Everybody gets headaches, and they are never fun.  People of all ages get them and they can sometimes be unbearable. Migraines are even worse and affect about 12% of the American population.  Migraines induce severe pain, usually on one side of the head, and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or a sensitivity to light and sound.  The pain can last anywhere from a couple hours to a couple days. 

The actual symptoms of Migraines can occur a while before, immediately before, during, and even after the actual Migraine itself.  While all Migraines are not the same, the typical symptoms of Migraines can include:

• Moderate to sever pain (usually contained to one side of the head)
• Severe throbbing pain
• Increased pain during physical activity
• Trouble performing normal tasks
• Feeling sick or actually being sick
• Food cravings
• Neck stiffness
• Increased sensitivity to light and sound
• Stomach ache
• Intense sweating
• Diarrhea

There are a number of triggers and causes of migraines.  While the pain of a Migraine is linked to white blood cell constriction, the actual cause of a migraine seems to point to problems with the Central Nervous System (CNS).  A migraine can be due to a dietary change, and underlying disorder, hormonal changes, changes in stress levels, or any of the following reasons: 

• Stress or tension
• Sinus problems
• Lack of sleep
• Dehydration
• Alcohol or caffeine
• Sensory stimuli (bright lights, loud sounds, or strong smells)
• Medications
• Lack of proper nutrition and minerals
• Vascular problem

Because congested sinuses or sinus problems can cause Migraines, applying pressure to the craniosacral system can relax your brain and reboot it without pain.  The pressure on these spots makes the craniosacral system stop, rest, and start over.  It is not recommended to do this if you have a condition with increased pressure on the cranium.

The most important thing you can do to help keep Migraines at bay is to maintain a healthy diet. Contaminating your body with processed foods, junk foods, salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine (coffee being the biggest one to avoid), meat, and dairy products can largely contribute to Migraines.  By switching to a more plant-based or raw foods diet, you can still get the proper nutrients you need without the added chemicals or nitrates that induce Migraines.  There are pain-safe foods, which never contribute to Migraines.  Broccoli, spinach, chard, collards, carrots, sweet potatoes, summer squash, cherries, cranberries, pears, and raw nuts and seeds are beneficial items to eat daily.  By maintaining a well-balanced diet that provides you with the proper nutrients you need, you’ll be less likely to develop Migraines. 

When you soak in a hot bath your muscles naturally relax in the heat.  A restorative bath can release dopamine, a hormone that combats stress, which can cause Migraines.  The bathtub is a place of solitude, and a chance for you to focus on nothing.  To help relieve stress even more, add Epsom salts or essential oils like lavender, Frankincense, rosewood, or cinnamon to your daily soak.  They have calming, soothing, and medicinal properties that the body absorbs through the skin, which is the largest organ in the body. 

Ginger root is your friend, your healer, and a great natural remedy to help calm Migraines.  When you ingest ginger root, lipid production begins in your cells, and lipids help to calm nerves that react when you feel pain. Peel a piece of ginger root and chew on it or drink ginger root tea to help reduce symptoms of Migraines.

Because Migraines can stem from neck pain, you can help relieve the pain by icing the back of your neck to reduce inflammation.  Place an ice pack on a flat surface, for example your bed, and lay down, placing the back of your neck and skull on the cold.  You can also help provide relief by rinsing a towel under cold water, ringing it out, and draping it over your forehead, where Migraine pain is very common. 

There are many herbs that can help naturally soothe Migraines.  Ingesting herbs is the best way to achieve quick Migraine relief.  You can also concoct an herbal tea of cayenne pepper, fresh ginger, and peppermint leaves.  Steep that in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes and drink to help get rid of a Migraine.  Other herbs, which are used in aromatherapy, have anti-inflammatory properties, and help naturally relieve Migraines, include rosemary, willow bark, lemon balm, butterbur, and valerian.  If herbal tea isn’t your literal cup of tea, try making a headache-soothing lemonade with raw honey, distilled water, lavender oil, and the juice of six lemons. 

Make sure you drink enough water because dehydration, or not drinking enough water, can lead to painful Migraines.  A good rule of thumb is to drink eight 8oz glasses of water every day.  You can also drink half your body weight in ounces of water to stay hydrated.  If you weigh 150lbs, then you should drink 75oz of water per day. 

• Cucumbers
• Celery
• Radishes
• Green Peppers
• Cabbage
• Zucchini
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Dark Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, & chard)
• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe
• Oranges
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Pears
• Carrots
• Summer Squash
• Sweet Potatoes