Migraines: Natural Solutions for Pain Relief and Prevention

February 2, 2022|Nutrition World

Nutrition World > Blog > Migraines: Natural Solutions for Pain Relief and Prevention

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Do you or someone you know suffer from migraines? Research shows that one in four US households has at least one member who does. Every ten seconds someone visits the emergency room with some form of a headache. And, in most cases, an acute migraine attack! But, migraines are far more than a headache. They are characterized by severe pain and debilitating neurological symptoms. If you have migraines, you know how important it is to find natural remedies that actually work for relief and prevention.

What is a migraine headache? Migraines are recurrent moderate to severe headaches. And they are often associated with many other symptoms. Over 50 million Americans are affected by migraines and 1 billion people worldwide! They are described as pulsating in nature and last from 2 to 72 hours. Those who suffer from migraines, especially women, are 2 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, angina (chest pain) and even cardiovascular death!

Those who suffer from migraines, especially women, are 2 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, angina (chest pain) and even cardiovascular death! Share on X

Types of Migraines

Migraines are generally associated with nausea and/or light and sound sensitivity. But it differs from each individual. The types of migraines associated with visual and sensory issues are called an aura 20 – 60 minutes from their attack. A migraine aura may be characterized by:

‘Pins and needles’ sensation in the legs or arms
Seeing black dots, bright spots, flashes of lights, and various shapes
Vision loss
Hearing noises
Jerking movements
Numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face
Difficulty speaking

This “aura” is also indicative of a ‘phase’ one goes through when experiencing a migraine. There are three other phases of a migraine that also occur. They are: prodrome, headache, and postdrome.

The prodrome may occur in up to 60% of people. This phase appears 24 to 48 hours before the onset of a headache. Symptoms of a prodrome are:

Constipation
Food cravings
Neck stiffness
Increased thirst and urination
Mood changes
Frequent yawning

We discussed the 2nd phase, the aura phase, above. And the 3rd phase is the headache. This phase is usually described with the following symptoms:

Nausea and sometimes vomiting
Sensitivity to light and sounds
May last several hours
Can resolve during sleep

During the postdrome phase, the last phase, these symptoms are typically present:

Feeling drained or exhausted
Sudden head movement can cause pain where the headache used to be
Feeling of mild elation or euphoria

Migraine Triggers & Mediators

Nutritional, lifestyle, and environmental factors may cause migraines. Let’s look at the main causes of migraines, one by one.

Nutritional Deficiencies

One of the main possible root causes of migraines is nutritional deficiencies. The following nutritional deficiencies may result in migraines:

Dehydration

When you are sweating and getting dehydrated, your body loses essential fluids and electrolytes it needs to function optimally. When dehydrated, your brain can temporarily contract from fluid loss which can result in dehydration, migraine, or headache. The loss of certain minerals, such as magnesium, through dehydration, may also lead to migraines.

Mold Exposure and Migraines

Mold is a serious problem in most homes in the United States that many people are completely unaware of. It may be lurking under your sink, in your basement, or other parts of your house. Mold exposure can lead to some uncomfortable and serious symptoms, including migraines and headaches. Come to Nutrition World to inquire about our VCS test to see if mold toxicity is playing a role in the cause of your migraines.

Common Food Triggers

Migraines are often triggered by certain foods or a sensitivity to certain food. Eliminating common food triggers may help in reducing or eliminating your migraines.

Common food triggers include:

Gluten
Dairy
Eggs
Soy
Corn
Sugar
Chocolate
Additives
Preservatives
Alcohol
Caffeine

Natural Strategies to Support Migraine Sufferers

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Chronic inflammation is the number one root cause of all chronic pain and disease. And may be one of the main causes of your migraines as well. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is essential to prevent migraines and to improve your health.

Remove refined sugar, processed foods, refined oils, artificial ingredients, gluten, and other inflammatory foods from your diet. Eat a diet rich in organic greens, vegetables, low glycemic index fruits, nuts, seeds, high-quality grass-fed meat, free-range poultry, wild-caught fish, wild game, grass-fed butter and ghee, and free-range eggs.

Eat plenty of anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, such as turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and rosemary. If this is difficult to include in your daily regime, make sure to add Vibrant Health Greens drink to give your body the amount of alkalizing greens in a nutrient dense way each morning!

Prioritize Sleep

We cannot emphasize enough how important sleep is for your well-being. Sleep deprivation may have serious health consequences. And according to research, it may result in migraines and headaches.

According to a study comparing people who got less than six hours of sleep per night and people who slept more than six hours, those who slept less had more frequent and more severe migraines. Research has also shown that getting the right amount of sleep is essential for migraine prevention with seven to nine hours being the ideal amount per night.

Make sure to sleep seven to nine hours a night. Develop a regular sleeping schedule. Avoid eating close to bedtime. Develop a calming night-time routine that helps you to relax and to get ready for a good night’s sleep.

Need some tips to get some quality zzzz’s? Check out this article.

Improve Magnesium Levels

Low magnesium has been linked to migraines and headaches. People with diabetes, heart disease, and alcoholism are particularly prone to low magnesium levels. But, due to our depleted soils, even those who are eating a healthy and nutrient-dense diet may be low in magnesium and can benefit from magnesium supplementation.

Eating foods rich in magnesium, such as high-quality meat, beans, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, broccoli, and squash may benefit you. But, as mentioned, food is often not enough. Research has shown that taking 200 to 600 mg of magnesium a day may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.