The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Cold Showers
Posted by Araeshkigal (Hurst, TX) on 02/16/2007
★★★★★
I first started taking cold showers as a suggested remedy for migraines. It more than worked. It also helped alleviate skin breakouts, regular muscle cramping, and some blood pressure issues (I changed nothing else in diet or exercise to be sure this was what was having the effects) I find it's best to start barely warm and slowly get to cold. If you can't stand ice cold at first just go "on the cool side" till you get a tolerance. You don't have to *freeze* to get the benefits. Also I find cold baths do *not* have the same therapeutic effect as' cold showers (anyone else?)
Reflexology
Posted by Susan (USA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★
For headaches, my acupuncturist suggested massaging the bottom of the feet -- probe around til you find the most painful, tender spots, and rub them. I've stopped several headaches, including a migraine, as well as vertigo, using this method.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Wendy (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/05/2009
If you are talking about the coconut oil found in products, then that is not unrefined. Commercially produced CO is the absolute worse! This person is talking about the pure, natural form that our bodies can metabolize efficiently. Whenever you buy coconut oil make sure it is unrefined! If a product has coconut oil in it, you can pretty much bet money that it is refined!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Scott (Fairfax, Va) on 10/27/2012
★☆☆☆☆
Tammy is right. Coconut oil triggers nasty headaches, at least for me. Be wary and check food labels.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Molly (Lafayette, Colorado) on 11/16/2012
Coconut oil will trigger a migraine instantly for me. Even just smelling in can trigger a horrid migraine.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Jada (Washington ) on 07/04/2016
Many people are allergic to the mold that grows quickly on coconuts. They are called mycotoxins and I also am highly allergic. I cracked open a "fresh" coconut from the store and it was covered in mold. If you don't pluck a fresh coconut off the tree and eat it right away, chances are you are getting some mold. I can eat refined coconut oil with no problems. The heat probably neutralizes the mold. But anything else not fresh, watch out and be aware. Dried coconut is the worst, called copra. Usually shipped from far away, it gets contaminated. I got instantly sick with a severe migraine from creamed coconut which I later found out was made from copra. In south India they use a lot of fresh coconut in certain dishes. When I eat there I have no reaction.
Gunpowder Tea
Posted by wendy (MA) on 08/07/2022
There are so many kinds online and my impression is that it is just green tea. What is it that makes "gunpowder" tea so different? Does anyone know?
Gunpowder Tea
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 08/09/2022
Wendy,
Just check out the Wikipedia entry for "Gunpowder Tea".
Ice Pack
Posted by Heidi (Phoenix, AZ) on 01/22/2006
★★★★★
Try using a frozen ice pack (the flexible kind for sports injuries works best), and place it at the base of the skull. The ice will reduce the swelling in the blood vessels which are causing the restriction of the blood flow and causing the migraine in the first place. It usually relieves my migraines within about 10-15 minutes.
Icelandic Vodka
Posted by Jewel (Newcastle Upon Tyne, Uk) on 09/27/2010
★★★★★
I have to agree with the vodka trick. After many years of being a migraine sufferer my doctor told me of this trick that her grandmother used to use. I looked at her in shock, this was a doctor who was at the end of medical remedies for me and said to just try it. It has to be good vodka, and not cheap nasty stuff mixed with chemicals. Next time I had the flashing lights and the sick feeling I had a neat double vodka, (I hate neat vodka) Disgusting. Within 5 minutes the flashing zig zags subsided and the pain was to a minimum, at least something I could cope with until I got home from work ( I am a teacher) then I could go to bed to sleep as migraine makes me extremely tired. So give it a try. I always have a tiny bottle of vodka in my bag "just in case".
Dietary Changes
Posted by Karen (Harbert Michigan) on 10/26/2025
★★★★★
I used to have absolutely horrible migraines that were so bad they lasted for days and I would have to sit on the toilet with a garbage can to throw up in and on the pot for the issue at the other end! It's like my body was trying so hard to get rid of some toxin in me. I started to get a rash and figured out that it was bread/wheat/ gluten that was the problem. After I stopped eating wheat products my migraines have never come back and it is wonderful!
Plus, with our food now being so contaminated with additives, chemicals, flavorings etc. I think it is causing so much of us to become sick. If you look into the history of the wheat that is now grown in our country, it is totally different than the wheat our ancestors ate. You will not ever see Amber waves of grain in our country anymore. It is a short stubby plant now that produces more than yield than the ancient grains we have always eaten. They changed our wheat products on the grocery shelves in the 70's and never told the public.
Oxymetazoline Nasal Spray
Posted by kildonon (Lebanon, USA) on 07/03/2025
★★★★★
Oxymetazoline Nasal Spray
I know it is not really a very natural remedy, however, Nasal Spray has been a life saver at times for my ocular migraines. I use just one spray per nostril. I had viewed a youtube video that recommended trying it to relieve pressure on a certain nerve up behind the nasal cavities. When it works, it works quickly, in about 5 minutes. I cannot say that it always helps, but I would say about 60-70% of the time my vision is back to normal in about 5 minutes. It could be beneficial for you as well. I would not take the nasal spray daily, only occasionally because there can be side effects.
Cayenne
Posted by Beth (London) on 02/21/2022
Graviola
Posted by SaraB (CA) on 10/17/2024
Maybe it didn't work because it had synthetic forms of the B-vitamins. That is mostly what is out there. It's necessary to read a lot of labels to find the right ones.
Coriander Tea
Posted by Ana (Canada ) on 07/30/2020
Hi Janet,
How do you make tea, and how much do you drink?
Coriander Tea
Posted by Marinda (Idaho) on 07/31/2020
Wow, this is wonderful information. Thank you for sharing with us. I'm going to make tea with the coriander seeds and steep it for a few hours to make sure it's plenty strong. I wonder if these threadworm parasites are also responsible for causing menstrual migraines. The majority of migraines I get are just before my menstrual period.
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Lizzy Duck (Tennessee ) on 07/06/2019
★★★★★
To receive pain relief from a migraine, the protocol is:
Put feet in small pan of Hot Water. You should have extra boiling water on hand to add to your pan. Your feet need to gradually acclimate to the hottest water you can stand.
Add a few drops of peppermint oil to this water and soak your feet 10-15 min. I also reccomend 1/4 cup of Epsom salts. Next place 1 drop of oil in the palm of your hand. Cup both hands together leaving an opening by your thumbs just big enough to place your nose into.
Take a long deep breath through your nose... hold then exhale through mouth. Repeat 30x. Your relief should be forthcoming if not already achieved. Another thing to note: one should raise the chin up- leaning back on a couch to allow drainage. This speeds up the process, along with the upper palate therapy. Place both (clean) thumbs on the upper palate and gently press out ward to the sides.
This helps to dilate the sinus cavity thereby giving relief of sinus pressure.
Again it is best to have one's head leaning back- chin elevated to achieve best results.
Garlic
Posted by Mytwocents (Ga) on 10/02/2016
★☆☆☆☆
I have found that raw garlic actually can trigger my migraines. Use with care.
L-Tryptophan
Posted by Barbara (London ) on 06/24/2017
How are you doing? Is this still helping?
Enema
Posted by Timh (Ky) on 08/20/2015 2041 posts
Enema
Posted by Carol divorced mom (USA ) on 06/09/2024
Sue, and others who commented.
the enema is a great home remedy for headaches!
Oil of Oregano
Posted by C. (Charlotte, NC) on 03/15/2015
★★★★★
When specific remedies did not work for me, I looked through my homeopathic stash. Ruta Graveolens (6c) is indicated on the label for "eye strain due to computer use or artificial lights". Somehow that equaled "migraine" to me so I researched online. I saw that it was one of the components in a compound that also contained olive leaf (and some other ingredients) that had been tested for migraines.
I put four pellets under my tongue then rubbed a little organic olive oil on my left temple. I also had my daughter give me Reiki for a few minutes. Thankfully it was enough to get me to a painless sleep. In the morning, I woke up without pain. However, when I put my glasses on, the pain began to pulse. *sigh*
I did more research, this time on oil of oregano. (NOT oregano essential oil.) I read that it has worked for some. The recommended dosage was three (3) drops under the tongue (to stop a current migraine; not to be taken as a preventive). Ran to my medicine cabinet, took three drops under the tongue, then headed to my water bottle. For those of you who are not familiar with it, oil of oregano (NOT oregano essential oil) is spicy HOT. For some it may burn. It is STRONG.
We keep it in our medicine cabinet to ward off viral issues so I'm used it. Still, I can only take about 10 seconds of it under the tongue before I chug-a-lug as much water as I can. Sometimes my lips tingle for a while after and the smell has a tendency to linger on the breath for a while.
The oil of oregano worked but not 100%. The throbbing ceased within five minutes and I was able to wear my glasses again but at various times during the day I've felt the migraine threatening to rebound. It's been more than 12 hours since I took the oregano. I've been sipping water all day to stay hydrated, eating small amounts here and there so I don't get a hunger headache.
Compared with the off-the-charts level of pain I had Thursday and Friday, I would say the pain has been 1-3 all day Saturday.
Potassium
Posted by Prioris (Fl., US) on 02/21/2015
Just an update. I have come to the conclusion that I have Occipital Headache causing migraine.Still trying to find a solution for it. I think the way potassium may help the nerve pain is the ratio of sodium and potassium in body effects the nerve firings.
Too much salt in blood could make nerve firing worse so potassium is an antidote. I have come across one anecdotal report who minimizes salt in their diet and it has helped significantly. So just one more thing to experiment with.
Potassium
Posted by Prioris (Fl, US) on 03/26/2015
on further examination, I think it was the fact that it helped some because it was potassium gluconate which is an ionic form.
Avoid MSG and Free Glutamates!
Posted by Sue (Maryville, Tn) on 01/23/2015
★★★★★
I just found your site today and have been reading all the posts. For the past couple weeks I have been reading that MSG could be causing my migraines--and this most recent migraine started Dec 26,2014 and I still have it today, Jan 23,2015. I started eating healthier avoiding all additives, preservatives, etc... in July 2014 (So I am still new at this) BUT OVER CHRISTMAS I INDULGED AND ATE THE BAD FOODS AGAIN....then it was the day after Christmas I began with the BAD MONTH LONG MIGRAINE! I am hoping to hear from someone who has migraines and has had luck finding out that MSG was the culprit...or if there is another additive/preservative/chemical that could be causing the bad migraines. I also need websites, books, etc.... if you have them so I can do further research. Thank you so much for your help. I need to get rid of my pain and peppermint oil, mint tea, and Excedrin Migraine are not working :( I want to get rid of this and fix the problem for good...naturally. Thank you!
Avoid MSG and Free Glutamates!
Posted by Suzy (Calif, US) on 01/23/2015
★★★★★
I started getting migraines after eating dark chocolate when I was in my 30s....never bothered me before. So my point is look at what you eat every day. Eliminate processed foods, coffee, tea. eat fruit and veggies for a few days and see if that helps. Or go to a chiro and see if they can do food allergy testing on you or it could be environmental. Try to live as natural as possible and see if that helps.
Avoid MSG and Free Glutamates!
Posted by Sp (Wb, Nj) on 01/24/2015
Hi Sue, read the book Heal Your Headache by David Buchholz M.D. It's a three step program and food is one of the steps. You're right, MSG is a culprit.
Magnesium
Posted by Bethbs (London, GB) on 10/24/2014
★★★★★
I've had frequent migraines since I was a teenager and tried many remedies over the years with little success. Painkillers don't touch the pain; triptans don't work, ACV triggers one within minutes and I've tried pretty much everything else to boot. So I recently visited a specialist migraine consultant and thought I'd share the advice.
Firstly, magnesium in much larger doses than one would normally think. Even if blood levels are normal the specialist suggested that individual body chemistry may result in deficiencies at the transcellular level. She suggested any or all of:
Transdermal magnesium oil (solution of magnesium chloride and distilled water, 50:50 by volume - buy the crystals in bulk online) 10 sprays per day - may sting at first - wash off after 30 mins if uncomfortable
Ionic magnesium: 2.5 ml per day diluted in a large glass of water
Magnesium malate (better absorbed than many of the other forms taken orally). She didn't specify a dose for this but implied it can be taken up to one's tolerance level - if it results in diarrhoea, take less
Epsom salt baths. If it seems extravagant to put 1 lb of Epsom salts in the bath and then run it all out down the plughole, use a half cup in a footbath instead.
A lot of people have posted that they sleep better after using magnesium at night. I found it kept me awake so I use it earlier in the day. Everyone's different.
So far so good - 3 weeks and no migraines, despite a number of potential triggers.
In addition she recommended 400 mg/day of Vitamin B2; and 1000 IU Vitamin D3 (I would suggest not to take this dose long term - perhaps have a break in summer).
And at first sign of an acute attack to take some form of gastric protection such as 10 mg Domperidone or 20 mg Omeprazole before any painkillers.
I hope this helps.
Magnesium
Posted by Bethbs (London, UK) on 12/11/2014
Update 3 months later: After a good start, there's no real reduction in average number or severity of migraines, unfortunately. That's with daily doses of: 1000 IU Vit D3; 2.5 ml ionic magnesium; 10 squirts transdermal magnesium (magnesium oil); and an excellent diet. However for various reasons I've had less exercise than usual and that certainly plays a part as well. I will continue and report back
5-HTP
Posted by Bee (New York, US) on 09/17/2014
Melissa.. About 5HTP
I am also leary of 5 htp after doing research on it.. Actually the last doctor who I didn't like said I should take it for anxiety.. she also gave me a supplement with L lysine, 5 htp and folate and L tyrosine in it.. the 5htp is 150 miligrams.. I am a bit scared to take it as I have read good and not so good things with 5 htp.... I also meditate and use essential oils.. maybe just stick to that.. I also try and get sun and take vit.D..
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Amanda (Seattle, Wa) on 07/11/2014
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Peppermint essential oil gave me relief from migraines. I was desperate for something, and I probably saw a post here on Earth Clinic and decided to try it. It works! It doesn't stop the migraine for me, but it relieves the pain and nausea temporarily so that I don't feel like I'm going to die. I just hold the bottle to my nose and inhale it. You can put it on your face if you want, but it burns quite a bit, so I don't really recommend that. The burn is, at least, a distraction from the agony. I definitely suggest investing in a bottle if you get migraines.
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 07/11/2014
Amanda,
Re; Migraines
Solution to classic migraines...I had them since 17 years old. Need to use dilation nutrient...I use either B3 (niacin) in quantity to feel a flush in scalp, face and upper torso...if too much aspirin can relieve itch. I later found that the herb "feverfew" taken five times weekly at two tablets per day can also be a great dilator. The theory is that some genetic types use up more B3 and under pressure or other triggers the capillaries around the eyes collapse in a cascading effect...so supplement with a substance that can neutralize the genetic flaw. I take the niacin three times weekly...usually 250 mg will produce the flush. But a "newbie" should start with 50 mg and work up next day until the flush is obtained. If taken after a light breakfast the effect is greater and faster. You don't need to take both at the same time.
That is my theory and in practice I have no more classic migraine headaches UNLESS I fail to take the niacin/feverfew for a few weeks. Then ...bam! ...migraine time and I curse my stupidity for running out of the preventative.
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Rapunzel (Atlanta, Ga) on 10/29/2015
★☆☆☆☆
I've read in many places where people had great success using peppermint essential oil (which must be diluted with a carrier oil prior to application to your temple area). I'm not one of those people. In fact, the peppermint EO made the migraine I am currently experiencing much worse. I wonder why that is?
Progesterone Cream
Posted by Amanda (Seattle, Wa) on 07/11/2014
★★★★★
I recently started using bioidentical progesterone cream for awful PMS (caused by estrogen dominance/low progesterone). I read a suggestion online that, for premenstrual migraines (which have been debilitating for me, particularly on cycles where I ovulate), rubbing a little bit of progesterone cream on your temples helps. It worked pretty well for me, during my most recent cycle (I'm only on my second cycle using the cream and my body is still adjusting). I'm hoping the cream will eventually help me achieve hormone balance and that I won't get those awful migraines ever again.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Bella (New York) on 12/03/2013
★☆☆☆☆
I have had migraines for my whole life including my mom, sister... Each time the weather changes, rain snow thunder comes cold to hot, hot to cold really horrible migraines happen. I have tried all the remedies, supplements, diets I could find and now the only thing that completely works is unfortunately a prescription drug called sumatriptan, I wish I could understand why and how I can find the equivalent effects in a natural remedy, so I never have to take it again....any idea??
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Mike 62 (Denver, Colorado) on 12/03/2013
Bella: I had headaches too. Brain cells need more fuel than regular cells. I take 600g raw carbs daily from honey, whole sugar, organic fruits, and activated barley. Brain cells need neurotransmitters. Raw proteins from whey, hawaiin spirulina, dessicated liver, and cocoa powders make the best. High mountain cold water extracted shilajit, skate liver oil, and maca are also good. Marine phytoplankton liquid, the expensive one, is the only food that detoxes and energizes the back of the brain where the seat of the emotions are located. Watch raw food and superfood videos for good info.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sandra (Media, Pa) on 12/05/2013
Ever consider you might be GLUTEN SENSITIVE? I have been hearing a lot about the connection to migraines. I don't experience these myself, but it's part of every gluten book and post I've read. One thing you could do is find a FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE doctor and get tested. Google the Functional Medicine Institute for a doc in your area. There should be a directory. I know a conventional doc probably won't administer this type of test. I believe it measures your anti-bodies specific reaction to gluten. Good Luck!!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Elvira (Barrie, Ontario) on 06/08/2017
Choose an registered osteopath instead. Absolutely the best I've ever tried.
Alka Seltzer
Posted by Misty (San Antonio) on 02/23/2017
★★★☆☆
Alka Seltzer reduced the headache only slightly but made the nausea worse.
Alka Seltzer
Posted by Candy (Missouri) on 03/12/2024
I wondered about this too. Been using it for years.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Ck (Erie, Pa) on 05/01/2011
★★★★★
I have suffered with migraines for 61 years with relief only from sesame oil pulling and acv. It never completely alleviated migraines but helped. The past five years the migraines increased from two or three a week to five. I missed so much work, was out of it most of the time and unable to function when a new naturopath suggested I might be gluten sensitive! After yrs at pgh and Cleveland clinic no one had ever suggested that! I had been living on toast, too I'll to eat much else! I immediately started a gluten free diet and amazingly have been migraine free four months today! I feel my life has been a gift returned to me! I still use avc and sesame oil pulling every day for the remarkable health benefits but want to share my experience for any of you migraine sufferers. Our modified wheats now have over 500 times more gluten than they did 20 yrs ago. It is estimated that 50%of the population of the U.S. have some gluten related illness. Our livers simply cannot process this load. I hope my experience may help someone out there!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Abedog (Kirkland, Wa) on 07/20/2011
Can you do ACV tablets instead of the drink? Asking this because of a child who can't palate the taste?
