How to Get Rid of a Migraine

While both a migraine and a headache cause pain, a migraine also includes other symptoms that can make even the most routine daily tasks nearly impossible to carry out. Because of this, many sufferers will try any suggestion for how to get rid of a migraine. Sitting in a dark room and popping over-the-counter painkillers is the standard treatment for migraines. For some people, though, this regime doesn’t work well. Others don’t relish medicating themselves. Below are some surprising ways that could help relieve pain from a migraine.

Surprising Migraine Remedies

1. Daith Piercings

According to Medical News Today, daith piercings are being increasingly popular as an alternative treatment for migraines. This piercing goes through the ear’s innermost fold. Though further research is needed, it’s thought that this piercing helps with migraine pain because the same area of the ear is used with success during acupuncture.

2. Diet

It should come as no surprise that the foods you eat could affect the severity and frequency of your migraines. Because everyone is different, it’s important to keep a food diary so you can learn about any trigger foods. Common trigger foods include processed foods, chocolate, dried fruits and alcohol — to name just a few.

Caffeine is one of those compounds that affects different people in different ways. Some people might find relief from their migraines when they ingest a little bit of caffeine. For others, having too much caffeine could trigger a migraine. In your food diary, it’s helpful to note the amount you’ve had so you can track your body’s reactions to it.

3. Peppermint Oil

During a triple-blind, randomized study conducted over the course of a year Nemazee Hospital’s neurology clinic, the 35 patients experienced better relief from their migraine nausea, light sensitivity and pain when they used peppermint oil. The group that had a methol solution applied to their foreheads and temples had more effective pain relief than the placebo group.

4. Yoga

From April through June 2012, researchers at the Physiology Research Center at Iran’s University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan studied the effects of yoga on migraines. The study divided thirty-two women with a history of migraines into two groups. Both groups were given medication, but the second group, the “yoga group,” also received 12 weeks of yoga. The women who had the yoga training experienced a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of their migraines.

We do not recommend yoga as a primary method to treat migraines. However, there is enough evidence for it to be a great idea for complementary therapy.  

Still now sure about how to get rid of a migraine? BackFit Health + Spine provides comprehensive pain management services that are designed to be both holistic and proactive. In addition to offering a customized treatment plan designed to help manage and alleviate your migraine pain, BackFit Health + Spine also offers emergency chiropractic services when you have flare-ups. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary assessment and see how we can help improve your quality of life!