Migraines--Any "Home Remedy" Ideas?

I always go to the chiropractor when ever I get a migrain. It helps so much I hope you can find something that works for you.

I use orudis KT, it is the only thing I have found to work over the years. I have a hard time finding it now though- I think you can google it and find it online.

Chiropractic. I have been a chiropractor for over 20 years and there hasn't been a migraine I couldn't help in all of that time. No drugs, no side effects.

Hi B.,

The only homeopathic I found to help was ice. Please don't try any medication ideas without asking your doctor first.

I suffered with cluster headaches (more severe than migraines) for over ten years. ugh...I was provided with a list from my neurologist many years ago that certain items are actually triggers and can help cause initial or rebound migraines: cigarette smoke, caffeine (stay away at all cost - watch for OTC migraine pills because some of them contain it), chocolate, dairy, yeast products (beer is really bad for migraines).

Like the other mom below, I too took Topomax for years and cannot give it enough praise.

Good luck and hope it goes away soon!

I think that you should see a doctor. I get terrible migraines and have to take topamax to keep them from returning. One thing that does help when I have a migraine is Active On roll on muscle rub, I put it on my neck and behind my ear and it seems to help relieve the pain.

I agree a three day migraine should be looked at by a doctor. Just to be safe.

Caffeine helps with migraines sometimes. Not always, though. My mom will throw up from caffeine with a migraine, but it always helps my friend. She used caffeine to prevent them during her pregnancy, and always drinks some as soon as she feels one coming on.

Hope you feel better soon...

I am so sorry to hear this. i too get them, about one a month and bc I am nursing I cant take anything that does the trick. I do use heat, I have what I call a rice bag (pillow case sew fill w/ reg. rice, heat in the mike a few min apply heat) and it helps...but not really. some people (I hear most) like cold so thry that too. I am going to read the reply maybe it will help me too. thannks! and i do hope you feel better soon. oh i forgot bc this sounds dumb..but I eat a bigmac/fries/diet soda when i have one and it helps a bit maybe all the calories or something. honestly nothing i have tried (rice heat, food, massage, dark, showers) have worked like my meds so I kinda cant wait till I can take them again.

3 days is too long. Go to the doctor or the ER.
It could be something more dangerous and it is not good for your body to be in that much pain for so long.
I had a migraine for 3 days and discovered it was actually Spinal Meningitis.

I was having migraines every day for about three months. I tried several different types of medications and nothing helped. My husband and I were trying to get pregnant with our second child and I knew that I didn't want to be taking any kind of maintenance meds to protect me from migraines. So, I ended up going to an Upper Cervical Dr. and I've had only 3 migraines since November. I was skeptical at first, but I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it's been for me. Check out this link, and keep an open mind. Good Luck to you.
http://www.uppercervicalcare.com/

Are you pregnant? When i was pregnant with my last child they could last for days. I am so sorry, migraines are terrible! I wish i had a magic cure myself :( I just do dark, quiet and pain meds...

I suffered from migraines for years, (seeing auras, throwing up, excruciating pain, light sensitivity, seeing light spots, etc). I used to spend so much time in a dark room with my arm over my forehead counting the minutes until I could fall asleep and hope it was gone in the morning. When I was pregnant, I couldn't take Imitrex (a wonder drug but you can't take it too often) I would just knock myself out with Tylenol PM and again, hope it was gone in the morning. I saw a specialist who believed that many things can trigger them such as certain foods, obviously your menstrual cycle, pressure changes in the air, sleep patterns, etc. Basically she told me to avoid caffeine, MSG-(which is in almost EVERYTHING that is processed, not just chinese food...read your labels: anything that says hydrolyzed, autolyzed, modified corn starch, monosodium glutamate, etc is MSG), anything aged (like red wine, aged cheese, etc), citrus, chocolate and others that I can't remember now. Get enough rest, but not too much (7-8 hrs per night). Exercise regularly...the seratonin helps. Well, for a while I managed them with diet, especially cutting out the MSG for me was key...but what worked long term was exercise. Once I stuck to a program (about a year ago) the migraines were gone. I can't remember the last time I had one. Hope you feel better soon, and good luck!

try nortriphaline-it worked great for me

I don't have migraines so that said i would also look at your diet. Quinoa has been said to help migraine sufferers. It's a grain but when cooked is alot like rice. Have you heard of the book Nourishing Traditions? You might start there for changing your diet. Good luck.

What always works best for me is some excederin & an ice pack. Then lay down & try to sleep. The ice hurts for the first minute or so but once you get used to it you can just feel some of the pain from the migraine go away. If i wake & the migrane is still there I drink a large glass of water (take more excederein if it has been long enough) put on another ice pack & lay down again.

Of all the drugs I have ever tried this is the only thing that really works for me (30 years of migranes).

If you cannot put an ice pack on & are out & about when one starts try "HeadOn" or peppermint oil (diluted with another oil or it will burn).

good luck!

my remedy is to just lay down in a quiet dark room with a hot towel on my face for about an hour or longer then im good

Migraines are horrible! Current western medical thought is that your diet has a lot to do with migraines as some other responders have suggested as well. I have found the best solution to be seeing a Traditional Oriental Medical (TOM) doctor. They can figure out the cause of your migraines and treat you accordingly by recommending changes in your diet to help, acupuncture possibly or chinese herbs. This method could potentially cure you of migraines. You should be able to find a TOM practitioner by looking on the internet for someone in your area.

This is what my Dr. told me. Obviously, I'm not a Dr so you'll need to ask yours if it's OK.

I take 325 mg aspirin with 220 mg of naproxem sodium (Aleve) together. The Aspirin is a blood thinner and the Aleve lowers inflammation...they work together to get rid of the blockage that causes migraines. Usually 3 of each to really knock it out. Sometimes 2 of each does the trick. Because you're on the tail end, try 2 and see if it works. GL! Feel better soon!!

Although I totally agree with most replies - I agree most with going to a doc. I, too, have suffered multiple hours worth of them at once - but by the second day, they're subsiding. The first day is the aura piece with vision and foggy head, and within six hours - the vomiting and piercing headache and sensitivity - moving to an eventual deep sleep. BUT when they pass a second day - I'd head for ER or chiro.

I DO take caffiene in my meds from time to time OR drink a concentrated drink with caffeine (strong coffee or mountain dew - EWW) - but for me, something works about having it in my system. I search for the migraine meds that include it. And I agree with nutrition and diet. In the days that I was not paying attention to processed foods or MSG or cheeses, I tended to have them as frequently as twice per week, one being more severe.

Good luck and hope this one is over already!
~T.

As a woman who had never had a headache in her life until I was diagnosed with meningitis in 2005 and then stuck in the hospital for a month with it I feel your pain!!!! I now suffer from the recurring migraine once in a while and can last for days. Here are a few things that have helped, some found by myself and others by my many physicians that helped me while in the hospital
1. Darkness...it truely is your friend!
2. Coke! Not Pepsi or any other cola. My physicians had me drink a huge glass of this after doing my spinal tap when they discovered my meningitis. There is something in it that counteracts the horrible pain.
3. Try to lie flat on your back. No pillow! This helps with the natural alignment of your body.
4. Sleep!!!! If you can do it as much as possible. It really is the best reamdy without pumping your body full of painkillers.
I've had everything from Tylenol to Morophine to Dilaudid when trying to help these nasty things. If you can avoid meds try it! The side effects that you get from all the medication isn't worth it. Plus, you're trying to recover from the drugs for days after your migraine is gone!

Good luck!

migraines stink... i suffer from them so badly, it helps if you know why you are getting them, but here is what i try

ice compress to base of neck and area of headache
the OTc med "head on" sounds silly but does help!!
accupuncture and massage

i also take percocet if they are bad, or another narcotic,

good luck, i hope it goes away soon!!!!!!!!!!!

From one B. to another. I used to suffer from 10 day migraines until I found soy isolate nutrition products. If you want more info feel free to email me back at ____@____.com were somewhat based on tmj- and more on female hormones. So not knowing the cause of yours-- sugar imbalance, estrogen/progesterone type ones, stress induced, high bp induced-- it's hard to know.
You can drink caffeine and see if that helps.
You can spike your sugar level - some carry M and M's around.
You can use bcpills all month for hormones or use creams or use soy isolates to even them out if you want natural remedies vs meds.
Check your blood pressure and if its high-- get in to see your Doc.
So-- you know the cause as you're on meds and have seen a Doc previous.
800 mg of motrin will take the edge off really well.
Hydrate yourself -- even around period time-- the more you drink the less you bloat -- paradoxical.
Hope that helps- I empathize from the past.

About me: 49 yo perfusionist, wellness coach also doing a nationwide online biggest loser for $$, wife, mom with 8 yo twin girls.

B. J

Hi B.,
My husband dealt with migraines for many years. His were usually triggered by stress and also sometimes the weather pressure. Anyway, we use a nutrition product and in 4 years my husband has had one very slight migraine. LOVE it and he loves it even more :) So....nutrition is what helped him.
I pray you find what you are looking for because 3 days is way too long to suffer. I could hardly stand the headaches I used to get with my monthly periods so my heart goes out to you.
L.

I can't promise that this will work, obviously, but I always feel loads better after I stand in the shower for a _long_ time (sometimes almost an hour) and then get quite cold (maybe TMI, but I will often lie naked on the bed for a while after the shower). The other thing that I sometimes do is tuck a tennis ball into a knee-high sock and lie down with the tennis ball under the painful points in my neck and back - the counterpressure feels good. They don't get rid of the migraine, for me only time will do that, but they do make me feel better. Oh, and drinking a lot of water, even though it makes me quesy at the time. Feel better!

As a migraine sufferer since the age of 3 (when I was first diagnosed), I would say be careful of what you take. Homeopathics can be quite strong and you can get really nasty effects from them (including prolonging or making your headache worse). Seriously, I understand people are only tring to help, but you do not "just have a headache". Unless they have a serious grasp of what you actually have, they cannot understand.
Remember to stay hydrated and in clean air if possible. I would make an appointment (once again, I know) with either your doctor or find a doctor that understands how to work with migraine sufferers.
I have had some luck with chiroprators and acupuncture, but I have to visit them every time I get a migraine in order for it to help.
Good Luck - I hope you get through this soon.