Natural Remedies for Migraines

Salt and Water, Acupressure

Posted by Kendra (Haiku, HI) on 10/24/2008
★★★★★

I have been doing the "Your body's many cries for water" cure and it has helped lower the number of migraine attacks. The cure is drinking half your body weight in water adding some celtic salt to the water. I drink 5 12oz bottles of water a day with an eighth of a tsp. of sea salt in each bottle.

I have also learned a technique someone told me about that has helped stop migraine pain. You go inside your mouth with your index finger and massage the area of the jaw juncture. Your thumb massages outside and your index finger inside. When you find the point it will be very sore. I actually worked both sides (right and left) at the same time... and relief came in about ten minutes. I hope this helps other people and ends the suffering.

Gunpowder Tea

Posted by Lanet (Durham, NC) on 10/21/2008
★★★★★

Hello, after reading this post about 4mths ago I told my friend about the gunpowder tea. He just decided to try it out last week. He noticed a big difference in his migraine headaches and he is very pleased with the product. He normally takes imitrex and it seems as if some of the side affects are just as bad as the illness. Thanks for the information.

Red Wine Vinegar and Baking Soda

Posted by Cristian (Toronto, Ontario / Canada) on 10/08/2008
★★★★★

Ailment: Migraine Headache and Nausea.

I ate some bad chinese food and got a really bad migraine headache followed by nausea. I layed in bed to try to wait it out but it just got worse. I had this for about 5 hours.

Remedy: My grandmother (85 years old) is visiting from Spain and when I told her how I wasn't feeling good, she made me the following mixture:

1 8oz glass of water
15ml of red wine vinegar
15ml of baking soda

She mixed it all together and forced me to chug it while the baking soda was still fizzing. For a few seconds later I felt like I was really going to vomit! But then miraculously 5 minutes passed and my headache had COMPLETELY dissapeared and a couple of minutes after that I had no more nausea!!! i couldn't believe that this old natural cure worked so effectively! And the baking soda kept making me burp which felt really good!

After that I got a lecture from my grandmother about not eating chinese food, while she waved her finger in my face! She's so cute.

Thanks grandma!

EC: Yep, that MSG will getcha every time!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Miriam (Racine, USA) on 10/05/2008
★★★★★

I just though I would let your readers know that I just started the ACV remedy daily regiment to prevent migraines as I am weaning off my daily meds (that were causing hearing loss after 5 years on them!!). So far so good! I will say that w/o the honey, I couldn't pallette the taste, so I mixed it with La Croix (but any brand UNSWEETENED) Lime water. It is carbonated and tastes slightly sweet even though it has no artificial sweetners (a must for any migraine folks). For some reason it really cuts the "yuck" factor considerably!

Just a tip! Saved me and now I am working the cure!

Sinus Buster

Posted by John (Kansas City, MO) on 09/15/2008
★★★★★

I have migraines from the age of 4. That was 66 years ago. The only sure relief came from Sinus Buster and
you can find it on the web. It works so well I no longer need to carry hydrocodone with me at all times. I even make my own using elixir of cayenne and water in a nasal spray bottle..Try it and see for yourself.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Giulietta (Gandia, Spain) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★

Apple cider vinegar cured my migraine. I woke up at 4 in the morning with a very strong migraine and headache, drank a desertspoonful of ACV with water, and walked around outside and 5/10 minutes later it was gone. I went back to sleep and woke up perfectly healthy later and stayed fine all day. What a brilliant remedy, what a brilliant site - thanks for sharing the knowledge. I wrote about lettuce but it doesn't compare with ACV because eating lettuce only prevents it -- doesn't cure like ACV does.

Lettuce

Posted by Giulietta (Xastiva, Spain) on 09/06/2008
★★★★★

Mostly when I am aware of a migraine starting, if I eat lettuce (the only type I haven't tried is iceberg) and move around in fresh air, it goes. Sometimes I wake up very early like 4 or 5 in the morning and if I get up, eat a lettuce, and move and dont go back to sleep I can usually keep it at bay- I might not always be 100% but I can manage the day if I also eat only raw food that day and a lettuce salad at lunch and supper. Also I have to sleep right next to a wide open window all the time. In stressful times or when travelling I find the only way to avoid migraines is to eat about 75% raw food.

Now the problem is how to get enough protein and grains and still avoid migraines- I am finding it very difficult and would appreciate advice.

Avoid MSG and Free Glutamates!

Posted by Phil (Sooke, BC, Canada) on 08/29/2008
★★★★★

Both my wife and I have a great sensitivity to MSG - bad migraines - and I know quite a few other people who are sensitive. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a nasty chemical - looks like shards of glass under a microscope - no wonder it is used as a meat tenderizer. Anyway, I would recommend to anybody who suffers from migraines to try and stay away from MSG. I know it is difficult in this day and age, but it can be done if you are careful and read the ingredients listed on food products.

Homeopathic Remedies

Posted by Carol (Pueblo, Colorado) on 08/28/2008
★★★★★

Response to Julie in Ohio looking for migraine headache relief....

This works almost immediately.....find nat.mur 30x and belladonna30x at health food store in homeopathic (about $4.00 each) take 5 each under tongue....works right away. Then find a traditional chinese medicine practioner licenced to help you resolve the underlying cause, if you want to.

CoQ10

Posted by CD (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 08/12/2008
★★★★★

COQ10 & Riboflavin for Migraine:

I was really happy to see this site! I didn't see anything about these 2 supplements. My son has been suffering with migraines now for a year and 1/2 and we have seen a host of specialists. His neurologist ran a blood test to test for these 2 nutient levels because he said they actually help prevent migraines. My sons levels were extremely low. I just wanted to post this as a great migraine preventative. We have definitly seen an improvement.

Lime With Salt

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 07/22/2008 490 posts

Hello to all who have menstrual problems and migraines, magnesium supplements have been known to decrease the frequency of migraine HA's as well as other discomforts (cramping) if that time of the month.

Lime With Salt

Posted by Trisha (Berkeley, California) on 07/22/2008
★★★★★

I have been suffering from Migraines all my life, honestly trying every 'cure' there is--prescription and holistic. It really comes down to a complete lifestyle change, but even then you cannot control all the chemicals in our daily environments. Anyways, last night I was at work and I started to come down with what felt like a PMS headache--one of those where you feel absolutely hopeless to fix because it is hormone related. I usually get these for about 3 days before my period and they clear up the minute I start bleeding. So last night when I told my coworkers that my head hurt, they--being Mexican--immediately offered up the remedy they grew up with: Half a lime with salt. I laughed at them thinking "Yeah right." but tried it anyways, and sure enough, after eating the whole thing and waiting a good 15 minutes, my headache was gone and I was fine the rest of the night and into this morning. It may have been a placebo effect, but it was so simple and there was no harm done. Couldn't hurt to try!

Also--use the netti pot to clear out your sinuses. Often times sinus headaches will disguise themselves as migraines. If the netti pot makes you feel better that's what you have.

Misc Remedies for Migraines

Posted by Tan Koon Peng (Singapore) on 06/30/2008

Dietary recommendations for migraines:
Supplement your diet with magnesium. Up to 50% of patients experiencing an acute migraine attack have lowered levels of ionized magnesium. Because of its safety profile, oral magnesium supplementation can be recommended to a majority of migraine sufferers. One study showed that migraine attack frequency was reduced by 41.6% in those who participated in regular magnesium supplementation.

Take 5-HTP in the morning. 5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. Migraines are caused in part by low serotonin. When serotonin levels are low, blood vessels dilate. Therefore, increasing serotonin may be helpful in preventing migraine occurrences.3 * Supplement with CoQ10. In one particular key trial, 61.3% of migraineurs who supplemented with CoQ10 during a four-month trial period reduced their occurrence of migraine attacks by at least 50%.4

1. Add ground flax seed to your diet since it contains healthy dietary fiber and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
2. Add virgin coconut oil to your diet to benefit from plant-based healthy saturated fat.
3. Add foods rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids to your diet.
4. Eat plenty of unrefined low-glycemic carbohydrates (brown rice, sprouted grains, winter squash).
5. Limit intake of fruits that have a high glycemic index such as apricots, raisins, banana, papaya, and mango.
6. Eat plenty of vegetables and vegetable juices (kelp, sprouts, green and black olives, peppers, spinach, chard, celery, zucchini).
7. Drink purified water throughout the day.
8. If you are a caffeine addict,chances are caffeine are causing your headache, detox your body of caffeine and stay away from caffeine and you will not have any more headache.

No need to see a doctor for he will just prescribe medicine with side effects, it is simply not worth it.Do not overload your body with artifical chemical!

1. Feverfew is great for migraines.

2. Gingko helps with the blood circulation in the brain.You can get a good one from this brand (pharmanex).

3.You can get buy 1 or 2 cans of isotonic drink (eg.100PLUS), and mix it with drinking water according to a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 (simply, it means one cup 100plus, one cup water.or 2 cups water). Another method will be to submerge your feet in a basin of warm water so that it bring the blood pressure down from your throbbing head.

4. Tian ma mi huan jun pian is cheap and effective for headache. You can get it from chinese medical shop.

5. Gatorade is useful for headache.Try it!

6. Inhaling lavender,eucalyptus or pepermint oil work for headache.Just dab some pepermint, eucalyptus or lavender oil to a cotton ball & breathe in the scent for a few moments. Do not get pure peppermint oil on your skin-this could burn it,if it is not duliuted. This remedy works everytime for John.You can also apply any of these oil to your temple.
Eye pillow stuffed with lavender also works great for headache.

7. Rub half a lime on your forehead and you will have no more headache.

8a. Rub the area right above your eye brows slowly in a circular motion and your headache will go away.

b. Rubbing the area on the back of your head right where the head and neck meet is useful too!

9. A study at Michigan State University suggests that apples act as a tranquilizer. The study reveals that eating 2 apples a day reduces tensions, headaches, and emotional upsets.

10. For headache relief, apply a cold compress of witch hazel over the forehead.

11. Spicy soups will cure a migrane.It's capsaicin in the Hot Chili peppers that does the trick.Chinese Hot and Sour soup works too. So next time you get a migraine, get some of these soup.

12. Raw cabbage is useful for headache.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jaimi (Orlando, FL) on 06/06/2008
★★★★★

WOW! I have come to love the wonderful product of ACV. I have had severe allergies and sinus problems since I could walk. Chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsilitis (they have lonce since been removed), rhinitis, etc... I have always taken prescription medication. However I am 8 mos pregnant and have not been able to take anything but over the counter Tylenol products. For the past 3 days I have been down and out with a severe sinus migraine, congestion and pressure. Nothing worked and I am sleep deprived! Adding these symptoms to 8mos of pregnancy spells MISERY for sure. I was desperate so I hopped online and what do you know? I found the same product that cured my husband of his pesky wart will also clear my sinuses. I only wished I found this info sooner! I took 1 tbsp of ACV with 8oz of water and downed. Then I made a mixture and put it in my veggie steamer (ACV is also a great residue cleaner) and sat over it for about 5mins. Everything started to clear up within the hour. I then rinsed with saline solution and I can breathe out of both nostrils! My headache is almost gone and the pressure almost nil! Oh and by the way the ACV steam bath is great for oily skin. I noticed a difference immediately after the face bath. I was then curious to see if this was a known rememdy for acne/skin problems and sure enough it is!!! In fact, Earth Clinic was the first hit.
I am amazed that such a simple, inexpensive product can do so much. Thank you dearly for this site.

Egg Whites

Posted by Teresa (Waiuku, New Zealand) on 06/04/2008
★★★★★

For painful sinuses and the accompanying headache - beat 2 egg whites (stops them being slimy and difficult to handle). Spread out on a gauze (or cloth) and put over your face (avoiding eyes). Put another cloth over (optional). Lay down on your back and go to sleep. The heat/temperature will harden the gauze. Suggest you leave it on as long as you can. You will be pain free and as a bonus will get a facelift.
I have used this remedy for migraines and hard to shift headaches and have always gained relief.

Washing Your Feet

Posted by Kathy (Piqua, USA) on 05/17/2008
★★★★★

For migraine cure: Washing your feet always helps. Feet have accupressure points (energy centers). Also the muslims wash their feet 5 times a day. -(in Bible also). I believe washing feet helps to ground you. I also think migraines come on from being too psychic for too long. To solve problems we reach out for answers and need to return soul to body and ground. The sixth chakra needs to close.*** Also slowing down and living in the present grounds you.

Magnetic Pillow Case

Posted by Lisa (Brampton, Canada) on 04/24/2008
★★★★★

I have had horrible migraines weekly for the past 2 years, ever since I had my miscarriage. I was at my last resort when I tried a magnetic therapy pillow case, and unbelievably, I have not had a migraine, or headache even in the 3 1/2 weeks since I have been sleeping on it!