Home Remedies For Headache Treatments
Living with migraines can be problematic, especially if you don’t respond well to medication or are having trouble receiving the necessary care. That might leave you looking for alternative migraine treatment options. Home Remedies for Headache, That Research backs to Offer Some Relief.
If you have consistent migraines, work with your healthcare provider to recognize your migraine triggers and discover a long-term treatment plan. Finding relief from migraine symptoms at home is essential in a pinch.
Table of Contents
Ice Caps (“Migraine Hats”)
Cold compresses have remained used to treat headaches for more than 100 years. Ice caps, sometimes known as migraine hats, build on this idea. These are often gel cooling caps that are worn snugly on the head.
Research suggests these cooling caps can offer some relief. For example, a small 2006 study found that people who wore the hats for 25 minutes during a migraine experienced reduced pain.
Another study found that applying a cold compress to the carotid arteries in the neck (major blood vessels supplying blood to the head) at the onset of a migraine can reduce pain by roughly 30%.
Massage For Headache Treatments
Most people enjoy getting a massage, and people who struggle with migraines might have an excellent reason to indulge in one. A recent review of several studies concluded that massage significantly reduced migraine intensity and frequency compared to a control group of patients who didn’t get regular massages.
Migraines and sleep issues are closely intertwined. For example, one study cited in the review showed that migraine patients who had a weekly massage slept better and had fewer migraines, suggesting that massage may have dual benefits.
Acupuncture
Most people with migraines would love to reduce the number of migraines they experience, and acupuncture might be beneficial. Multiple studies have shown that acupuncture can help prevent migraines. One randomized, controlled trial found that migraine patients who received 20 acupuncture treatments over four weeks experienced fewer migraine days for the next 12 weeks.4
Another meta-analysis found acupuncture to be as effective at reducing the number of migraine days as some prescription medications. In some cases, acupuncture remained also shown to be effective at shortening the duration of migraines. However, more research is needed to confirm the results. It’s important to note that you should never stop taking prescribed medication unless you’ve talked to your healthcare provider.
Cannabis
Cannabis research is limited, but the studies that have remained done show that cannabis could be a promising alternative treatment for migraine. One study found that smoking cannabis reduced self-reported headaches and migraines by 50%.6 However, the study also showed that the effectiveness of cannabis for treating migraines seems to decline over time.
Another scientific review found that medical cannabis can reduce the duration and frequency of migraines. If you’re considering using cannabis to treat your migraines, speak with your healthcare provider about whether it may benefit you and consider any legal implications first.
Weight Loss
There’s some evidence that carrying extra weight may increase the risk of getting migraines. Excess weight may also increase the frequency and duration of migraines in people who already experience them.8 But losing weight seems to help reverse this effect.
A recent meta-analysis found that obese patients who lose weight experience a significant reduction in migraine frequency. And when migraines occur after weight loss, the attacks are often less severe and shorter.
In another study, patients who had bariatric surgery (gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries). Reported experiencing about 50% fewer migraine days six months after the procedure. More research is needed to understand the possible link between obesity. And migraines and determine how much weight loss makes a difference for people with migraines.
Fatty Fish
Getting more healthy fats from fish like salmon could help prevent migraines. One study found that eating a diet rich in fatty fish. But with little vegetable oils reduced the total number of migraine hours by 30%–40% over 16 weeks. The fish-rich diet also reduced the severity of headaches and the overall frequency compared to a control group.
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish remain thought to have anti-inflammatory effects. That may help reduce the inflammation in the brain that can lead to migraines. Additional research remain needed to determine the ideal dose of omega-3s to deliver this benefit.
Conclusion:
Remedies that may reduce headache pain include aspirin, paracetamol, and ibuprofen. Resting in a darkened room may also help. Avoid certain foods. Diet plays a vital role in preventing migraine attacks. Home Remedies For Headache Treatments
Also read: Typhoid Diet Overview, Foods, and Benefits
