According to the World Health Organization - migraines are one of the twenty most disabling medical conditions worldwide. Characterised by a throbbing pain - usually confined to one side of the head, that tends to get worse with movement - the warning signs of a migraine (a stage called aura) may include sensory warnings such as blind spots, visual disturbances, flashes of light, increased sensitivity to light and sound, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea and vomiting.
These intense headaches typically last from four to 72 hours, and about 75 percent of all migraine sufferers have a family history of this debilitating problem.
Some potential triggers for a migraine are allergies, stress, smoking, alcohol, bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, skipping meals, dehydration, irregular sleep, poor posture, low blood sugar and hormonal fluctuations.
Fortunately, there are several natural remedies that can help alleviate migraine pain and other types of headaches:
Peppermint
Neuroscience's studies in 2008 found that the fragrance of this herb induces the feeling associated with headache relief. Get relief by drinking peppermint tea or massaging your scalp with peppermint oil.
Ginger
A 2013 medical study indicates that ginger may prove effective in the treatment of common migraines. Chewing on a piece of raw ginger root will help treat the problem and relieve symptoms like nausea and digestive distress.
A 2013 medical study indicates that ginger may prove effective in the treatment of common migraines. Chewing on a piece of raw ginger root will help treat the problem and relieve symptoms like nausea and digestive distress.
Apples
The saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' might be truer than we realise - by eating an apple as soon as you feel the warning signs of a migraine, could reduce the problem. Further research suggests that the smell of a green apple can also help reduce the severity of a migraine and shorten migraine episodes.
The saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' might be truer than we realise - by eating an apple as soon as you feel the warning signs of a migraine, could reduce the problem. Further research suggests that the smell of a green apple can also help reduce the severity of a migraine and shorten migraine episodes.
