About 39 million people in the US, and over a billion people worldwide suffer from migraine attacks.
Ninety-one percent of them can't work or function normally during an attack, and as many as 1 out of 4 ends up in the emergency room!
Note that migraine is no longer referred to as "migraine headaches"--it's now considered a neurological condition because of the different phases and variety of symptoms that people experience in addition to the classic pounding head.
If you suffer from migraine attacks, here are several possible reasons why, plus 9 safe, natural ways to get relief and prevent future attacks!
Many theories but which one is right? (Answer: All of them)
Migraine is puzzling because there has not been one tried and true explanation for all cases.
One theory involves dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head as being the primary source of the pain.
Hormones are suspect too, since many women get attacks during menstruation or menopause--times when their hormones are fluctuating.
Another theory looks at nerve pathways and neurotransmitters as the culprit behind the throbbing. Many migraine sufferers get a drop in serotonin just before an attack.
Additionally, both aspartame and MSG are known for causing headaches and triggering migraine in many people. Aspartame can also trigger other migraine-associated neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances and tingling in the extremities.
Migraines are also commonly seen alongside food allergies and sensitivities. Common guilty foods include wheat, gluten, yeast, corn, grains, sugar and eggs.
Plus they have been linked to heavy metals, especially mercury.
9 safe, effective migraine remedies
Here are 9 safe, natural answers that have been shown to be extremely helpful in counteracting migraine attacks and preventing future attacks:
1) Avoid aspartame and MSG like the plague
Read food labels carefully, and request no MSG in restaurants.
If you want a calorie-free sweetener option, use stevia. It's been around for centuries and is a much safer way to sweeten your food and beverages without adding calories.
2) Keep it real
Concentrate on wholesome real foods and remove sugars, excess salt, processed foods, refined carbohydrates, alcohol and caffeine from your diet as much as possible.
Also avoid getting too hungry between meals, since low blood sugar levels can trigger migraine attacks. Have protein snacks such as nuts, cheese, hard-boiled eggs or a piece of meat or fish handy.
3) Vitamin D
Migraines have been linked to several nutritional deficiencies, especially Vitamin D.
Since Vitamin D is a very common deficiency, that could mean a whole lot of people suffering needlessly when the problem is so easy to correct!
That is, if you use our top-notch Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B!
Optimum DK Formula provides a therapeutic 5,000 IU dose of Vitamin D3, plus its complementary nutrients Vitamins K1 and K2, and the mineral boron.
All these helpful nutrients work together to enhance your immune, bone and cardiovascular health.
Oh, and help prevent migraines too!
4) Essential oils
Studies have shown that lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils help ease migraine pain.
And our collection of outstanding Mooseberry Essential Oils includes all 4 of those helpful oils!
Essential oils can be dabbed directly onto the skin on the painful side of your head or neck. You can also apply several drops of oil to a warm towel and place on your forehead, neck or back of the head.
5) Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Some studies have found that Omega-3 fish oil supplements can help decrease the severity and frequency of migraines.
This makes sense, given that Omega-3 fats are Nature’s anti-inflammatory, and pain of all kinds can be the result of chronic inflammation!
Unfortunately, Omega-3 EFAs are also a common deficiency. Our food supply does not contain the same level of these fats as it used to, plus most of us don’t eat fatty fish often enough to get what we need from our diets.
But you can help make sure you have enough of these natural anti-inflammatories with an Omega-3 EFA supplement like VitalMega-3.
VitalMega-3 is a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil formula that delivers 1,200 mg. of inflammation-curbing Omega-3 EFAs in every daily 2-capsule serving, including the all-important EPA and DHA.
6) Investigate possible food allergies or sensitivities
If you have suspected food allergies or sensitivities, it’s essential to get tested.
You can also try an “elimination diet” to zero in on what food(s) you may be sensitive to, and that may be triggering migraines. Here’s how:
- For the next 10 days, jot down everything you eat and drink, and note your level of symptomology.
- After the 10 days are up, note what foods you ate on the day before and the day of feeling any symptoms—those will be your “experimental” foods.
- Pick the two or three experimental foods that seem to be most closely associated with your symptoms and eliminate them from your diet for a week and see how you feel.
- If you feel markedly better, well, there’s a sign for you.
- After the week is up, reintroduce the foods into your diet one at a time, separated by three days between each one, and see if your symptoms return.
7) Probiotics
Most people don’t realize this, but 80 percent of your body's serotonin is produced in your gut.
So if low serotonin is a factor behind your migraines, your gut health is of utmost importance.
Repopulating your gut’s beneficial bacteria with probiotics can help you achieve a healthier-balanced microbiome. Having enough friendly flora “on the job” can help support your body’s proper production of serotonin, which in turn may help curb your migraines.
(FYI: This is also why probiotics have been shown to help with depression too!)
And Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula is as good as it gets.
Super Shield contains 13 strains of well-studied probiotic bacteria that are potent, strong and ready to line your intestinal walls with their health-supporting protection.
8) Eliminate heavy metals
You may not know this, but amalgam fillings are a significant source of mercury in the human body. Many migraine sufferers have reported dramatic improvements after having their amalgam fillings removed and replaced with composites.
Also, many flu shots contain mercury, so keep that in mind when making your healthcare decisions. Supplementing with Vitamin D and probiotics can go a long way in beefing up your immune system and preventing the flu naturally.
9) Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)
If you suspect menopause may be a factor in your migraines, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be a tremendous help.
See how much better you can feel when you safely and naturally help fight all the possible underlying factors behind your migraines.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
Hello Arvind!
We’re thrilled that you found instant relief from migraines with natural means! Thank you for sharing!
Sherry, I had the migraine problem when I was 15 years old. My grandmother who was a farmer’s daughter was aware of natural remedies. She used to take spoonful powdered ginger with few drops of water and rub paste on my head. Works like magic. Stops the pain instantaneously. May help others.