Does anyone have any good helpful tips on how to control migraine headaches?
111759
See your doctor and ask about Imitrex.  It's great for migraines although doesn't work for everyone.
645550
I get really bad migraines too. Normally if I have a migraine I drink tea, place an ice pack on your forehead( lay in the dark where its peacefull), or I learned this when I was younger. First keep your eyes opes and take your pointer and middle finger and massage your temples at the same time for about ten sec.. THen close your eyes and do the same thing. It works a little for more, and if that doesnt work take some advil.
92634
You can try turning off the lights, if it is possible.  Often the major culprit of headaches is light.  Also try massaging your temples, starting lightly and gradually applying more pressure.  Drink a lot of water.  Don't drink anything with caffeine or sugar, as they can make a headache much worse.
354539
Check out these websites! I hope they help you.\n\nhttp://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/downloads/health/migraines.html\nhttp://www.achenet.org/resources/headfact.php\nhttp://www.solveyourproblem.com/headache-relief/migraine_sinus_tension_headaches.shtml
431082
I get really severe migraine too and I feel for you.  I take medication for mine and that is the only thing that helps me (Imitrex) but before Imitrex came out I used to put an ice pack on the affected side (sometimes a bag of frozen corn or frozen peas because you could contour it to your head), lie in a darkened room and (all the above answers are great, by the way) place a hot water bottle, not too hot, on my abdomen as this would help to draw the flow of blood away from the head. Hope that helps.
942703
Hi Alex\n\nHere is a plan to help with your headaches.\n\nQuick Action Plan for Headaches\n1. Since food allergies can play a role in over 90 percent of certain types of headaches, such as migraine, it is important that you be screened for food allergies and sensitivities, and avoid eating all foods that you are allergic or sensitive to.\n\n2. Emphasize a diet of fresh, organic foods with an emphasis on vegetables, especially dark leafy green vegetables, salads, free-range organic poultry, wild-caught, cold-water fish, and non-gluten, complex carbohydrate foods, such as red potatoes, squash, and yams.\n\n3. A helpful dietary remedy for headaches is “potassium broth,” which can be made by combining washed but unpeeled carrots and potatoes with a variety of potassium-rich green vegetables into a pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, and then simmer for ten to 15 minutes, then strain out the broth and sip it throughout the day.\n\n4. To help prevent and reverse headaches, supplement with B-complex vitamins, vitamin B3, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), evening primrose oil, and the amino acid DL-phenylalanine.\n\n5. Certain herbs can also help prevent and reduce headache symptoms. These include bay leaves, cayenne pepper, chamomile, coriander, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginger, skullcap, turmeric, valerian root, wild yam, and willow bark.\n\n6. Since headaches are often due to chronic muscle tension and/or muscle spasm, bodywork can be extremely helpful in minimizing the risk of headaches, especially Alexander Technique, Bowen Therapy, Feldenkrais, massage therapy, Polarity therapy, Structural Integration and Rolfing.\n\n7. Hot baths, saunas, and steam baths can help ease headache pain by increasing blood circulation and easing muscle tension.\n\n8. Learning how to cope with daily stress by practicing relaxation exercises can also significantly reduce the incidence of headaches. One of the simplest methods of relaxation is simply to close your eyes as you sit comfortably in a chair, breathing gently and deeply through your belly. Do this for five minutes at a time and repeat throughout the day.\n\n9. At the first sign of migraine symptoms, add two tablets of Alka-Seltzer Gold to a glass of water and drink immediately. This simple technique can often halt migraine symptoms very quickly.\n\n\nBest of health to you  \n\nCheers
629001
I dont know much about migrains, far from it. But I know a few things: A healthy lifestyle is good for you! Especially drinking enough water, and exercising. If that does not help, see a doctor and/or buy some anti-migrain drug.\n\nAlso, avoid candy, coffe, cigarettes, stress, artifial sweeteners and keep your blood sugar level steady! In other words: be healthy!
719361
If you know what you're triggers are, then try your best to avoid them. \n\nEveryone is different. You could try Excedrin Migraine or putting an ice pack on the throbbing area or rub a little bit of peppermint oil into your temple.\n\nHowever, if the migraines continue to interfere with your daily life, talk to your doctor. There are numerous prescription drugs on the market as well as other medications that can help prevent the attacks from happening.
329681
It depends on what is causing the headaches.\n\nI think a lot of migraines stem from sinus problems.  Try flushing your sinuses with a lukewarm saline rinse.  Also, try tiger balm under your eyes and nose while standing in a steamy shower.  Open up those sinuses!\n\nYou might want to check your diet and activities.  Smoking, alcohol, and caffeine withdrawel is notorious for setting off migraines.\n\nI would seriously recommend keeping a migraine diary.  Record every time you have a migraine.  Also record such things as the pollen count, barometric pressure and what you ate that day.  I know it sounds tedious... but it is an excellent way to start to track down alternative causes.\n\nGood luck!
418967
You can take a look at this new health drink. I use it, but not for migraines, but there is alot of people who have had their migraines actually cease by using it. I can give you the link and you can draw your own conclusions. I hope this will help you, it has for many others.
182123
Short of having a prescriptions pain killer for migraines, there is not a lot you can do.  Try sleeping in a dark, cool, and quite room.  Keep yourself comfortable.  Don't eat or drink anything.  Cool (not cold) water is okay, but you probably won't care for any.  Don't try to drive or leave the house.  Don't answer the phone.  Don't move at all if you don't have to as all of these things will make the migraine much worse.  My best advice is to get a prescription and take it at the onset of a migraine.  You will feel better in 1/2 hour and most or all of the symptoms will be gone in 1 hour.
485524
As far as homeopathic/natural things go-- I found that feverfew tea (or now I think they have tablets) was a natural ingredient that helped migraines.  I didn't like the tea, so this one didn't work that great for me.\n\nWhat really helped me, was to up my intake of B vitamins/niacin.  That did help me prevent/get ride of a significant number of migraines.\n\nGood luck-- I know they are pretty miserable.
511887
Migraine is a genetic neurological disease that there is NO cure for.  However, it can be managed by addressing preventive treatment, trigger management, abortive treatment, and general pain management.\n\nIf you are having a number of Migraines each month you and your doctor can consider using a prescription preventive or a combination of preventatives.  There are hundreds of them and finding the right one is a lot of trial and error.\n\nThere are non-prescription preventatives too.  300mg of Co enzyme Q-10 a day has been shown to a good preventative.  There is also Buttebur, Feverfew, Magnesium and Vitamin B12.  \n\nAvoiding potential Migraine triggers such as MSG, Aspartame, Chocolate, Certain Alcohols, aged cheese, fresh baked breads, etc.  are a good idea.\n\nTreating and aborting a Migraine as early as possible is key.  There are Migraine specific medications that can help.  Triptans, such as Imitrex, Amerge, and Frova and Ergotamines such as Migranal and DHE45 are some of them.  They come in a variety of delivery systems; tablets that you swallow, or a pill that dissolves under your tongue, nasal sprays or self-injections.\n\nThere is also one over-the-counter medicine that has been proven effective for treating a Migraine.  It's called "GelStat" and it is a liquid that you squirt under your tounge.  It contains feverfew to help relieve the pain and ginger to help with nausea.\n\nIf the pain of a Migraine cannot be controlled through the previous methods then analgesic both narcotic and non narcotic may be needed.  Some of these medications are Acetameniphin, Midrin, Fiorcet, Hydrocodone, NSAID's, and Demerol.
514593
rub your temples with some peppermint oil...it helps a lot. or check out the aromatherpy line from bath and body works, they have some stuff for headaches that works great!
5427
I am a reflexologist and yes, I have helped many of my clients with their migraine's.  Start by working your big toe, where your frontal cortex is located.  A long the medial phalange to the end of the medial metatarsal.  These locations are your cervical(neck and upper back) and thoracic spine(mid back). Also Work the plantar foot under your toes.  This is where your trapezius and scapular muscles are located. Many headachs and migrains will start from the cervical spine so by releasing that tension even along your ocippital ridge will help reduce the pain. Every reflexologist is diffrent but it is important to get the work done. I have learned diffrent points and styles of reflexology and the best and most effective method was from Dr. Manzanares.  He's a medical doctor from Spain.  Very cool and knowledgable man.  Also look into CrainoSacral Therapy, very powerful stuff.
1118183
FIRST BE AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS BEFORE THE ACTUAL MIGRAINE BEGINS. TAKE YOUR PRESCRIBED MEDS AS DIRECTED. MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN A QUIET, PEACEFUL DIM LIT AREA. RELAX AND TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT MAY CAUSE ANY UNDUE STRESS. AND BY THE WAY STRESS PLAYS A BIG PART. DO KEEP BUSY WHEN YOU'RE FEELING BETTER, FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY FOODS THAT CAN ADD THIS SITUATION.
865075
Migraine: Natural Treatment \nI've collected a few suggestions that are reported to be helpful for migraines:\n\nCayenne Pepper:\n\nTaking cayenne inside the nose helps to open up the blood vessels. This enables the blood to get nutrients to all parts of the brain. Warning - this can burn a bit, so keep the grains of cayenne down to as few as possible.\n\nTo stop a migraine follow these simple steps:\n\nOpen the capsule and dip the flat end of a dry toothpick into the cayenne to pick up 3-4 grains. \nBlock one nostril and gently put cayenne up the other nostril. \nSniff deeply 3-4 times until you feel the flecks of pepper in your throat. (If you don't feel this, do it again). \nOnce you feel the warmth in your throat, you headache should be gone in minutes \nOther suggestions:\n\nTaking 500 mg of magnesium per day and increasing your water intake to 8-10 glasses per day can be helpful. One person reported that her migraines were still coming at the time they usually did (during her cycle), but were much less intense and went away faster.\n\nAnother person resolved her migraine problem by eliminating ALL animal fat the week before menstruation (skim milk, non-fat yogurt ok), and adding evening primrose oil to her diet.\n\nIf you feel that you need migraine meds, keep in mind that a number of migraine meds are considered compatible with breastfeeding, including Sumatriptan (Imitrex).\n\nHere are a couple of outside links:\n\nNatural Migraine Treatment FAQ. "This Natural Migraine Treatment FAQ, posted to alt.support.headaches.migraine, attempts to summarize all non-medical treatments that help prevent or cure migraine headaches. Most treatments mentioned here have worked for many people, and usually have a theoretical basis as well. This FAQ doesn't discuss drugs."\n\nHow to Prevent Primary Headaches/Migraines by Manipulating Caffeine Intake. The author theorizes that all primary headache, including all migraine, may be caffeine withdrawal - might be worth a try!