Migraine Headache
Migraine headaches are severe headaches, which occur periodically.
Symptoms: Migraine headaches usually follow a pattern.
• Usually the pain occurs on one side of the head. It may occur on the same side every time or on alternate sides on every alternate attack.
• The pain normally starts from just behind the eye, and you feel as if the blood is pulsating through your head.
• The pounding pain is sometimes accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
• You may also feel weakness or numbness on one side of the face or in one leg and arm. In severe cases, your entire face may become numb, and your speech may become slurry.
• Sometimes migraine is preceded by a period of irritability, depression and loss of appetite. Digestive problems may also occur.
• Some patients also report seeing flashing lights or an aura.
Causes: Migraine headaches may occur because of severe mental stress or tension. Overwork, insufficient rest and sleep, low blood sugar, excessive consumption of certain drugs, some sort of allergic reaction, nutritional deficiency, excessive drinking and smoking may also trigger migraine attacks. Sometimes, migraine attacks in women are connected to their menstruation cycles.
Prevention: If you can track down what causes the migraine attack, you may be able to prevent its onset. Keep a close scrutiny on foods, sleep and work patterns in order to control headaches.
Home Remedies: While you may sometimes have no option but to revert to medicines, here are a few home remedies to treat migraine headaches.
• Grapes have been found to give relief from migraine headaches. Either, eat them whole, or crush and extract the juice.
• Niacin also provides relief in migraine. You can either swallow in tablet form or get this valuable vitamin from green leafy vegetables, whole wheat, yeast, nuts, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, fish and liver.
• A compress made of cabbage leaves is useful. Crush a few fresh leaves and place them on the forehead and eyes for some time. Replace with fresh, moist leaves when the first compress dries out.
• Lemon rinds have also been found effective, quite possibly because of their fresh tangy fragrance. Grind some lemon rind and apply this paste on your forehead.
• Vegetable juices such as cucumber, beet, spinach and carrot are effective for treating migraine headaches. You can also blend them together and sip them slowly.
• Diet plays an important part in home treatments for migraine. Eliminating toxins from the body goes a long way in reducing these headaches. Avoid white flour products, confectioneries, sweets, rich cakes and pastries, pickles, preserved or tinned foods, sauces and condiments.
• A diet of orange juice along with other vegetable juices is highly recommended.
• Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins. It will also help in better digestion and elimination of waste products.
• Sometimes, a warm water enema may help.
• Soak a towel in cold water, squeeze it our and apply to the head. Lie down in a darkened room.
• Warm compresses applied to the back of the neck also help to reduce the agony.
• A hot bath or a soaking your feet in hot water may prove helpful.
• Exercise regularly in fresh air to prevent the onset of migraine headaches.
