Share
Related Products
Perfect Magnesium Citrate Powder 270g
Natural Cure for Headaches
The reasons for a headache vary and can be caused by many factors. Some women experience headaches or menstrual migraine every month due to fluctuating hormone levels. Hormone levels may change due to:
- Menstrual Cycle
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Oral contraceptives
- Hormone replacement therapies
Genes also play a role in migraines but the following are also thought to be contributing factors:
- not enough rest and sleep
- skipping meals
- loud sounds, bright lights and fragrances (this can be from gut issues too)
- drinking alcohol (especially red wine)
- stress
- artificial sweeteners, preservatives and flavour enhancers such as MSG
- processed meats
According to Dr Anne MacGregor, formerly of the National Migraine Centre:
“Migraine is most likely to develop in either the two days leading up to a period, or the first three days during a period. This is because of the natural drop in oestrogen levels at these times. The attacks are typically more severe than migraines at other times of the month and are more likely to come back the next day,” she says.
Menstrual migraines can be sometimes painful, if not always and may interfere with your daily routine. Women who experience menstrual migraines often may find relief during pregnancy and upon reaching the menopausal stage. There are ways where you can ease the symptoms and relieve the intensity of the pain by making changes in your lifestyle and the aid of medication although we would highly recommend treating your headache the natural way if possible.
Self Help Tips To Prevent A Migraine
We have simple self help tips that will allow you to take extra care of your body to avoid migraine attacks.
- Increase water intake and stay hydrated
- Eat small, frequent meals to keep the blood sugar level up
- Always eat breakfast
- Have enough sleep and make sure that the room is quiet and conducive for sleeping
- Avoid or possibly eliminate stress
- Do deep breathing exercises
- Apply ice bag on the affected area of your head to relax
- Find ways to relax
Utilise the Following Tips to Treat and Prevent Hormonal Headaches:
- Eat fruits and vegetables to stay healthy and prevent migraine attacks especially during your monthly period. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables a week before your menstrual cycle has proven to counteract the ill effects of migraine.
- Exercise is the best way to relieve any pain we feel in our body. Exercise is recommended due to the fact that it can release the hormone endorphins necessary to treat headaches and migraines.
- Sleeping well at night is very important in order for the body to recover from daytime activities. Women who lack sleep prior to their menstrual cycle are prone to suffer severe headaches. Getting enough rest and sleep will beat the migraine nightmare you don’t want to experience every month. The recommended number of hours of sleep is between 8-10 hours every night.
- Relaxation techniques are helpful in alleviating painful migraines. Activities include deep breathing, guided imagery, yoga, visualisations and affirmations. Free yourself from stress and make sure to maintain a happy and positive disposition in dealing with problems.
- Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol if these are triggers for you. In fact, avoid any known triggers where you possibly can.
Natural and Home Remedies
Relying on over the counter drugs may be helpful but they can only relieve symptoms but not totally heal the underlying cause. Here we have a list of natural and home remedies which you will find useful in treating headaches and migraines.
- The effects of evening Primrose oil is very similar to Omega Fatty Acids and Omega 3 in fish oil which is a natural pain killer and helpful in relieving menstrual headaches.
- Flax Seed Oil can also alleviate headache.
- Willow Bark helps reduce fever, pain and swelling.
- Ginger contains anti inflammatory properties and can be consumed as a tea, in juices or smoothies, frozen and grated over food, added to curries and stir fries.
- Take a high-quality magnesium supplement such as this one. Magnesium is known to help relax muscles and muscle tension. Adequate levels in the body may help to prevent headaches..
- Magnesium oil is also effective in reducing symptoms of PMS one of which is migraine. Those who used magnesium oil on a regular basis have reportedly noted an improvement in migraine. Magnesium salts (epsom salts) can be very good to add to a bath to help relax the body and mind. I highly recommend doing this if you have access to a bath tub.
- Essential oils can also be very effective for headaches and migraines, I have personally leaned on them many times over the years to help with this very problem. See My list of helpful oils below.
- Avoid light, strong or offensive smells and loud noises if you are starting to develop a migraine or you already have one. These things can all exacerbate a migraine (speaking from experience here).
- Take things off your busy to-do list. Sometimes migraines can come on because we are simply too busy. By releasing the need to get it all done and take on the problems of the world, we can release so much unnecessary tension that can be the cause of migraines. Another thing to release is perfectionism and the need to control everything (and everyone). This alone can have a huge impact.
We hope you enjoyed today's blog and it added some kind of value to your life. If you found it useful, we'd appreciate it that you could please share it with those you know. Knowledge is power and we all have the ability to effect change.
Together we can get Australians healthier. 😊
Tam x
*Disclaimer: the information in this article is intended purely as information and not health advice. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure and one should always seek expert advice from their trusted health practitioner.
