Top 18 Effective Home Solutions for Alleviating Headaches and Migraines
In the event of a medical emergency, calling 911 is the most immediate solution. However, for individuals experiencing serious medical symptoms, including those related to migraines, the National Library of Medicine's list can be a valuable resource to determine if a situation requires immediate attention [1].
The National Library of Medicine's list is not specific to migraines but can be applied to various medical emergencies [2]. For those grappling with migraines, a holistic approach often proves effective.
Diet and Supplements
Eating a nutritious diet rich in magnesium, found in dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, broccoli, and foods like pumpkin seeds and avocado, may reduce migraine frequency [3][4]. Magnesium supplementation, in doses between 200-600 mg daily, can also help reduce migraine frequency and severity [3]. Ginger, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, reduces migraine-related nausea and has been shown to be as effective as the migraine medication sumatriptan for acute attacks, with fewer side effects [3].
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is another supplement known for its role in migraine prevention, although specific details were not found in the current search results [3].
Lifestyle Factors
Adequate sleep is crucial in migraine management. Lack of sleep is a common migraine trigger, and improving sleep quality may reduce attack frequency and severity [5]. Alcohol, especially in some people, can trigger migraines. Avoiding or limiting alcohol is often advised to prevent attacks [1][5].
Complementary Therapies
Working with acupuncturists can provide additional migraine management support. Acupuncture is considered a complementary therapy that may help reduce migraine frequency and intensity [5]. Some natural therapies combined with agents like DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) are also reported to relieve severe migraines, though these are less conventional and require more research [4].
Besides medications like sumatriptan, non-drug approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help manage migraine triggers, stress, and pain [5]. While not explicitly detailed in the sources, lavender oil is commonly used in complementary migraine treatments for its calming and anti-inflammatory effects, potentially reducing headache intensity. Neck cooling is a therapy sometimes used in headache management to reduce pain via vasoconstriction and nerve modulation [6].
Resources
The American Migraine Foundation has published a resource titled "Migraine and Diet" [7]. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has resources on Riboflavin - Vitamin B2 [8]. The National Library of Medicine's list is a resource that can help individuals make informed decisions about seeking emergency medical attention [1]. Mayo Clinic provides information on simple steps to head off migraines [9].
The Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health conducted a randomized controlled trial on targeted neck cooling in the treatment of migraine patients [10]. Stanford Medicine offers resources on the types of headache [11]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on how much sleep is needed [12]. The list of signs for emergency medical attention can be found on the National Library of Medicine's website [1].
For more information, individuals can also refer to the resources offered by Harvard Health Publishing, Cleveland Clinic, and the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, among others.
References:
[1] National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). National Library of Medicine's list of signs indicating the need for emergency medical attention. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000044.htm [2] National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). The National Library of Medicine's list. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000044.htm [3] Mayo Clinic. (2021, March 17). Migraine. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20367578 [4] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2016, October). Headache: In Depth. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/headache-in-depth [5] Annals of Medicine. (2018, May). Daily alcoholic beverage intake as a potential trigger of headaches among adults with episodic migraine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5961885/ [6] JAMA Internal Medicine. (2016, February). Long-term effect of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2500416 [7] American Migraine Foundation. (n.d.). Migraine and Diet. Retrieved from https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/migraine-and-diet/ [8] Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). Riboflavin - Vitamin B2. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins/riboflavin/ [9] Mayo Clinic. (2021, March 17). Simple steps to head off migraines. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/in-depth/headache-treatment/art-20048368 [10] Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health. (2019, March). Targeted neck cooling in the treatment of migraine patients: A randomized controlled trial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6411856/ [11] Stanford Medicine. (n.d.). Types of headache. Retrieved from https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/headache-center/types-of-headache.html [12] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). How much sleep do I need? Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.html [13] European Neurology. (2014, April). The use of lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4059854/ [14] The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. (2014, August). Efficacy of ginger for the treatment of migraines: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4193705/ [15] Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.). When to worry about headaches and what to do. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/when-to-worry-about-headaches-and-what-to-do [16] Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Headaches. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8581-headaches
- The National Library of Medicine's list includes resources on nutritional approaches to managing various medical emergencies, such as identifying foods rich in magnesium like spinach, kale, avocado, and supplements like magnesium, ginger, and riboflavin (Vitamin B2), which may help reduce migraine frequency and severity.
- Mental health is an integral part of health-and-wellness, and therapies-and-treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help manage migraine triggers, stress, and pain, along with complementary therapies such as acupuncture and lavender oil.
- In addition to traditional treatments and medications, individuals can explore holistic health solutions, including considering supplements, diet modifications, and complementary therapies as part of their health management, especially for conditions like migraines.
