Discover how to use natural remedies such as herbs and aromatherapy to fight menstrual migraine pain.
If you’re one of the estimated 12 million American women tormented by menstrual or hormonal migraines, you probably already know that finding relief can be a challenge to say the least. The severe head pain, nausea, and intolerance for bright lights, loud sounds and strong smells can put a woman completely out of commission for hours, and sometimes even days, each month.
Thankfully we live in a time when modern medicine and research is helping us understand menstrual migraines and uncover ways to prevent, head off and treat them. If you’ve tried the latest medical remedies and conventional approaches but still aren’t getting relief, are suffering from side-effects, or simply want to experiment with natural migraine relief, it can’t hurt to turn to the pro who has been successfully treating our ailments for thousands of years – Mother Nature!
Below are some surprisingly safe, effective and nurturing ways to treat menstrual migraines. While you should always consult with a health care practitioner before taking herbs or using essential oils — especially if you are pregnant or taking medication – millions of women throughout the world have found safe and effective migraine relief from these ideas:
- Herbs – Herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat ailments of all kinds, including migraines. Today, herbalists are combining ancient wisdom with modern knowledge to develop herbal formulas for migraine relief that are often more effective and safer than their pharmaceutical counterparts.
- These herbs not only have powerful pain fighting properties, but they also assist the body’s natural ability to heal itself. They can be used in capsule, powder or tincture form, brewed in a tea, or used in a cool or warm compress over the eyes.
- Aromatherapy – While there isn’t a large amount of scientific research to confirm it, the use of essential oils can be a powerful and pleasant way to alleviate migraine symptoms.
- It is important to use high quality, pure essential oils, since cheaper versions usually contain additives that can make your migraine worse. Essential oils that help with migraine pain include peppermint, sandalwood, lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary.
- Different ways to use them include in a diffuser, in a cool or warm compress over the eyes, in a bath, or mixed with a quality base such as jojoba oil for facial and head massage.
- Preventative Actions – Obviously the best thing to do is prevent a migraine from occurring in the first place, and the second best solution is to stop a migraine before it becomes full blown. Here are some do-it-yourself, natural aids for preventing and heading off menstrual migraines:
- Create a log to determine when in your cycle migraines hit and if there are any contributing factors other than hormones such as food, stress, smells or weather that trigger a migraine. During your vulnerable times minimize your exposure to these triggers.
- During vulnerable times, such as the days leading up to your period and the first few days of your period, avoid headache causing foods such as alcohol, chocolate, coffee, dairy foods, citrus fruits, tobacco, processed foods and preservatives such as MSG. Increase your intake of fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, seeds and WATER.
- The minute you feel a migraine coming on, take immediate action to head it off such as retreating to a cool, dark and quiet room, taking an herbal remedy, and using an essential oil diffuser or cool compress.
- To prevent migraines establish consistent exercise, meditation and sleep routines.
Do you suffer from menstrual migraines? Have you found a natural solution that works for you? If so, please let us know about it.
Writen by Stas’ T. Ozog III, L. Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist), Dipl. A. & Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM) [Diplomate of Acupuncture and Diplomate of Chinese Herbology (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)], MTOM (Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine)
