What is a Migraine and How Can it Be Treated in a Natural Way?

Are you wondering what is a migraine?

One of the biggest misconceptions about a migraine is that it is "just a bad headache". Migraine sufferers know it is far more than just a headache. Along with pain, there can be impaired vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to sound and light, and in some cases even a fever.

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A note about What is a Migraine and How Can it Be Treated in a Natural Way?

In natural health and healing, we believe in holistic health and healing, as we realize that different parts of the human body are highly interlinked, often beyond Man's understanding. We also believe that the body has the ability to heal itself of any disease, even supposedly incurable diseases.

In order to do so, the body needs the support of some basic dietary and lifestyle good health habits, such as a full body detox and a proper understanding and application of nutrition. No matter how remote or unrelated a health condition may seem, these fundamental health steps will greatly magnify the effects and benefits of any of our health-promoting efforts, including the use of specific natural health remedies.

There are many types of medication that exist for migraines, both over the counter and prescription, but not everyone likes taking chemical substances. After all, they often cause many uncomfortable and even dangerous side effects. So what is a migraine and how can it be treated in a natural way?

Over 45 million people in the United States have recurring headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation, and 28 million people suffer from migraines. Women tend to have them more than men.

So what is a migraine? A migraine is a type of vascular headache. They are caused by a combination of enlargement of the blood vessels and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that wrap around those blood vessels. When a person has a migraine, the temporal artery gets bigger. This stretches the nerves around the artery and makes them release chemicals. As a result, these chemicals cause inflammation and pain and make the artery get even larger. The larger the artery gets, the more powerful the pain is.

The intense pain can then trigger other symptoms in your body as well, most notably in your digestive track. People who suffer from migraines might also have an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and even vomiting. In trying to understand what is a migraine, it is useful to also have knowledge on these potential symptoms.

In fact, one of the reasons that using natural health cures for migraines is beneficial is directly attributed to what goes on in your digestive system during a migraine. Your stomach can delay emptying its contents into your small intestines, which in turn means that medications are unable to be absorbed into your intestines.

Natural and Home Remedies

What is a migraine naturally treated with? In other words, what are some natural health remedies for migraines?

Drinking warm tea is one home remedy for migraines. Something soothing, such as chamomile, works for some people, although the type might not matter just as long as it is warm. Caffeine is one of the major ingredients in migraine medications. Therefore, a bit of tea that contains caffeine might theoretically work in the same way.

Other people practice visualization as an alternative to taking medication. One method is to think of the pain as being centralized in your head as a ball. Then, imagine pushing that ball down from your head and through your body, eventually working the ball out through an opening such as your mouth or nose.

If you have trouble with visualization, then stimulating the nerve endings in your nose has also worked. Gently insert a Q-tip into your nose and rub. The idea is that providing sensory information from the nose might disrupt the pain. The same thing might work if you can talk someone into rubbing your feet for you.

Placing a compress on your head can be helpful as well, although the added pressure might bother some. Using a warm or cold compress is subjective to the individual.

Prevention

Prevention is one of the best forms of natural health care. But what is a migraine prevented by?

Being aware of your migraine triggers and avoiding these triggers can often keep you from getting a migraine. Common triggers include smoke, pollution, loud noises, certain smells such as perfume, bright lights, stress, and even the simple act of the weather changing.

Lastly, focusing on changes in your diet can be a way of naturally combating your migraines. Ensure that you drink plenty of water in order to keep your body hydrated. Also, add plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet and try to stay away from processed foods that can contain additives and preservatives.

For more information on what is a migraine and how to deal with headaches, read the other related headache and migraines pages.

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