Migraine Headache Treatment Options

A migraine is an intense and extremely painful type of a head pain that can be treated in a variety of ways. The first step to finding the right migraine headache treatment for you is to keep a log of your disorder. This includes recording the frequency and severity of your symptoms, as well as any other details.

To clarify, you should record how long they last for, the pain level, potential triggers, and what methods you tried to relieve the pain. This information can aid a physician or specialist in figuring out what will or will not work for you when it comes to getting rid of a headache.

In addition to this, if medication is an option, they will be better able to assist with what prescription might help with your symptoms. However, before you just go straight for prescription medication, there are other options to consider.

Migraine Headache Treatment Options

To give you a broad overview of the restorative options available, here is some more information about additional avenues you can think about. All of these different options can help to lessen your symptoms.

Medication

Specific medications can either help prevent an attack or reduce the intensity and longevity of an episode. There are a variety of drugs available over-the-counter (OTC) that are for at-home migraine headache treatment. If those are unsuccessful in relieving the pain, then it is best to see a doctor who can prescribe stronger medications.

Another recommendation is to go and see a specialist and test for any neurological conditions that may be causing the symptoms you’re struggling with.

Lifestyle Changes

If you are opposed to using medication to treat this condition or are unable to because of pregnancy, there are many other options you can try.

First, evaluate your lifestyle and head pain log for triggers on a daily basis. For example, not getting enough sleep, or getting too much sleep, might trigger an attack. Feeling stressed, not drinking enough water, and an unhealthy diet (watch the foods you are eating) can all lead to increased chance of an episode too.

It’s sometimes hard to take a look at your life and think about what you could be doing wrong, but the reality is that your condition could be a result of an unhealthy or unbalanced lifestyle.

Acupuncture and Massage Therapy

Some sufferers have found pain relief, remedies and even prevention through acupuncture(1) and massage therapy.

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese technique of inserting thin needles into the skin at different pressure points. It is believed to re-balance your body’s energy and relieve tension and pain, which makes it an effective remedy.

Massage therapy relaxes tense muscles in the neck and shoulders, areas that can be affected by head pain. It can also relieve the pressure put on your blood vessels in your head during an episode, which goes a long way in reducing the pain.

Feverfew

There are numerous herbs and natural vitamins that alternative medicine practitioners recommend for migraine headache treatment. One popular herbal remedy is feverfew. Feverfew is a plant in the daisy family that has been used for centuries in holistic medicine.

It’s available in capsule form, tinctures, and teas. Although study results on the effectiveness of feverfew has been mixed, those seeking non-medical solutions for their problem may want to give it a try. However, if you’re pregnant you should not try feverfew because the side effects can induce contractions.

SPTMS

Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (SPTMS) is a device that sends electric currents into the back of your brain. The magnetic pulse it produces has been known to stimulate the brain tissue involved in migraines and deviate the process of having an attack.

Many sufferers choose this method because it’s non-invasive and causes no discomfort. Depending on your country, SPTMS can be available at alternative health stores, or through a specialist.

While you definitely need to be careful about using this kind of product, it could be a very helpful therapy if you’re not able to take medication or supplements.

Conclusion

Migraines can cause severe pain in a patient, sometimes to the point of hindering the sufferer’s quality of life. Luckily, there are a variety of solutions available.

Some of these migraine headache treatment options can be found through your physician and specialists. Others, as we have as noted above, can be carried out in the comfort of your own home.

In order to really choose the right option that suits your body and comfort level, you will need to try out a variety of different therapies and/or medication. Although you can try these independently, it’s always safer to consult a medical professional before you start taking any supplements or medication, or before you engage in any activities that might actually worsen your symptoms.

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