It is frustrating when an illness gets in the way of daily life. Migraines are definitely one of those conditions that can be debilitating and stop you in your tracks. There are a variety of symptoms that can accompany this type of headache – nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light – all of which make it difficult to continue on with daily life.
Migraines are more common in women and may be provoked by lack of sleep, menses, stress and muscular tension. Certain types of foods, such as processed foods, foods that contain MSG, tyramine-containing items like red wine and aged cheeses. Migraines are usually diagnosed clinically by symptoms that present with the headache – no imaging is necessary unless your doctor thinks there might be another cause for the migraine headaches.
Treatment of migraine headaches includes ibuprofen or acetamenophin for mild types and triptans or ergot medications for more severe migraines. There are other natural ways to treat migraines:
- Food – Figuring out what foods trigger your migraines can be very helpful in preventing and treating the migraine headaches. An elimination/challenge diet may be recommended to figure out what food triggers are specific for you.
- Herbal – Studies have shown that herbal remedies, such as Butterbur and Feverfew can help to prevent migraine headaches.
- Lifestyle – Making sure you are getting about 8 hours of sleep per night and regular exercise can help to support your system in the prevention of migraines.
- Vitamins and minerals – Riboflavin, B12 and magnesium all are useful in reducing the frequency of migraines and preventing them as well.
Migraine headaches are quite common, but they need not to be common for YOU. Consider making an appointment with a naturopathic doctor to explore other means of prevention and treatment of your migraine headaches so that they do not stop you in your tracks.