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Natural Remedies: Migraines

What Are they?

Migraines are painful headaches which are often one-sided and feel like your head is pulsating.  A migraine can last anywhere from one to three days. They can be accompanied by gastrointestinal upsets, such as nausea and vomiting, and a heightened sensitivity to bright lights (photophobia) and noise . For any one who has ever had a migraine, they know how debilitating it can be.

Some people who experience migraines also develop auras, which disrupt their vision . These are much more painful than regular headaches, and can happen all over or in half of the head. Around 30 million people in the United Stated experience migraines, and they do tend to run in families. They can be triggered by food or drink such as, caffeine, chocolate or cheese and wine. Migraines can also be triggered by emotional sources such as stress, lack of sleep, and smells such as perfumes or hormonal levels. Migraines usually have five phases:

  • Phase 1: Up to one day before the onset of the migraine, the person may not feel well. They may feel irritable, or have mood swings or memory problems, or have problems with their five senses.
  • Phase 2: Some people have reported seeing flashes or having auras, which is a sign of a classic migraine.
  • Phase 3: The headache begins with horrible throbbing, nausea and sensitivity to light.
  • Phase 4: The headache begins to dissipate but some of the other symptoms may linger.
  • Phase 5: The person feels tired, "wiped out" and lethargic and may want to sleep.

Some Warnings:

There are times when headaches are a sign of a serious medical condition, such as meningitis or stroke, so if you experience any of the following symptoms, seek help immediately.

  1. Double Vision
  2. Confusion or Disorientation
  3. A stiff Neck
  4. Projectile Vomiting
  5. Paralysis
  6. Vertigo
  7. Fever
  8. Deafness in one ear
  9. Extreme Fatigue or Weakness

What can be done about it?

There are a myriad of new medicines that have been developed for migraine sufferers. One medicine does not work for everyone. Some are injectable such as Immatrex, while others Like Relpax are  pills you can swallow and usually get relief in 15-30 minutes. These drugs have made the live of millions of people bearable as migraines can prevent you from living your normal life. Many of these do not have serious side effects, but not everyone is able to take these drugs.

Natural Remedies

Some of the best natural remedies are prevention. Find out what triggers your migraines and stay away from that food, drink or emotional triggers. Chelated forms of Calcium and Magnesium are two important minerals to help prevent migraines, (2,000mg Calcium, 1,000mg Magnesium) daily. You can take DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA) as directed to help relieve the pain and to help with the mood swings. Please be aware that if you are on a Phenylalanine restricted diet, do not take the DLPA. Green leafy vegetables and beans are a great source of the vitamins you need to help prevent migraines. Take 400mg of vitamin B12 (Riboflavin) daily for at least three months for migraine prevention. Finally, sufferers can try 5-HTP (50-100mg) three times daily to help prevent tension headaches and migraines, as it has a direct affect on serotonin levels. It also helps increase the body's own natural endorphins, which act as natural pain killers, but this remedy is NOT to be taken if you are currently taking any anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication. 

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