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February 16, 2010
By Gita Narrayani, Contributing Columnist
Migraine Headaches -Top 10 Natural Remedies
In the USA, 45 million people suffer from headaches, 28
million of them are affected by migraines and among these
75% are women. Migraines affect 13% of the American
population, which amounts to one person in every four
households, according to the National Headache Foundation
(NHF). Heredity plays a part, as 70% of those who suffer
this debilitating ailment have at least one parent who suffers
from the same problem.
Apart from the pain and acute discomfort for the sufferers,
the economic cost of this widespread condition is also
considerable. A study, which was published in the Archives
of Internal Medicine in its April 1999 issue, reveals that
migraine results in a loss of $31 billion per year to American
companies, due to employee absence and lower productivity.
It has been calculated that 157 million workdays are wasted
per year due to the disabling effects of migraine, according
to the National Headache Foundation.
What is a Migraine Headache?
There are two categories of headaches. Headaches can
either be the "primary" clinical condition or they can be a
"secondary" indicatio of another ailment.
There are several kinds of headaches, each having its own
symptoms and level of discomfort. Tension headaches can
last any time between a few minutes to days on end. Then
there is the cluster headache, which can occur almost every
day and lasts 4-8 weeks at a time. Cluster headaches usually
occur only on one side of your head, come once every one to
two years and are not a chronic condition.
Headaches can also result from sinus infections, overuse of
certain drugs and other causes.
Migraine Headache Symptoms
Migraines usually cause severe pain, worsen considerably
with activity, cause nausea and there is acute sensitivity to
light and noise. The pain is due to an enlargement of the
blood vessels and the release of chemicals from the nerves.
It is a condition which can range from a mild headache to
acute agony together with dizziness, vomiting and even
double vision. Since it is a chronic, painful condition, it is
better to try out natural cures than to rely on drugs which
may cause side effects.
Ten Natural Remedies for Migraine Headaches
1.Cinnamon Relieves Migraines. If exposure to cold weather
has resulted in the headache, a paste made of cinnamon can
give relief. Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices and
has many medicinal properties, including relieving migraine
headaches and lowering blood sugar. The healing action
comes from the essential oils in the bark which generate heat
and alleviate the searing pain.
2. Evening Primrose Fights Migraines. Evening Primrose
oil if applied eases the pain, as it is rich in gamma-linolenic
acid, which is an omega-3 fatty acid also found in certain
fish. These fatty acids reduce inflammation, according to
reports.
3. Feverfew Reduces Migraines. The herb feverfew, whose
pretty flowers look like the common daisy, was found to
reduce frequency of migraine attacks. At the University of
Exeter, British scientists conducted six studies of feverfew
and concluded that it prevented migraines in an astounding
66% of the sufferers who used it on a regular basis.
4. Lie in Dark Room. Lying in a darkened room and
applying alternating hot and cold compresses on the
forehead can alleviate the pain considerably. This is
something I have found very effective, as the soothing
darkness and the alternating heat and cold treatment helps
relaxation and mitigates the pain considerably.
5. Hot Peppers Can Relieve Migraines. The compound
Capsaicin, which gives red pepper its strong flavor, relieves
pain speedily and effectively, according to the Handbook of
Non-prescription Drugs. It causes a burning sensation when
rubbed on the skin, but this feeling deadens the pain nerves
and relieves pain in the deeper tissues.
6. Add Garlic to Reduce Migraines. Garlic is an effective
detoxifier and cleanser. Adding garlic to your daily diet can
help in the mitigation of migraines. Research scientists at
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland in the 1920’s found
out that garlic contained a compound alliin, which turned
into an effective antibiotic called allicin when chewed, cut or
ground.
7. Magnesium Reduces Migraines. Magnesium has been
evaluated in several studies for the alleviation of pain and
has been found to be effective. In one study, 600 mg was
given per day to 81 people with migraines and some were
given placebos. The attacks were reduced by 41.6 % in the
group taking the magnesium, while the placebo group
showed 15.8% reduction.
8. Foods Rich In Vitamin B Reduce Migraines. Vitamin B
and Folic Acid supplements reduce the frequency and
severity of migraine headaches. In a 6-month study, at the
Genomics Research Centre at Griffith University in Australia,
it was found that there was considerable improvement in all
those treated with these supplements. People who are
deficient in Vitamin B-12 (folic acid)often suffer from
pernicious anemia or migraine headaches.
9. Vitamin C Helps Migraines. Kiwis, bell peppers and of
course oranges are foods which can help reduce
migraines. Vitamin C or niacin produces anti-stress adrenal
hormones and increases immunity, which has been found to
relieve the pain of migraines. This can be taken in the form
of tablets or foods containing the vitamin.
10. Neal Barnard, MD, author of Foods That Fight Pain
advises migraine sufferers to drink one to two cups of
strong coffee at the initial stages of the attack. A report in
Archives of Internal Medicine says that caffeine relieves pain,
blocks pain perception and also lifts your mood. All these
combine to provide relief.
You're just getting started. Learn more about the
relationship between your diet and your risk for other
diseases and conditions: How Much Is Too Much Salt?
/Sugar-The Disease Connection / Are Diet Sodas Bad for
Your Health? / Ideal Breakfast for Diabetics / Ideal
Breakfast for Arthritis /Healing Foods Links / Foods That
Shrink Your Waist / Foods That Lower Cholesterol/ VLDL-
The Other Cholesterol/ Foods That Reduce Blood Pressure
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