Jasmine Oil
If your migraine is not triggered by stress or anxiety, then Jasmine oil may be of benefit to you. Using it outside of a migraine attack may cause you to feel more anxious than normal and can trigger an attack.
Jasmine oil can help stimulate mood and reduce depression, making you more alert and energetic.
When migraine symptoms have you feeling lethargic, run down, or low in energy (i.e. during the prodrome or “migraine hangover” stage), jasmine oil can “wake you up” and give you much needed energy.
Clary Sage Oil
Clary sage has many health benefits attributing to its properties as an antidepressant, sedative, anticonvulsant, digestive aid, antiseptic, antibacterial and antispasmodic. It helps to ease menstrual cramps and reduces stress and anxiety.
With anxiety and menstruation being triggers for migraine, it can be a useful essential oil for women with migraine to use.
Sweet Basil Oil
For hormonal headaches, migraines, and digestive issues sweet basil oil may be of benefit. This can be helpful for treating menstrual migraine, nausea and upset stomach. Sweet basil oil also has antispasmodic properties which aid in the relief of muscle spasms and cramps.
Apply topically, diluted in a carrier oil, across the forehead, back of the neck through the shoulders, and on the temples or rub into the palms of your hands and inhaling, breathing slowly and evenly.
Carrier Oils
- Jojoba oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Avocado oil
- Magnesium oil
- Argan oil
- Coconut oil
Add five to ten drops, a tablespoon of carrier oil, and a cup of Epsom salts to a warm bath and soak for 20-30 minutes. Diffuse five drops in a room diffuser to reduce muscle tension, boost mood, aid sleep and relieve stress. If you do not own a room diffuser, place one to three drops onto a cotton ball or tissue, place near your nose and inhale.
Apply a few drops to a cold compress and use as normal. You must use a high-quality food-grade essential oil to take internally. Take one drop internally by adding it to tea, water or food when experiencing headache or migraine attacks.
Meditation
Learning how to listen to and become in tune with our bodies is a huge benefit to managing and coping with a migraine. Through meditation, I have learned to lower my pain through breath and imagery.
Personally, it can be difficult for me to focus on a scene or thought while meditating. Instead, I imagine that I am breathing in white, healing light and letting go of my pain and discomfort while exhaling.
There are many free resources for meditation that you can use. My health insurance company offers meditation and guided imagery downloads for free on their website. You can also download apps for your phone to help you meditate regularly.
Find a quiet space in your home where you can go and not be disturbed and devote 10-15 minutes a day to become centered and one with your breath and body.
When you are not at home, guided affirmations can be used while at work, school, and even in the car. Meditation takes practice and patience, but when incorporated into your daily life it is an added benefit to your overall well-being. You will begin to feel a sense of control over your pain with daily meditation.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a great complimentary treatment for migraine. It offers quick relief when you are unable to get to your medications or if the migraine is mild enough to try to treat without them.
This technique uses pressure on specific pressure points to relieve pain. Here are four to try:
- Draw an imaginary line between the middle of both ears to the top of your head using your finger. This is a pressure point that commonly relieves headaches, as well as dizziness and low energy.
- Move your finger from your shoulder to your neck until you feel a depression. Apply pressure as needed in the area that is the most tender. This pressure point relieves migraine headaches as well as neck pain, shoulder tension, dizziness and stress.
- Slide your finger to the place where your thumb and index finger meet. You should be able to feel a depression in this pressure point. Pressure applied to this point treats headaches that are in the front of your head. It also treats general pain and cold symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose.
- Locate the next point by placing your finger in the depression between your big toe and your second toe. Feel where the tendons meet, then press where it is most sore. This will not only relieve migraine pain, but also anger, irritability, stress, menstrual pain and anxiety.
3 Migraine Relieving Foods
While you may be aware of the foods that trigger migraines, there are specific other foods that can actually help relieve migraines.
Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA
Eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids or taking them in supplement form may help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks due to their anti-inflammatory compounds.
According to a University of Cincinnati study. In the study, 300mg of EPA and DHA and 700mg of other oils were used. Eating four 125g servings of fatty fish per week would provide the same amount of beneficial fish oils.
Ginger
Ginger is a great way to relieve nausea associated with migraine. It may also help relieve head pain due to the similarity of its compounds to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Boiling a few slices of ginger root and drinking the liquid a few times a day can help with nausea and pain. Eating ginger candy is also helpful.
Magnesium Rich Foods
Many people with migraine often have magnesium deficiencies, which is thought to make the brain more sensitive to triggers.
Eating foods high in magnesium, such as dark leafy greens, beans and whole grains, can help.
Try to get between 400 and 700 mg of magnesium per day. Pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, and halibut are all high sources of magnesium.
