Natural Remedies for Migraines

Lime With Salt

Posted by Trisha (Berkeley, California) on 07/22/2008
★★★★★

I have been suffering from Migraines all my life, honestly trying every 'cure' there is--prescription and holistic. It really comes down to a complete lifestyle change, but even then you cannot control all the chemicals in our daily environments. Anyways, last night I was at work and I started to come down with what felt like a PMS headache--one of those where you feel absolutely hopeless to fix because it is hormone related. I usually get these for about 3 days before my period and they clear up the minute I start bleeding. So last night when I told my coworkers that my head hurt, they--being Mexican--immediately offered up the remedy they grew up with: Half a lime with salt. I laughed at them thinking "Yeah right." but tried it anyways, and sure enough, after eating the whole thing and waiting a good 15 minutes, my headache was gone and I was fine the rest of the night and into this morning. It may have been a placebo effect, but it was so simple and there was no harm done. Couldn't hurt to try!

Also--use the netti pot to clear out your sinuses. Often times sinus headaches will disguise themselves as migraines. If the netti pot makes you feel better that's what you have.

Misc Remedies for Migraines

Posted by Tan Koon Peng (Singapore) on 06/30/2008

Dietary recommendations for migraines:
Supplement your diet with magnesium. Up to 50% of patients experiencing an acute migraine attack have lowered levels of ionized magnesium. Because of its safety profile, oral magnesium supplementation can be recommended to a majority of migraine sufferers. One study showed that migraine attack frequency was reduced by 41.6% in those who participated in regular magnesium supplementation.

Take 5-HTP in the morning. 5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. Migraines are caused in part by low serotonin. When serotonin levels are low, blood vessels dilate. Therefore, increasing serotonin may be helpful in preventing migraine occurrences.3 * Supplement with CoQ10. In one particular key trial, 61.3% of migraineurs who supplemented with CoQ10 during a four-month trial period reduced their occurrence of migraine attacks by at least 50%.4

1. Add ground flax seed to your diet since it contains healthy dietary fiber and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
2. Add virgin coconut oil to your diet to benefit from plant-based healthy saturated fat.
3. Add foods rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids to your diet.
4. Eat plenty of unrefined low-glycemic carbohydrates (brown rice, sprouted grains, winter squash).
5. Limit intake of fruits that have a high glycemic index such as apricots, raisins, banana, papaya, and mango.
6. Eat plenty of vegetables and vegetable juices (kelp, sprouts, green and black olives, peppers, spinach, chard, celery, zucchini).
7. Drink purified water throughout the day.
8. If you are a caffeine addict,chances are caffeine are causing your headache, detox your body of caffeine and stay away from caffeine and you will not have any more headache.

No need to see a doctor for he will just prescribe medicine with side effects, it is simply not worth it.Do not overload your body with artifical chemical!

1. Feverfew is great for migraines.

2. Gingko helps with the blood circulation in the brain.You can get a good one from this brand (pharmanex).

3.You can get buy 1 or 2 cans of isotonic drink (eg.100PLUS), and mix it with drinking water according to a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 (simply, it means one cup 100plus, one cup water.or 2 cups water). Another method will be to submerge your feet in a basin of warm water so that it bring the blood pressure down from your throbbing head.

4. Tian ma mi huan jun pian is cheap and effective for headache. You can get it from chinese medical shop.

5. Gatorade is useful for headache.Try it!

6. Inhaling lavender,eucalyptus or pepermint oil work for headache.Just dab some pepermint, eucalyptus or lavender oil to a cotton ball & breathe in the scent for a few moments. Do not get pure peppermint oil on your skin-this could burn it,if it is not duliuted. This remedy works everytime for John.You can also apply any of these oil to your temple.
Eye pillow stuffed with lavender also works great for headache.

7. Rub half a lime on your forehead and you will have no more headache.

8a. Rub the area right above your eye brows slowly in a circular motion and your headache will go away.

b. Rubbing the area on the back of your head right where the head and neck meet is useful too!

9. A study at Michigan State University suggests that apples act as a tranquilizer. The study reveals that eating 2 apples a day reduces tensions, headaches, and emotional upsets.

10. For headache relief, apply a cold compress of witch hazel over the forehead.

11. Spicy soups will cure a migrane.It's capsaicin in the Hot Chili peppers that does the trick.Chinese Hot and Sour soup works too. So next time you get a migraine, get some of these soup.

12. Raw cabbage is useful for headache.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jaimi (Orlando, FL) on 06/06/2008
★★★★★

WOW! I have come to love the wonderful product of ACV. I have had severe allergies and sinus problems since I could walk. Chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsilitis (they have lonce since been removed), rhinitis, etc... I have always taken prescription medication. However I am 8 mos pregnant and have not been able to take anything but over the counter Tylenol products. For the past 3 days I have been down and out with a severe sinus migraine, congestion and pressure. Nothing worked and I am sleep deprived! Adding these symptoms to 8mos of pregnancy spells MISERY for sure. I was desperate so I hopped online and what do you know? I found the same product that cured my husband of his pesky wart will also clear my sinuses. I only wished I found this info sooner! I took 1 tbsp of ACV with 8oz of water and downed. Then I made a mixture and put it in my veggie steamer (ACV is also a great residue cleaner) and sat over it for about 5mins. Everything started to clear up within the hour. I then rinsed with saline solution and I can breathe out of both nostrils! My headache is almost gone and the pressure almost nil! Oh and by the way the ACV steam bath is great for oily skin. I noticed a difference immediately after the face bath. I was then curious to see if this was a known rememdy for acne/skin problems and sure enough it is!!! In fact, Earth Clinic was the first hit.
I am amazed that such a simple, inexpensive product can do so much. Thank you dearly for this site.

Egg Whites

Posted by Teresa (Waiuku, New Zealand) on 06/04/2008
★★★★★

For painful sinuses and the accompanying headache - beat 2 egg whites (stops them being slimy and difficult to handle). Spread out on a gauze (or cloth) and put over your face (avoiding eyes). Put another cloth over (optional). Lay down on your back and go to sleep. The heat/temperature will harden the gauze. Suggest you leave it on as long as you can. You will be pain free and as a bonus will get a facelift.
I have used this remedy for migraines and hard to shift headaches and have always gained relief.

Washing Your Feet

Posted by Kathy (Piqua, USA) on 05/17/2008
★★★★★

For migraine cure: Washing your feet always helps. Feet have accupressure points (energy centers). Also the muslims wash their feet 5 times a day. -(in Bible also). I believe washing feet helps to ground you. I also think migraines come on from being too psychic for too long. To solve problems we reach out for answers and need to return soul to body and ground. The sixth chakra needs to close.*** Also slowing down and living in the present grounds you.

Magnetic Pillow Case

Posted by Lisa (Brampton, Canada) on 04/24/2008
★★★★★

I have had horrible migraines weekly for the past 2 years, ever since I had my miscarriage. I was at my last resort when I tried a magnetic therapy pillow case, and unbelievably, I have not had a migraine, or headache even in the 3 1/2 weeks since I have been sleeping on it!

Find Your Trigger

Posted by Terry (Eugene, Oregon) on 04/17/2008
★★★★★

There is some great information here, but no one has addressed the possibilities of migraine due to non-food sources. My biggest triggers are environmental air quality factors. Things sure to trip my migraine activity is fragrances of all kinds (personal care items or cleaners, candles, incense, etc., scented fabric softeners are evil to me), chemical off-gassing and odors, cleanser odors, new materials off-gassing (new plastics, new leather, etc.), mold, pollens, animal dander, dustmites (big offender for me), dust, smoke of any kind, gas fumes, even unscented off-gassing from formaldehyde or welding fumes. New stereo or video components off-gas for months and will put me down so fast. New furniture will do the same. While I have specific food triggers, what is more vital is making sure my home environment is fragrance, chemical and as odor-free as possible.

Cumin Seeds

Posted by Abeer (USA) on 12/30/2007

Nigella sativa and its black seed are known by other names, varying between places. Some call it black caraway, others call it black cumin (Kalonji), or even coriander seeds. In English, the Nigella sativa plant is commonly referred to as "Love in a Mist".

Nevertheless, this is Nigella sativa, which has been known and used from ancient times and is also known in Persian as Shonaiz. and you can find out more abt it on this link http://www.sweetsunnah.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=blackseed can you please inform me of remedy to cure my mothers disease :) thanks and take care abeer

Peppermint Oil

Posted by Randahl (San Jose, California) on 04/10/2008

For those looking to use Oil of Oregano for it's antimicrobial properties, I would like to specify that Oil of Oregano is NOT Oregano Essential oil, which would have to be diluted. If you're looking to buy this remedy, make sure that the ingredients list states that there is a carrier oil (like olive oil). Otherwise, be prepared to dilute it yourself, or there could be serious negative effects.

I have seen some people writing in remedies that include putting undiluted essential oils on their skin. I think I saw a remedy for headaches or migraines that recommended putting peppermint essential oil on the temples. I have been studying aromatherapy for 5 years, and one of the most basic lessons is that you almost NEVER use essential oils undiluted. Peppermint essential oil in particular is considered to be a skin irritant to all skin types when used undiluted. If put on the temples, the strength of the fumes could seriously irritate the eyes and the delicate area around the eye. If you are going to try any remedy including essential oils, DILUTE FIRST! Even if the remedy doesn't specify it, you'll be saving yourself from possible complications.

Gunpowder Tea

Posted by Kim (Marlborough, MA) on 11/14/2006
★★★★★

Cider Vinegar did NOT cure my migraine. Did not even touch it. Several years ago I used to use this Chinese tea called 'Gunpowder'. After having a migraine, going to ER and they helped a little bit, and continuing the migraine for 11 days straight, I went to an Asian store and bought some Gunpowder tea. My migraine went away within 20 minutes. I think it might be a good idea for someone to post this information about Chinese Gunpowder tea. I also use it for any pain and it get's rid of the pain within 20 minutes, colds, same thing. Thank you very much.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Chris (Colorado) on 12/23/2006
★★★★★

Well, it was that time of the month and I had the mother of all headaches. I tried apple cider vinegar in apple juice and it got a little better. 2 hours later I gave up and took a tablespoon of molasses (don't particularly like that stuff). 10 minutes later my headache was completely gone!

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Karen (Union, KY) on 11/09/2006
★★★★★

This is the first time I've tried this for my monthly migraine, which I have had for several years. Nothing I tried seem to prevent this from happening, I could only medicate after it started. This is the first time I haven't had one after using the Molasses. I took a couple of spoonfuls in the morning and took it to work and used a couple of times during the day. I use an organic unsulphered brand. So glad I have found this, no more migraine this month. I really can't believe this, still waiting to see if one comes on.

Coffee + Lemon Juice

Posted by Vanessa (Lisbon, Portugal) on 11/06/2006
★★★★★

I started suffering from migraines a few years ago and I had tried almost all natural cures I found in books, sites (I tried almost all cures listed in this site) etc.. I was desperate the migraines were getting worst there were days I could not even got up from bed. While visiting my grandma I mentioned the migraines and she told me to try coffee with a few drops of lemon. Since I don't like coffee and had tried almost everything I thought it wasn't something as simple as a cup of coffee that would make me feel better. One day I was so desperate that I remind that and thought I had nothing to lose trying it. I drank a cup of coffee with 5/6 drops of lemon and it was like a miracle the migraine was gone in 15 minutes. I hope this could help people who, like me, suffers from bad migraines and their bodies don't react well to other cures.

Ozonated Water

Posted by Polish (Frankfurt, Germany) on 10/28/2006
★★★★★

1 month ago i was trying ozonated water for the first time and it worked WONDERS for my menstruation migraine. it worked too astonishingly well that i got bold and had some coffee and chocolate that day to "test" the ozone. very devilishly! well, i had "over tested" and felt the migraine creeping slowly back. since i was working at that moment i asked for a painkiller and they gave me a pill of ibuprofen. and my doom [acid reflux] was sealed!

Lavender Oil

Posted by Sonia (Los Angeles) on 08/25/2006
★★★★★

Lavender oil cures migraines and headaches. I use essential lavender oil under my nose so I can smell and breath it in. The smell clears your nasal passages and it much easier to fall asleep. I also use an ice pack over whichever side of the forehead I have the migraine. I fall asleep easily and the headache subsides.

Cold Showers

Posted by C (PD) on 02/13/2007
★★★★★

In the summer time when I get a migraine that would not quit, I would go in the afternoon to the springs, which is like jumping into ice water, and the migraine would got away instantly, I had always used ice packs which helped, but did not get rid of them, jumping in ice cold springs did, which would be the same as really cold water in your shower or bath.