2) For Immediate Relief
Description
This article is from the Natural Migraine Cures FAQ, by an588@freenet.carleton.ca (Catherine Woodgold) with numerous contributions by others.
2) For Immediate Relief
Most of the treatments in this FAQ are used to prevent migraines
from happening. This section describes things you can do when
you're in pain, to reduce the pain.
-- Have a bath or shower.
-- Lie down to rest in a dark room.
-- Avoid bright or flashing light.
-- Put something cold on the back of your neck, such as
a cold, wet cloth; or alternate hot and cold cloths
where the pain is.
-- Put a cold compress on your forehead and your feet in a
container of warm water.
-- Have a drink of water or natural juice, especially tomato juice.
-- Have some food, or a nutritious drink, if you
haven't eaten for a while.
-- Massage your own face, head, neck and shoulders, or get someone
else to do those and your back. Relax your muscles.
-- Press on two pressure points at the back of the neck. These
points are about two inches apart, just below the base of
the skull. Press for a minute or two. This releases
endorphins that help against pain.
-- Massage or press on the fleshy area between thumb and
forefinger.
-- Gently lean the head to left or right to stretch the neck muscles.
Massage and relax any tense muscles.
-- Avoid sources of stress. Cancel activities so there's less
to worry about.
-- Avoid exercise during a headache if it makes throbbing pain
in the head and neck worse. On
the other hand, generally exercise improves health, and
it may help you relax during a headache.
-- Take some niacin (a form of vitamin B3). Taking enough
niacin to cause a flush (blood rushing to the skin) can
provide relief from headache pain, but this much niacin
can also have side effects (flush, nausea, heartburn,
liver damage, etc.) Niacinamide doesn't have such bad
side effects, but isn't as much use against migraines, either.
Smaller, safer amounts of niacin are also helpful.
Niacin can trigger a migraine, though.
-- Take some vitamin C, vitamin B6, choline, tryptophan and niacin
and/or magnesium.
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