7 Tips to Relieve Migraine Pain

Man in a dark room, holding his head in pain.

If you are a migraine sufferer, you know how debilitating they are and keep you from doing your normal activities. They can cause you to lose time at work, skip out on things you want to be a part of, and completely shut down for a time. The pain leaves you looking for any way possible to reduce the pain. Most of the time, it will require you to come up with your own protocol or system of things you do to reduce the pain when you have an active migraine and keep future ones from happening. In this article, we want to give you some ideas of how you can relieve migraine pain at home.

How Can I Relieve Migraine Pain At Home?

Home remedies are a more natural way of helping to relieve migraine pain and usually don’t require you to take medications. Some people prefer this because they don’t want to become reliant on meds to manage their pain.

There are a lot of ideas you can try to help reduce your migrain pain at home. Some of these tips can even help you from getting migraines as often.

We know that if you suffer from migraines, you’ll do almost anything in your power to make them go away. So, here are a few things you can try to help manage your pain:

Watch your diet - foods and beverages can be migraine triggers. Some of these foods can include nitrates, chocolate, cheese, alcohol, MSG containing foods, processed foods, beans, and dried fruits.
Use lavender oil - according to one study, people who inhaled lavender oil for 15 minutes while dealing with a migraine reported faster relief than those who inhaled a placebo. Lavender oil can also be rubbed on the temples for natural relief.
Press acupressure points for migraines - certain points on the body have pressure applied to them, which often is a natural pain reliever and relaxant.
Apply peppermint oil - putting peppermint oil on the forehead and temples can be more effective than a placebo for relieving migraine symptoms - the menthol in the peppermint oil is the key.
Take a magnesium supplement - a magnesium deficiency can lead to headaches and migraines. It also may be helpful in preventing migraines.

Does Coffee Help With A Migraine?

Surprisingly enough, coffee may assist in relieving the pain of the headaches and migraines you may experience. The caffeine in coffee works by reducing inflammation in blood vessels. Oftentimes caffeine is added to acetaminophen or ibuprofen to work better and faster, making them up to 40% more effective. However, for some people, caffeine can actually cause headaches because it shrinks the blood vessels in your head. That’s why it is important for you to figure out how your body specifically handles coffee.

Does Drinking Water Help With Migraines?

Staying properly hydrated can be effective at preventing headaches and migraines, but what about when you’re suffering with one? Drinking water is probably most effective when you’re trying to prevent migraines, not cure one. However, it’s definitely not going to hurt if you start guzzling water when you get a migraine. Drinking feverfew tea, green tea, and black tea may also be helpful.

What Is The Fastest Way To Relieve A Migraine?

When you’re dealing with a migraine, being in a dark, quiet room, using a cold washcloth on your head, and resting can help you feel relief. Another way to relieve the pain can be to use an essential oil blend that contains peppermint or lavender oil can also ease the pain. You can also try practicing mindfulness through stretching, yoga, and meditation to get your body back in a normal state faster as well.

What Can I Take For A Migraine?

If you try all the natural remedies and still can’t handle the migraine pain, taking an over-the-counter medication may provide some relief. Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or a combination of the two plus caffeine are best to take as soon as you feel a migraine coming on. If you’re a regular migraine sufferer, you often can tell when a migraine is coming on, so be sure to take medications early if you find them helpful.

What Are The Pressure Points To Relieve Migraines?

Using acupressure or even acupuncture can be a great natural migraine remedy. There are certain points on the body called acupoints that can be stimulated to relieve migraines. Pressure point LI-4, also called Hegu, is located between your index finger and the base of your thumb. Pressing down on this area for five minutes while you move your thumb in a circle is the most effective way to achieve results. Since acupressure is not invasive, it can be performed as many times a day as you prefer.

How Can You Sleep With A Migraine?

When you’ve got a migraine, sometimes the only thing you want to do is sleep it off. However, the pain and even the caffeine you take can keep you up. Using lavender essential oil can help you get to sleep and stay asleep—receiving a massage or even self-massage before bed is a relaxing way to fall into a deep slumber. Avoiding triggering foods is also a good tip to assist in getting a good nights’ sleep.

Is A Hot Or Cold Shower Better For A Migraine?

Utilizing ice and/or heat can be a great way to relieve pain. Most migraine sufferers prefer using ice or cold over using heat. Cold packs can be applied to the neck, shoulders, or even forehead to the skin, offering relief. Taking a cold shower can put your body into parasympathetic mode, which is when your body is in the healing state.

Soaking your feet may actually help you get some relief. We know that some natural remedies may sound crazy, but there is scientific reasoning to back up this practice. Putting your feet in cold water might seem extreme, but if you’ve been dealing with a relentless migraine, there’s no reason to not try it. There’s over 72,000 nerve endings in your feet and soaking them can help draw out toxins from your body while increasing the blood flow down to your feet. This can provide relief from the pressure you feel in your head.

Dealing with regular migraines doesn’t have to ruin your life. There are real ways you can get the pain under control and get back to doing the things you love.