The women in my family tend to have migraines… Sinus migraines, Tension migraines, with auras and without auras… mild, moderate, and the three days in darkness kind… So I am always interested in ways to manage them without chemicals.
I have yet to figure out exactly what causes a migraine.. but there are different kinds and different levels. And as I age, my migraines have changed. I’ll post a couple memes on Facebook and LinkedIN showing some different types. In search of my why, I kept a journal for several months. This included the following:
· What and when I ate
· How much I slept
· How often I woke at night
· How much exercise I got and when
· How my mood was – especially whether I was stressed or anxious
· How my allergies were
· What the weather was like
· When I had hot flashes (obviously, not applicable to some)
· Rather than the above – you might need to track your menses – how long / how heavy / how much pain (obviously for the women here not the men)
This provided me with lots of information that was quite useful. It answered a LOT of my questions. I found that certain foods were triggers for me as was the weather, my allergies and stress. Each one created a different type of migraine. Additionally, since I am an empath, I am highly sensitive to others’ emotions and their energy can also trigger a migraine. So many different things… and so many that are intermingled.
I have put together a series of posts covering different aspects and providing you with as much information as I have regarding them. I have, even after 20 years, not come up with any type of exact science. I just know what typically works for me and my family. First, we will discuss some things that should help. Just like we had to do, you will have to try and decide which things work for you. If you only have one type of a migraine, you are luckier than most. If not, you will need to try the same things for each type. Example, peppermint oil only works for me on a stress migraine (band around the base of my skull.) If I try it with any other type of migraine, it is useless.
Now for our list. This is not a complete list, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas so that we can all help one another. PLEASE share!
Lemon Peel. Take a lemon and peel a one-inch-wide strip of the peel wide enough to go across the forehead. Place on forehead for 10-20 minutes. This was tested for a moderate stress migraine and failed. She (my daughter was the Guinea pig for the testing) said that it took the bite off the migraine but did not take it away.
Omegas. Take 1-2 Omega 3 capsules daily. Your brain is made up primarily of water and fat. The Omegas have been known to help provide the good oils for your brain function.
Water. Drink plenty of water – the link to the calculator is in “the most important thing” blog post which will come after this series. Your body MUST have adequate amounts of water. It lubricates bones, muscles and cells; helps create new cells; removes toxins among other things. If you are dehydrated your body begins to shut down.
Peppermint Oil. Use a Q-tip and rub over the base of your neck and on each temple, as needed. Peppermint oil has a very calming and cooling affect. She found this to work very well for her.
Green Tea. Drink 3-4 cups of green tea daily. Green tea has some caffeine so be careful when you drink it and how much you drink of the stronger versions. Green tea has a lot of antioxidants that help in balancing your body.
Massage. For those that do get migraines from stress and tension, a daily massage really helps. Part of the problem is that your muscles tighten, and this tightly wound control affects your nerves and restricts blood flow to the brain. Massaging out some of the knots and releasing some of that stress helps.
Sleep. Everyone (no matter who you are) needs at least 8 hours of sleep each night. I know you can live on less and sometimes it is hard to get more if your body had adjusted to less… but for a HEALTHY body… you need a full 8 hours. My daughter was getting a lot of disjointed sleep adding to her migraines. If you are challenged in getting enough sleep, extra serotonin and proper amounts of magnesium +D3 two hours before bed may help.
Exercise. If you sit inside all day and get no sunshine, fresh air… and no exercise, you are at risk for migraines. Even to just start walking every day is a must.
Foods. There are certain foods you should test for sensitivities – these foods are regular triggers for migraines. Peanuts, wheat, and aged cheeses are the most common. Make sure you don’t have a sensitivity that is causing your migraines. We will discuss food at length in a future post.
Until next time… Blessings… E