Banish the Migraines On Your Own

If you are prone to getting migraine headaches, you may feel like you'll never overcome this obstacle. There are, however, a number of self treatment options that you can try. Along with these options, there are alternative therapies that are available and that have proven to be very helpful. Learn how to work with your own body and to take care of yourself to prevent your migraine headaches.

Journaling for Migraines

There are a number of ways to try to prevent your migraines, and to work with them when they do occur. Keep a diary on a regular basis of your foods, stresses and feelings. Try to note when your headaches start and what might have triggered them, how long they last and what, if anything, helps you to get relief. Record your responses to headache medications and to alternative therapies. Try to pay attention to foods and to think back to the foods that you ate in the 24 hours preceding the attack. This journal can be very helpful to follow your migraine patterns and to help a doctor to look at treatment options and prevention ideas.

Relax Those Muscles

Try to spend at least half an hour every single day doing something relaxing. Stress is one of the factors that contribute to migraines, and it is important to try to keep yourself as stress-free as possible. Learn medication or yoga. You can do these activities from home with no expense and no equipment required. Conversely, listen to half an hour of relaxing music each day, garden, take a hot bath or read.

Sleep Helps

Lack of sleep can also contribute to migraines. Too much sleep, believe it or not, may as well. For this reason, try to get, on average, seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Don't overdo it and don't pull all-nighters.

Make It Dark

If you do feel a headache approaching, try to take immediate steps to work with your body and with your pain. Go into a dark, quiet room and lie down. Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the back of your neck. Apply light pressure to the painful areas on your scalp and don't move around. Remain in this position for as long as you need to and let yourself relax and get through the pain.

Nontraditional Therapies

There are also a number of therapies that you can try to prevent your migraines. Acupuncture, biofeedback and massage are all said to help prevent migraines. There are a number of herbs that are supposed to help with migraines, including feverfew and butterbur. A high does of riboflavin may also prevent migraines. An infusion of magnesium sulfate is said to help some people while they are in the middle of a strong migraine and this seems to help for people with a magnesium deficiency. You can ask a doctor or an alternative specialist about these ideas, and perhaps someone trained can recommend other ideas.