A migraine is more than a bad headache: it is an acute, throbbing pain, usually on one side of your head. In addition, the pain, which may last several days, is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sounds.



Scientists are at a loss as to what really triggers migraine episodes. Foods, cigarette smoke, stress, or even the weather, are among many of the culprits.

Whatever the causes, migraines can be debilitating. Essentially, a migraine attack occurs when the blood vessels inside your brain constrict and then expand, and thus causing nerve endings, which transmit pain messages to your brain.

You can do something about your migraine headaches, instead of resorting to medications, which only suppress the symptoms without curing the causes. Remember, all pharmaceutical drugs are chemicals and may have long-term adverse effects on your health. Think twice before you take any prescription medications.

Prevention is better than cure. To prevent a migraine episode, you should first of all identify all possible migraine triggers. Keep a diary to help identify specific triggers.

Begin with pain-safe foods: brown rice; cooked green and colored vegetables (except tomatoes); cooked or dried fruits (except apples, bananas, and citrus fruits). Have these pain-safe foods for several weeks.

Then, slowly and gradually, add other food items to see how your body may react to them. Through the process of elimination, you will soon be able to determine your tolerance or lack of it for certain foods.

Common triggers are dairy products, eggs, chocolate, meat, corn, onions, tomatoes, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, nuts, peanuts, and wheat.

In addition, avoid soda beverages, caffeinated drinks (such as teas and coffees), and alcoholic beverages (especially red wine).

The above measures are effective in preventing migraines.

However, if you feel the first hint of an impending headache, you should abort it by taking immediate action. Stop whatever you are doing, and take a rest. Use your fingers to massage or press gently on the large blood vessel that you can feel in the temple area. This can provide temporary relief in about 40 percent of people suffering from migraines.

To treat the symptoms, use feverfew, which is an herbal plant used by ancient Greeks to treat fever and headaches. Feverfew is sold at all health food stores. Feverfew comes in capsules or in fresh leaves. This popular herb is safe (except with pregnant women or those with clotting disorders), with little or no side effects.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years in the Far East to treat headache-related symptomses. Include fresh ginger in your everyday diet.

Other vitamins and minerals for prevention include calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium.

Deal with migraines without medications.

Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau