You are here: home > home remedies and natural cures > migraine

Home Remedies

Herbal Products

Alfalfa
Apple Cider Vinegar
Chamomile
Cinnamon
Cod Liver Oil
Fenugreek
Flax Seed Oil
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginseng
Honey
Oil of Oregano
Tea Tree Oil

Migraines Home Remedy

Signs and Symptoms of Migraines

A migraine is a severe pounding or pulsing headache that commonly starts in the forehead and moves toward the side of the head and around the eyes. It is a form of vascular headache which affects about 28 million Americans, with women being affected more often than men in the general population. Migraine headaches are caused by a combination of the enlargement of blood vessels and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery, which is found just under the skin of the temples, enlarges and causes nerves to stretch around the temporal artery. The tension of nerves then triggers the release of chemicals that cause inflammation, pain and even more enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery intensifies the pain.

Common symptoms of a migraine attack are:

Moderate to severe, throbbing head pain, most commonly on one side of the head.
Head pain that worsens with physical activity.
Sensitivity to light and/or sound.
Nausea or vomiting.

Untreated attacks most commonly last from four to 72 hours, and may persist for weeks. If your headache is accompanied by convulsions, fever, severe mental confusion, or any type of acute pain around your face or ears, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Another form of headaches are due to muscle contractions. See our headache remedies page for more information on the similarities and differences between these tension headaches and migraine headaches.

Causes of Migraines

There are myriad of causes that can trigger migraines. Common causes include:

Stress
Sleep disorders (or too little/too much sleep)
Fatigue
Caffeine
Smoking
High or low blood pressure
Birth control pills
Artificial sweeteners
Fasting for an extended period of time
Heredity
High salt consumption
Strong perfumes

Home Remedies and Natural Cures for Migraines Treatment

Migraines Home Remedy Using Ice Packs

Compresses of ice can help to constrict blood vessels, returning them to normal size. Therefore, an effective home remedy for a migraine headache is to take a soft, cold ice pack and wrap it in a towel. Then hold it against your temples and forehead, alternating positions every few seconds. Repeat this for up to three minutes to alleviate migraine pain.

Natural Remedy for Migraines Using Henna

The flowers of henna have been found to be very effective at curing headaches and migraines. A simple home remedy is to dip henna flowers in vinegar and then rub them against the forehead for quick pain relief.

Chamomile Tea for Treating Migraines

When you feel a migraine coming on, Chamomile is a wonderful preventive measure to limit the severity of the pain. Simply take a cup of chamomile tea when you start noticing migraine symptoms.

Niacin for Relief from Migraines

Niacin has been shown to be helpful in relieving migraine pain. Valuable sources of this vitamin are yeast, whole wheat, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, nuts, sunflower seeds, liver and fish. Therefore, vitamin tablets containing at least 100mg of niacin can be taken daily for treating migraines.

Migraines Home Remedy Using Ginkgo Biloba

A simple remedy for migraine pain is to take 120mg of Ginkgo Biloba extract daily before any meal. Ginkgo Biloba has been found to help increase blood circulation and relieve migraine pain.

Consuming Vegetable Juices for Curing Migraines

Researchers believe that low levels of magnesium are a major cause of migraines, since magnesium is considered to be effective at relaxing the body. Therefore, regular consumption of magnesium supplements may help alleviate migraine pain. Fruits, nuts, and dark green, leafy vegetables are a great natural source of magnesium, so a cocktail of fruit and vegetable juices is very beneficial for alleviating migraines.

Carrot juice combined with spinach, beet and cucumber is great for migraine pain relief. Simply use a juicer to combine 300ml of carrot juice with spinach leaves. Then add up to 100ml each of beet and cucumber juices to the mix.

Fresh grape juice has also been found to be effective for migraines. Simply grind fresh, ripe grapes and drink the juice directly without adding any water.

Discover Migraine Triggers with a Diet Log

Many people find that certain foods always seem to trigger a migraine. Unfortunately, these trigger foods often vary from person to person so there is no easy list that applies to everyone. If you know which foods trigger your headaches, then a simple solution is to avoid them in your daily diet. However, if you still don't know which foods may trigger your migraines, then it is a good idea to start logging what you eat and also when your migraines occur. This will allow you to figure out if there are items in your diet (such as certain ingredients) that often coincide with a migraine attack. You can then try to avoid these suspected ingredients to see if they reduce the frequency of your headaches.

Reader Comments

Posted by patsy on Aug 28 2010 09:07:15

cinnamon makes my migraines worse and lavender gives me a migraine. Be sure to keep a log so you can determine what is helping and what may make you feel worse...

Posted by Lydia on Aug 15 2010 14:25:15

I am 43 and like most, I have suffered with migraines since I was about 9. Tried feverfew, no OTC meds work, tried zomig, and a few others. The one med that works is Maxalt MLT. It's a melt in your mouth pill. I couldnt take the tablets because of vomiting. The first time I took it, my migraine was gone in 20 minutes.

Posted by Diane on Aug 04 2010 16:22:34

At the first sign of a migraine, drink a can of high energy drink, such as Redbull or Emerge, and this will clear the migraine within 30 minutes.

Posted by Lin on Jul 21 2010 12:17:49

I had been suffering from migraines for over 25 years. I tried feverfew (broke out in hives), 1 year of acupuncture, massage therapy, Imetrix, OTC Advil (had to take 4 at a time) and none of them worked. Finally,I tried Shakeology (pure nutrition shake) and my migraines are gone! More info at www.ChikletShake.com

Posted by Nancy on Jun 15 2010 19:24:51

For the reader with migraines that come on at night, my dr put me on 3mg of melatonin and it has completely eliminated the night time migraines. You can get it over the counter. HTH

Posted by Michelle on Jun 08 2010 22:18:02

I have had migraines for the past 12 years. I have had an MRI. I have tried daily preventative medication (topomax). It made me lose weight drastically and made me CRAZY and I was still getting migraines on a weekly basis! I finally started a headache/food journal. I narrowed my triggers down to artificial sweetener. If you don't figure out your triggers, nothing will help you. I still have the occasional migraine, but now it's monthly not weekly. I take Maxalt now for my really bad migraines. I am going to to try these herbal remedies too. A Whole Foods employee told me to rub peppermint essential oil on my temples and drink peppermint tea.

Posted by jenny on Jun 07 2010 23:40:29

okay i love this website it really helps but i get a 'migrane' right behind my left eye! it hurts so bad and it always happwns in the middle of the night never in the day... what the heck can i do?

Posted by Samantha Taneh on May 14 2010 10:17:52

I LOVE these tips. They really worked. :) XD I am only 12 but I get sever migraines. Thanks for the help.

Posted by mina on Apr 26 2010 23:49:37

hello i need an advice, am 40yrs housewife, since the past 3 years i get menstrual migraine thus preventing me to do chores normally, i get acute pain on right hand side, from head to neck including ears, accompanied with nausea or vomitting, please reply me on my email add. right now itself am having it, i need home remedies and alternate therapies thanks. my teenaged daughter who is 12 get acute thighs pain during menses any advice please. minadi@ymail.com

Posted by Anonymous on Mar 06 2010 23:25:33

Lavender also helps migraines if you put a scent around you of lavender while you sleep. -I'm a kid, I want to be a Herbologist someday!

Posted by jeevraj singh shekhawat on Feb 28 2010 02:25:00

i will try few of them...

Posted by Belinda on Feb 18 2010 09:31:13

I am 39 and have had migraines since I was 13. I have always used BC powders for immediate relief. They work when you take them at the first sign of a migraine coming on but as I grew older I began to worry about the effects of too much use of the BC's and wanted to find a more natural way to handle my migraines. I noticed a lot of food triggers such as MSG, red #40 and other unnatural ingredients in food. I make as much food from scratch as possible so I know what is in it. This has reduced my migraines by at least 80%. I went from having them daily to now just a few times a month. Another trigger is the weather. I get a migraine before a storm. I have been told it has something to do with the air pressure. Magnesium helps strengthen the blood vessels and taking this does help to where I don't get them with every storm now. I hope this helps Renee with her daughter. My 15 year old son has migraines too, but with what I have learned over the years I have been able to help him with his so that he is not having them daily as I did at that age.

Posted by Kim McClennan on Feb 03 2010 17:53:08

This is a very interesting site. It is good to read what other people are doing to help themselves. I think I am going to try some of them for my migraines. Sincerely, Kim

Posted by Renee on Jan 20 2010 15:12:45

My 18 year old daughter has been suffering from severe migraines for over 2 years. They started mild and infrequent. Now they are severe and happen on a weekly basis. None of the migraine meds work on her - she has tried them all!!! We have tried topamax as preventive. Off that now - didn't work well. Now on depakote and keppra (both seizure meds that are supposed to prevent migraines). She stil has them at least one a week. She always ends up in bed for hours or days. Menstrual cycle always triggers one that no meds can help. We have been to ER and come home with a migraine still. I am going to try some of the remedies listed here. I pray they help!!! Any suggestions are mery welcome!!

Posted by kurtandlexie@hotmail.com on Jan 17 2010 12:14:01

Dear Lexie, I hope you're doing well. In case you still get bothered by these headaches, I found some things that might be of any help. I know you've tried already a lot but the ones I found are quite easy to use and don't cost much. Up to you if you do anything with it or not. I hope you'll be able to get onto 6 & 7 soon. I admire you're dedication and intention. Ml, Joop

Posted by Jimmy Vou on Dec 30 2009 22:25:11

I have a friend that if someone rather then me, mail her the information, would be helpful, not only for her, many people she knows have the same trama... she dosn't have a computer; if you would send this information to her... 2306 Longridge, Garland, Texas 75040 I certainly would be much appriciative in all respects... I again thank you for your willingness to help in this matter... I remain, Jimmy Vou

Posted by John Salamon on Aug 27 2009 20:50:44

I totally agree with Jodi's comment in that mainstream medicine mainly focuses on treating the symptoms of migraine headache instead of the underlining causes where as natural health therapies put more emphasis on the underlining causes of a migraine for a particular individual and provide highly individualized and holistic treatment according to the exact causes of the migraines for that patient. I think mainstream medicine has got a lot to answer for in regarding to the treatment of migraines. Many Doctors talk of migraine triggers and how to avoid these possible triggers, where natural health therapies prevent the migraine sufferer from getting into a pre-migraine state where all that is needed is the 'trigger'. To prevent someone entering the pre-migraine state takes a lot more effort, investigation and trial and error as well as some lifestyle and diet changes but is well worth the alternative and that is being doped out on painkillers and becoming a vegetable every time a migraine hits.

Posted by Darlene on Jul 23 2009 08:43:34

my mirgaranes were quite bad. I thought mostly from the change of weather or stress. And with some a RX from my orthopedic doctor for shoulder, neck and back massage I can say I am alot better and don't have to rely on Maxalt anymore.

Posted by Jodi Ojeda on May 05 2009 15:56:26

In regard's to cause of migraines, (among many of the other condition's listed). I don't feel that we dig deep enough to find the true cause of a condition therefore we are only able to alleviate symptom's (most of the time) rather than heal the condition. Most research that has been done has actually shown that even stress, depression, anxiety, etc. have shown to be a physical condition rather than mental or emotional. The same goes for ailment's. So, if you have a migraine caused by stress...what is the stress? Is it an obvious situation in life? Is this situation prone to cause pain? Or is there something that you might be exposed to (likely, unseen) that could be making you feel stressed and causing headaches? I hope this makes since. Research mold & toxin's. Although everyone may know plenty about it...Research more! I love this site! I use it everytime I am researching a condition and a natural form of treatment! Thank you so much for creating an informational site as this! God Bless, Jodi

Posted by Melanie on Jan 11 2009 19:03:58

my migraines have gotten better over the last several years for some reason, but when i do occasionally get them, i find that taking a nap cures it. it doesn't matter how long i sleep, as long as i do fall asleep. this makes me think that relaxation techniques may help. i doubt this would help much with severe, 72-hour kinds, but it might with smaller ones.

Posted by Diane on Jan 05 2009 22:48:46

1,000 mg of Magnesium will cure headaches too, but beware that it can also loosen your stool.

Posted by Anonymous on Oct 25 2008 16:45:42

If You're looking for an ALL NATURAL Remedy...please visit www.pulse4theheart.com. I've suffered with Migraines for 20 years and now I'm finally Migraine Free. I'd love to help others who suffer. I use to vomit, go blind in one eye and see pink spots. Please take control. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Please visit! BE MIGRAINE FREE NOW!!

Posted by Miles on Oct 03 2008 11:05:30

The absolutely best cure for a mirgrane is (a)one cup of stout coffee (b)1000mg of aspirin (c)1000mg of acetainophen (d)1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in the coffee. Take this after eating a sandwich of some sort so you don't get stomach upset.

Posted by julie aber on Aug 16 2008 13:18:51

this is a very helpful site.can i find these herbs anywhere?i'ld rather take herbals than keep taking the presciptions that i am on,because some medications are addictive,and i don't want to go that route.my aunt always took home remedies and she lived till she was 88 years old.i want to live that old and maybe then some.also could you send me a list for arthritis,gerd,asthma,and migraines.thank you for allowing me to check out your site,it was very helpful.sincerely,julie aber.

Sponsors