How do I Choose the Best Migraine Headache Remedies?

A migraine headache is often debilitating and frustrating for sufferers, who are three times as likely to be women than men. Medications are available to help treat and prevent migraines, though other migraine headache remedies do exist that do not come with the same troublesome side effects. Some people experience migraines as a result of their regular diet, so visiting a dietitian may be one of the more effective migraine headache remedies, since it addresses the cause rather than the symptoms. Other migraine headache remedies may include analyzing and making appropriate changes to sleep habits, day to day work habits that cause stress, and other elements of day to day routines that may cause stress.

Most people who suffer from migraine headaches use the most common migraine headache remedies: lying down in a dark room, avoiding movement and loud noises, and taking analgesics or other medications to quell the headache pain as well as the nausea that often accompanies migraines. While these methods may be effective treatments for managing the symptoms of a migraine headache, they do not do much to address the cause of the pain. The best migraine headache remedies will work to eliminate or reduce the triggers that cause the headaches, which means modifying diet — as triggers are sometimes chemicals in foods such as chocolate, coffee, or other commonly ingested foods — or daily routines that may elevate stress levels.

Migraines may be caused by low serotonin levels, which lead to constriction of blood vessels in the brain. Medications that adjust the level of serotonin in the body may help alleviate headaches in this case, though in many cases, painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen are enough to help ease the pain. Nausea may accompany the use of some drugs, however, which may worsen the discomfort. Elevated stress levels can often lead to migraine headaches, so managing day to day stress can help a sufferer avoid the headaches altogether.

Sometimes simple migraine headache remedies work exceptionally well. An ice pack or cool, moist towel placed on the forehead can help manage the pain, as can a light massage of the scalp. Eating some food as the first signs of a migraine headache begin to manifest themselves can help adjust chemical levels in the brain and body that may help prevent the migraine from occurring. Be careful, however, to choose foods that you know do not trigger migraine headaches; foods that are not packed with preservatives or artificial chemicals are best, as are salty snacks.