My migraine story starts from here.
If you’re here because you have been dealing with migraine headaches or someone close to you has migraines and you want to know about ways to heal it, I’m definitely here to help, as I myself have been a victim for more than a decade now.
Migraine is a very painful, pounding headache in the temple area that feels like your head is going to explode in the worst possible way. It is not like a regular headache that goes away after a short nap or with the help of paracetamol. When you’re dealing with migraines, all you can think about is the nerve-wracking pain in your head. While you’re in pain, you can’t concentrate on anything, you don’t feel like eating, you feel irritated, most of the time you become nauseated, you hate bright lights and strong smells, and everything around you feels like an alien environment where you don’t want to stay. These headaches cause a strong throbbing ache around the temple area, which mostly affects one side of the head, but sometimes both—which, by the way, is the worst. But do not worry, we’re in this together, and we are going to take care of it properly and permanently.
To see the maximum results from my sustainable methods of healing migraines, please follow all the steps as much as possible. With the help of these steps, I’ve gone from having migraine attacks twice, sometimes thrice a week, to just once every two to three months, and I am hoping to heal it for good. So, let’s move on to the things I regularly do to avoid migraine pain.
8 Effective Ways to Heal Migraine are:
Mediation and Yoga
It took me a very long time to give in to this powerful method of healing migraine headaches in a sustainable way. I used to hear a lot about this practice being effective for overall health—not only in eradicating the root cause of migraines but also in becoming mentally and physically sound. When I became hopeless and helpless from the throbbing pain in my head all the time, every day of the week, I had to step up and try this method—which, by the way, is a major game changer in feeling like your normal self.
Meditation and yoga are both very effective ways to heal migraine headaches. Meditation helps to clear and relax the mind, which assists us in concentrating on one thing at a time with 110 percent focus. We need to realize that headaches are not only a result of our body’s inability to function properly but are also somehow connected to the functioning of our mind. So, in order to achieve balance between our mind and body, we should practice both meditation and yoga hand in hand. While meditation strengthens our mind’s stability, yoga offers balance between physical and mental capabilities. There are various YouTube videos on yoga for migraines, but the two major videos that have helped me are here and here.
Both of these videos are very simple, slow and relaxing so Start Slow. However, before starting to follow yoga practices, you have to have a clear positive mindset and believe that they’ll work on you. Eventually after few week’s time, you’ll see the results and realize differences on your well-being.
Diet
Another major step in eradicating this painful condition is by having balanced-diet meals. When I say diet, it does not necessarily have to be restricted like weight-loss diet plans. It can be anything you prefer, but in limited amounts. Try to have healthy, home-cooked meals as much as possible rather than eating out and relying on junk food. Headaches develop when we do not properly take care of our body’s needs and nutrients. So, next time you feel like eating out regularly, think about that daunting pain in your head. You can also watch YouTube videos on a balanced diet for migraines. There are plenty of videos available on social media and the internet—you just have to be willing to cure your condition.
I mostly include leafy greens in my meals but avoid certain greens, like spinach, which trigger my headaches. If leafy greens do not trigger yours, you can enjoy them in a variety of dishes. Apparently, eating meat frequently can also aggravate headaches, so try to avoid non-veg items if possible. If you are a meat lover like me, you can include non-veg meals twice a week in your migraine diet. If you’re vegan, that’s good news! If you frequently suffer from migraines, you should completely avoid soft drinks and beverages. You also need to remove canned and fermented foods from your kitchen because they are really bad for migraines.
Self-Care Routine
If you are thinking of solving the migraine mystery in your life, you need to be willing to take some time off for yourself and only yourself. It cannot be fast-forwarded, nor can it be helped by someone else. It has to be you who makes the effort to take care of yourself and your health. Self-care includes taking breaks from work, chores, a busy life, stress, and uncomfortable surroundings—both mentally and physically. You need to set aside some time for deep breaths and walks. Be absent-minded by clearing your mind for a while to relax. Find that empty yet happy corner in your space and spend a few minutes there by yourself. While you’re alone, you can meditate or simply take long, deep breaths in and out. Do things that make you feel good and light. Include those activities in your daily routine, if possible, or at least weekly.
If you’re unsure what your self-care routine should look like, I’ll include mine as an example. The most satisfying self-care routine for me includes gardening, taking care of my plants, spending time on my balcony (surrounded by plants) in the evenings, meditating, cleaning, and focusing on positive thoughts. I also detach myself from social media and uncomfortable environments when I feel the need. I go underground (just kidding!). Do what works for you and whatever keeps your mind and body light.
Habit
Your habits play a major role when it comes to managing migraine headaches. If you have certain bad habits (like I used to have some—wink) and have been thinking of quitting them, do it! Now is the time to say bye-bye to the negative things in your life (as we are trying to cure migraines permanently). Bad habits can include consuming too much sugar, drinking alcohol frequently, eating out daily, procrastinating, not getting enough sleep, not exercising, smoking, not practicing effective methods to stay mentally and physically fit, stressing, or being anxious all the time. If you have any of these bad habits, try to minimize or break them altogether. Practicing good habits daily not only purifies your body but also lightens your mind.
If it feels hard, start with simple, necessary steps and move up slowly but consistently. Remember, destination and determination matter right now—not these temporary hardships. They will fade away just like everything else in life is temporary.
Read Your Triggers
Migraine headaches have certain triggering factors, and these triggers are different for everyone. Most of us can sense beforehand when we’re going to experience a migraine attack. So, when you feel like you’re about to have the pain, take note and recognize what triggered it. Knowing your headache triggers will help you avoid them next time. If you’re willing to make the extra effort, write down your triggering factors and avoid them as much as possible. This way, you’ll be able to save yourself from taking unnecessary medications that can harm your liver and overall health.
According to my findings, the most common triggers include too much caffeine, bananas, dairy products, soft drinks and beverages, extreme weather—whether it’s heat or cold—light, smells, fast food, non-vegetarian meals, secondhand smoke, too much or too little sleep, stress, excessive physical pressure on the body like intense exercise or movement, and even medications themselves. So, avoid all these triggers if you can. If you have any other triggers, avoid them as well.
Avoid Too Many Medicine
I know your migraine won’t go away unless you take your prescribed medicine time and again. I used to take more medicine than necessary whenever I had headaches because the pain is so frustrating and exhausting that you just want it to stop. However, I recently learned that taking too much medicine worsens your condition rather than improving it. So, avoid taking medication while in pain if you can, but if not, take it only a few times. As for other migraine medications when you’re not in pain, I suggest not taking them. Instead, try curing your headache with home remedies or other natural methods. Trust me, I’ve taken so much medication, and it didn’t help at all. Now, with simple and regular natural practices, I feel like I’m getting closer to ridding this disease from my body.
I also noticed that taking medication has many side effects later in life. I used to be the kind of person who relied on medication my entire life, even for simple conditions. But now, I choose a simple, regular, healthy lifestyle to avoid both diseases and medication.
Change Your Environment
Another major factor contributing to your headache could be the environment where you spend most of your time. If possible, leave your stressful environment, or if you can’t, make a few changes to it. Small changes and different arrangements can help lighten the vibe and reduce some of your stress. If your workplace makes you uncomfortable and stressed, you could either leave it or introduce new changes that align with your vibe. I know sometimes it’s about the people. If that’s the case, you could try having less interaction or take classes on managing relationships with people at work. Whatever the case, you need to find new ways to ease your uncomfortable situation or environment by introducing different approaches or methods.
Go for Frequent Follow-Ups.
Even with home remedies and natural methods, you need to visit your trusted physician from time to time because, after all, they have the tools to assess your health condition. Go for frequent follow-ups regarding your headaches. Your physician will be able to provide insights into your improvements. Knowing your progress can help you understand what works for you and what doesn’t. You’ll also be motivated to continue your effective practices when you hear the good news. Don’t skip this step, as you’ll gain a much better understanding of your health and habits from your doctor.
Conclusion
I hope you’ll be able to follow all the steps and incorporate them into your daily lifestyle to feel more lively and healthy. These methods have truly shown great results in healing my own migraine headaches. You don’t have to spend too much time or money to follow them. They are quite simple and easy ways to get rid of that migraine if you really want to. All it takes is time management and your effort to be healthy.
Note: These methods are based on my personal findings, so if you are unsure about them, you could consult your doctor first.
Please comment down below if you have any other natural remedies to heal migraines that have not been discussed above. It will be really helpful for everyone. And, if you like, subscribe to my newsletter so I can keep you updated.