Fast, Free Pain Relief

Episode #2 of the course Natural remedies for migraines by Dawn Gregory

Good morning! I hope you are migraine-free today and ready to tackle another big concern in migraine treatment: dealing with the pain.

A migraine is not just another headache, and many people find that common pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen don’t do much for migraine pain. Even if these medicines do work, the pain may only be reduced for a few hours before the migraine comes back with a vengeance.

If that’s you, don’t worry. There are some natural ways to treat migraine pain that can be surprisingly effective.

A research study in Brazil showed that you can reduce migraine headaches by massaging the area at the base of the back of your skull, which is called the greater occipital nerve. You can easily do this massage yourself—place your palms behind your ears and reach your fingers around the back of your head to gently massage along the base of your skull. Run your fingers up and down and side to side to find relief.

Craniosacral therapy is a specific type of massage that focuses on manipulating the bones of the skull and spine. Although it is viewed as controversial for its claims that it can be used to treat cancer and other diseases, it has significant and immediate benefits for relieving migraine pain.

You can also relieve the pain of migraines by placing ice packs at the base of the skull or on the top of the head. The use of ice packs to fight pain was documented as early as 1849. Ice contributes to relief through its action on the vascular system. Cold therapy may not be fully understood when it comes to fighting migraines, but many people find that ice packs reduce migraine pain quickly.

Apart from the scalp, a full body massage eases tension and helps fight the pain. Other relaxation techniques such as meditation, tai chi, and yoga reduce stress and increase body awareness. Greater awareness of bodily sensations makes it possible to detect migraines in advance so that you can take preventative action.

Another technique is applying heat to the extremities or the stomach. Soaking your feet or hands in hot water increases blood flow and is surprisingly effective for reducing migraine pain. Some people find that a heating pad on the lower part of the stomach produces similar effects. It seems strange that you can reduce the pain in your head by treating your hands, feet, or stomach, but when it comes to migraine pain, you tend to do what works and not ask too many questions!

The next time you are suffering from migraine pain, try out some of these techniques and see if they help you find relief!

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