Migraine often arrives with a proclamation and the commonest warning sign of migraine is an aura. Aura is appearance of bright spots, flashes or lines of light, or blind spots. Sometimes loss of vision too occurs in aura temporarily. All patients don’t get an aura, as a warning sign of migraine. Migraine with aura is called classic migraine, while that without aura is called common migraine. Aura characteristically occurs in one eye and may be along with numbness in the face.

Some other migraine symptoms are nauseous feeling and bouts of vomiting, hands and feet getting cold, sleepiness, irritability, and tiredness.

It has been found that more than the allopathic treatment, nature therapy works effectively in migraine. The drugs like NSAIDs, beta-blockers, Triptans, and amitriptylines work only when the headache has not yet been worsened. But natural treatments work more effectively, though they take some time to show results; this is because, unlike the allopathic drugs, they don’t work only on symptoms, but work to eliminate the root cause. Therefore, their results are not seen quickly and patients decide that they are useless. In fact, natural remedies are the best for migraine. Still, it is strongly advised to discuss with your doctor before taking any migraine treatment, because he or she knows the best which type of treatment your migraine needs.

Herbs like feverfew, peppermint, passionflower and white willow bark work excellently to eradicate migraine. Feverfew is a herb which is believed to inhibit the cause of spasm of the blood vessels in head. Taking a limited quantity of this herb daily brings about relief from migraine, by reducing headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light and noise. Its anti-inflammatory action is quite similar to ibuprofen. Peppermint is used as migraine treatment by adding it to tea or in salad. It can also be added to oil which is used to massage head and neck, during migraine attack. The cooling properties of peppermint relieve pain and tension. Passionflower too is used in tea to aid migraine patient to sleep sound. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and reduces anxiety and relieves pain. White willow bark is another popular herb used to relieve migraine headache. Its action is much similar to that of aspirin and it is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Massaging the area around neck, ears and temples with a balm containing natural ingredients like eucalyptus, menthol or peppermint also gives significant relief from migraine.

Yoga is another effective migraine treatment. It primarily works to relax the nerves in head and neck to enhance the blood flow there. It also acts as a preventive measure. You should practice yoga under the supervision of an expert.

Acupuncture too works in some migraine patients, as both treatment and prevention. Points for migraine are spread all over the body.

Another effective migraine therapy is aromatherapy, which is known to create relaxing atmosphere, which relieves migraine pain considerably.

Diet and behavioral changes also bring about significant improvement in migraine in the safest way. Change in diet, for example, helps in relieving as well as preventing migraine. Avoiding foods like processed meat, aged cheeses and alcohols like beer and red wine help in preventing migraine. It is not advisable to make abrupt changes in diet. Increasing magnesium-rich foods, like green leafy veggies, seafood, black beans, and soy-milk, spices like ginger and peppermint, and also calcium-rich food and fish in the diet helps to prevent headache. Fish, like sardines and trout, rich in essential fatty acids, should be taken at least four ounces per day in the diet. If you cannot eat them, you can have supplements available in the market.

Sleeping comfortably, in a room preferably with no light and sound and having temperature just suitable to you, relaxes your eyes and head and neck muscles, and brings relief from migraine.

Avoiding continuous eye contact with TV and computer monitor, and tying the lower part of the head just above the neck behind and eyes in front, with a long cloth also helps to relieve pain. Avoid tying too tightly.

Even sex is a great migraine treatment! Yes, and it is because sex is known, since long, to relax strained muscles and nerves and increase blood flow towards brain. It also elevates mood and brings feeling of well-being which helps further to bring migraine relief.

Thus turning towards Mother Nature is always a great step towards migraine relief!