or died.

Stress and anxiety

Stress is the number one migraine trigger any time of the year. During the winter months, worries and anxieties seem to multiply.

• I worry that I’ll get a migraine and won’t be able to enjoy my family visits.
• I’m afraid I’ll mess up Thanksgiving dinner.
• New Year’s just reminds me that I have nothing to look forward to expect another year of constant migraine headaches.

How many of these responses regarding migraine headaches during the holiday season can you identify with? Do you have any you would like to add? What’s your strategy for coping with migraines during the winter months?

Also read:

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Do you always know if your headaches are from tension or migraine? Both can occur from extreme stress and fatigue. To prevent rebound headache and find the best treatment possible, it’s important to know exactly what’s causing your headache to begin with. Here is a handy chart to help you understand the difference between migraine headaches and tension headaches.

Quick reference

• Tension headaches, on the other hand, are primarily caused by stress and fatigue. Headaches from tense muscles are much easier to treat than migraines, as they respond to medication much better.

• Migraines are a neurological disorder causing a vast array of symptoms, including debilitating head pain that last for hours, sometimes days. In addition, sufferers experience tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, and the need to vomit.

Pain type

Tension headache: Dull pressure, the sensation of a band strapped tightly across the head or neck. Pain is mild or moderate.

Migraine: Throbbing, intense pounding on one side of the head, often at the temple or eye areas. Pain is moderate to extreme, making it difficult to concentrate or think about anything else.

Location of pain

Tension headache: Scalp, forehead, neck, temples.

Migraine: Temples, eyes.

Pain duration

Tension headache: Pain increases and subsides over the course of the day, or for several days.

Migraine: Headache comes on strong, stays intense for hours. For people with chronic migraines, headaches return repeatedly- more than 15 times per month.

Comorbid symptoms

Tension headache: Insomnia, neck stiffness, stress.

Migraine: Sensitivity to lights (photophobia), scents, and noise; nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, vertigo, distorted speech, partial paralysis, feebleness, loss of consciousness, visual distortions.

Triggers

Tension headaches: Stress, tiredness, bad posture, eye strain, hunger.

Migraine: Food ingredients, scents, noise, bright lights, weather, allergies, air pressure, stress, tension headaches, hunger, irregular sleep patterns, dehydration, cigarette smoke, hormonal fluctuations.

Warning signs

Tension headache: None.

Migraine: Prodrome phase that occurs hours before, causing symptoms such as euphoria, olfactory hallucinations, unusual cravings, and edginess. Minutes before, some migraineurs experience aura- strange visual disturbances and stroke-like symptoms.

Migraine Aura and Prodrome- What’s the Difference?

Prevalence

Most headache sufferers- from tension type and migraine combined- are female.

Treatment

Tension headache: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually sufficient to get rid of a tension headache, although it may take a few days.

Migraine: There are many different types of migraines, so only your doctor can prescribe the best possible course of treatment for symptoms of migraine attacks.

There is no cure for migraine illness, but by using daily migraine preventative treatments, many are able to thwart off the majority of migraine headaches and symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

Popular natural herbs and vitamins for migraine help include PA-free butterbur root, magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.

Also read:

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Pediatric migraines are frightening, for the child as well as the parent. There’s nothing more frustrating than when your 10-year-old or teen-ager complains of excruciating headaches, nausea, and stomach cramps at school, and you just don’t know what to do for her. Worse, most doctors don’t have a clue how to treat pediatric migraine attacks in grade-school or high-school aged children.

Pediatric migraines are different

When children get migraines, their symptoms are often much different than the ones experienced by their parents or other adult migraine sufferers.

With children, migraine attacks usually occur in the stomach. Most of the time, kids with migraines report feeling suddenly sick to their stomach, fatigued, and feeling the urge to vomit right away. Most- nearly 80 percent- have a very hard time focusing on school work because of a migraine attack, and their grades and attendance suffer as a result.

How common are pediatric migraines?

Migraines seem to increase with age, although it’s hard to be certain, as children under the age of five have difficulty explaining symptoms to their parents that may indicate migraine.

Only about 3 percent of preschool kids get migraines, but that number escalates to 11 percent by the time they reach grade school. Among high school students, nearly a quarter experience frequent migraine headaches, fatigue, dizziness, stomach pain, and extreme sensitivity to bright lights.

Just as with adults, most teen migraine sufferers are females.

Do migraine drugs help children?

Currently, there is no clear evidence that migraine preventive medications for adults can help children, as well. Though the FDA approves the use of antiseizure drugs (Topamax), antidepressants (Elavil), and calcium channel blockers (Covera) to help prevent migraine attacks in adults, many studies show that for pediatric migraines, prescription medications aren’t always the best option.

Recently, scientists studied the effects of migraine prophylaxis medications on children with “episodic migraines,” migraine attacks that occur fewer than 15 times per month.

For the study, researchers focused on anticonvulsant medications, antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, NSAIDs, and drugs for high blood pressure- all of which are often prescribed for adult migraine prevention.

In most cases, the placebo was most effective at reducing the rate of migraine attacks in children, while the migraine preventive treatments had virtually no effect.

Study co-author Dr. Jeffrey Jackson concluded that despite the amount of research we have collected over the years on the best ways to prevent migraines, we really know very little on how to help children who suffer debilitating migraine headaches.

“It’s very discouraging. I was rather shocked to see, quite frankly, how few studies were done among children with headaches, and that the handful of studies we have suggest that the benefits of these drugs, if any, aren’t really big.” -Jackson

When asked to comment on side effects associated the migraine prophylaxis meds, Dr. Jackson agrees that parents shouldn’t rush to administer the pill right away.

“These medicines are kind of nasty. Some cause dry mouth, or fatigue, or problems with concentrating. They’re not really medicines you would want your vibrant teen to be on if they’re not working.”

So, what does help?

Experts agree that natural prevention is your best defense against migraines, for children as well as for adults.

As a parent, you can best help your child by helping her to become familiar with common migraine triggers in food. Caffeine can sometimes make headaches worse, or it can provide relief; it’s different for each individual. Overripe fruits, chocolate, and deli meats are typical menu items that can guarantee a migraine attack. To find out which foods should be cut out, try putting your child on an elimination (restrictive) diet.

Irregular eating and sleeping patterns are common culprits. Does your child sleep the same hours each day, or does she go to bed late on weekends? Does she ever skip meals? The migraine brain hates change, so instilling a rigid sleep and eating schedule is a good way to prevent migraine attacks from occurring.

Stress is a big contributor to migraines, as well. While stressful situations don’t actually cause migraine headaches, they do make them more likely to occur.

If your child gets migraines with aura, then teach her how to recognize the symptoms and use them to her benefit. Flashing, twinkling or shifting light patterns, dizziness, and speech slurring are all cues that a migraine is approaching. At school, your child should ask to see the nurse and explain that she is having a migraine aura, and needs a few minutes to lie down with the lights turned off.

Many parents have also found that natural supplements help with pediatric migraines. Herbs such as butterbur are safe for children and adults alike, and cause no harmful side effects. Other helpful nutrients for migraines in children include magnesium, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and coenzyme Q10.

Nevertheless, please consult in a doctor before trying out any new migraine treatment for your child, including natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs.

Please tell us…

What medications have you found to be most helpful for preventing migraines in your child/children? Do you and your child both suffer from migraine attacks?

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook.

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Reference

No Proof Drugs Ease Kids’ Migraines: Study

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Once a migraine attack is in full swing, it can be very difficult to stop. Sometimes, headaches and nausea can last for days, especially if you have a chronic migraine condition. With practice, you can learn how to recognize that tell you a migraine is on its way, and head it off at the pass. Here are some tips to help you intercept a migraine attack and prevent hours of torture.

The Prodrome Stage

All migraineurs experience a prodrome phase hours before a migraine strikes, but it can sometimes go unnoticed. The signs of an impending migraine can be slight, or they can hit you like a ton of bricks; it’s different for everybody.

Don’t confuse the prodrome phase with the aura phase; a migraine aura (visual disturbances, hallucinatory scents, speech problems) happens minutes before a migraine attack, while prodrome symptoms (fatigue, exhilaration, cravings) can take place hours before the first signs of headache or stomach pain.

For more explanation, read Migraine Aura and Prodrome- What’s the Difference?

Signs of Prodrome

More than half of all migraine sufferers notice the following symptoms just hours before getting a migraine attack:

• Crushing fatigue
• Food cravings for unusual tastes
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Brain fog, disorientation
• Constant need to urinate
• Neck pain
• Excessive yawning
• Unusual mood swings, depression or elation

More about prodrome symptoms can be found here: The Earliest Symptoms of Migraine are not Headaches

Catch the Migraine and Stop it

An aura may not give you enough time to stop a migraine without abortive medications, but recognizing the signs of the prodrome phase can afford you time to employ natural preventive measures to halt an approaching migraine headache.

The moment you notice yourself feeling any of the symptoms of prodrome as described above, get yourself to a quiet spot as soon as possible (after work, during lunch break, or whenever you can get home).

Natural Measures that Help

Don’t feel compelled to run to the medicine cabinet just because you think a migraine may be brewing; often, overmedication of painkillers only guarantee a subsequent rebound headache. Instead, try experimenting with the following natural methods, and see which helps the most.

• Use the hot and cold method: place one hand in very hot (not scalding) water, and place your other hand in cold water. The same can be done with an ice pack or hot compress applied to the head and feet, alternatively.
• Apply acupressure on the soft part of your skull, the anterior fontanelle, a small spot which is directly on top of your head.
• Relax and meditate.
• Practice deep breathing.
• As a daily measure, take vitamins, minerals, and herbs that specifically benefit migraine patients; these include magnesium, butterbur root, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

Please tell us…

Do you always know when you’re about to get a migraine, or does it always take you by surprise? What methods do you use to prevent migraine headaches?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook.

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Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos