Migraines often strike at the most inopportune moments, ruining weekends, date nights, and time you’ve carved out for productivity. Next time a migraine tries to derail your well-laid plans, be prepared. Unleash these ten remedies to help you fight back, so you can get back to doing life.
Table of Contents
1. Have Some Caffeine
Sometimes, your first line of defense is to get some caffeine into your system. While it might also give you some pep, caffeine can affect how your body feels pain. When ingested, caffeine narrows blood vessels, which can decrease the impact of your migraine.
Sip on an espresso or green tea rather than a sugar-laden or aspartame-dosed soda, as the latter can worsen the pain. Stick with one additional caffeinated beverage as you try to quash the throbbing. More than this, you may begin to lessen its benefits.
2. Hot and Cold Therapy
Adding hot and cold may seem contradictory, but you can employ both approaches to help you feel better. A cold pack on your eyes or forehead can constrict blood vessels and feel good on puffy eyes.
On the other end of the temperature spectrum, apply a warm rice bag or heating pad to your neck and shoulders to provide relief. Just be careful not to heat your rice bag to the point of scalding. If you’re using a heating pad, follow all safety precautions and never sleep with one. At Ortho Bracing, you will better understand which therapy is good for you.
3. Medication Targeted Toward Relief
Over-the-counter and prescription migraine treatment can be just what you need to get to the other side of your pain. The easily available Excedrin Migraine has pain relievers and caffeine specifically targeted for your ailment.
If your migraines knock you out of your normal activities several times a month, you may need more help. Thanks to telehealth providers, prescription migraine treatment can be specified to your needs, coordinated online, and even delivered to your home.
4. Explore Pressure Points
Your body is covered with pressure points to relieve tension with a firm hand. The thick pad between your thumb and forefinger is an area known to relieve headaches. Rub or press on this section with your opposite thumb for five-minute sessions throughout the day for relief.
Acupuncture and acupressure from a professional is also a route you can explore. Qualified practitioners place firm pressure or sterile acupuncture needles on specific points to reduce pain.
5. Reduce Tension Zones Throughout Your Body
Pause and consider areas of your body that are crying out for relief. Your scalp is a sneaky culprit when it comes to headaches, as its fascia is sorely neglected. Use a head-scratcher to release tension and loosen any tight ponytails or pulled-back hairstyles as you work through your migraine.
Practice yoga and sit while holding stretches as you melt into the floor. Take it easy as you move parts of your body that may be stiff. Breathe into any sticky areas and be careful not to overdo any move that feels too challenging.
6. Be Consistent With Your Hydration Habits
When you don’t feel well, it’s easy to neglect basic needs like hydration. But dehydration can worsen headaches, which is the last thing you need. If you’ve been huddled on the couch or hiding in bed, it’s time to get a glass of water.
Use a water bottle with a straw to make hydrating easier, and add cut fruit to keep it interesting. Aim for eight glasses a day, adding an additional glass for each caffeinated beverage you drink, as these can be dehydrating.
7. Release Fascia Through Massage
Fascia is an often misunderstood or ignored component of the body. Covering your muscles fascia can easily pull our bodies out of alignment, even causing migraines. Surprisingly, the tension in your back can actually be caused by tightness in your hips.
Link up with a massage therapist specializing in fascia release or work on it at home using foam rolling. Research fascia-releases methodologies and incorporate them into your routine to keep pain at bay.
8. Try Holistic Remedies
When you’re in pain, you’ll try almost anything, even if it sounds too good — or too unbelievable — to be true. Consider natural remedies like ginger, either raw or tea, to reduce inflammation. Peppermint tea and oil can provide relief for pain and the nausea often associated with the worst migraines.
Aromatherapy can also help round out your holistic healing practices. Lavender essential oil can be diffused in an ultrasonic diffuser, scenting your space and reducing pain.
9. Reduce Bright and Blue Lights
Too much blue light on a good day isn’t ideal. But when you’re fighting off a migraine, the light cast from tech devices can be too much. Draw your shades, dim or turn off lights, and call it a screen-free day as you’re managing through your pain.
If you head outside, don sunglasses to keep the brightness from impacting your headache too much. For long-term management, consider updating your devices to adjust the light levels according to the time of day.
10. Focus on Relaxation and Rest
There’s no doubt that an unexpected migraine will uproot your plans. And it can be hard to accept that you’ve got to take a step back to get well. However, the smart choice is to focus your day on relaxation and rest as you integrate pain management techniques.
Cancel everything you can and reset your expectations for the day you’re combating a migraine. Create a recovery zone in a comfortable area of your home—shift entertainment to choices that don’t cause eye strain, like listening to an audiobook or music. Take naps earlier in the day so you don’t potentially throw off your bedtime, and otherwise, take it easy.
Getting to the Other Side of Your Migraine
Migraines are never fun, but you can work through them with grace when you have management tactics in your toolbox. Sample each of these remedies and log their effectiveness for your type of migraine and its severity. Treat your approach like an experiment and test how well each tactic works for your ailments. Over time, you’ll develop a treatment protocol that you can tap into whenever a migraine strikes.
Featured Photo by Mehrpouya H on Unsplash
