Natural Migraine Treatment

Natural Migraine Treatment

Finding a natural migraine treatment has always been the safest avenue. Some natural solutions may seemingly lose to drugs. However, other benefits can tip the scale. There are two types of natural migraine treatments: the class two type, and the class one type. The class two type is what you are most likely already familiar with. The class two type focuses on both preventing and managing the pain of headaches and migraines. This type is the most common form of migraine treatment. The Class One Type, however, has an entirely different focus.

The Class One Type method generally is the most preferred method for patients with headaches and migraines when undergoing treatment. This method is preferred because the Class One Type focuses on fixing the root issue that causes most migraines and headaches. Class one focuses on providing life free of migraines entirely. Class two focuses on improving your quality of life while living with headaches and migraines. Keep in mind; pain is your body's way of telling you that there is something wrong. You can either silence your body from telling you so by running from the pain and covering it up (Class two type), or you can gently assist your body in fixing the issue that causes the pain (Class one type).

Natural Migraine Relief Through Prevention and Management (Class two type: The War of Migraine Prevention and Management

The three main parts of this class are:

1. Trigger avoidance
2. Preventatives
3. Pain Management

Migraine and Headache Triggers

If you have migraines, bright flashing lights or loud sounds are most likely, not your friends. These are just two small examples of migraine triggers. Trigger avoidance is the constant act of distancing yourself from what can maybe "trigger" or set off a migraine or headache. Because of how detrimental triggers are, this approach is the most common for fighting migraines in general. Whether one is on medications or seeking holistic ways of improving their quality of life, both use this method. Running from triggers can reduce the frequency or the intensity of headaches and migraines. But, it comes at the price of the freedom to experience many of the small pleasures in life… like chocolate, taking long walks, or even exercising. Who wants that? 

There are two main types of triggers if they are categorized: Bodily Stress and Mental Stress. Physical stress can be triggered by the environment, or from many other things. The environment may cause your body to fight to bring it back to balance. A few of these triggers may be low barometric pressure changes and hormone changes. Bodily stress can also trigger nerve irritation from physical activities. Working out, cleaning, or even doing moderate yard work are some examples of physical activities. Certain foods and drinks can also irritate headache and migraine nerves. 

Mental stress is different as a trigger. It includes such things as mood, emotions, and mental states. Mental stress is one of the most challenging triggers to avoid or to change because it is generally inherent with everyday responsibilities that you have. If you are a parent, you cannot exactly prevent interaction with your child, for example, because it stresses you out, and the same thing goes for work if you want to keep your job. 

Here are some triggers (look at the bottom of the page for a longer list): 

"Physical Stress" Triggers

• Physical Activities: Running, swimming, weightlifting, long walks, long car trips, gardening, etc.
• Foods & Drinks: Chocolate, Caffeine, Cheese, Beans, Nuts, Onions, Tomatoes, Alcohol, not enough water, not enough food, etc.
• Food Additives: MSG, Nitrates/Nitrites, Aspartame, etc.
• Environment: Smells, Light, Sounds, Temperature, Weather, etc.

"Mental Stress" Triggers 

• Activities, environments, or life responsibilities

Natural Migraine and Headache Preventatives (Prophylaxis) & Pain Management Methods

Migraine preventatives (for instance, Topamax to be taken daily) or newer anti-CGRP injectables, such as Aimovig and Emgality) are not intended to relieve pain or shut down a migraine attack. Instead, their intended use is to minimize the frequency and intensity of pain attacks. Natural preventatives, however, can also be used effectively for both prevention and management of migraine attacks. For instance, concentrated ginger has proven itself in a quality peer-reviewed medical journal to be essentially as potent as Imitrex in the study's migraine population. 

Both preventatives and pain management will be covered together rather than separately. Both methods for migraine preventatives and pain management either work together or can perform both functions. If physical stress and perceived stress can trigger migraines and headaches, there are two options left. If you do not focus on removing the root issue, they are either: 1) Distancing yourself from the triggers, or 2) Finding what brings the opposite effect of stress. The opposite effect of stress is only delivered by relaxation or the release of tension. So we will be focusing on Ginger, Supplements, Acupuncture, Massage, and Chiropractic, all of which reduce stress in one way or another.

Ginger is the first preventative and pain manager we will be covering. It has long been known for its anti-inflammatory properties and for its ability to face off Nausea, IBS, and other things similar to an upset stomach. Not only do migraines sometimes come with nausea, which is ginger's specialty, but ginger is also able to reduce and prevent migraine headache intensity and frequency. Ginger's ability to do this may be due to the increase of serotonin levels ginger has been known to produce, and its anti-inflammatory effect on the Vagus nerve. It is something worth taking daily, even if you never get migraines. 

As far as taking ginger goes, you can take it as an extract, as a supplement, and put it in food. You can also find ginger in lozenges, teas, and drinks (ginger ale generally does not have enough). Get creative, and the more, the merrier! Although taking too much can cause some side effects (rashes, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, etc.). You should not have to worry about those, however.

Supplements 

Research also supports the supplements magnesium, Petasites hybridus, and Riboflavin in descending order of preference in the prevention of migraines. 

Magnesium- Magnesium is potentially the most reliable natural migraine preventative supplement available. As far as foods that have magnesium go, many are triggers for migraines. If you cannot find magnesium-rich foods that you can eat, finding it in supplement form should not be difficult. (Magnesium Oxide) There is a limit to how much you should take due to side effects.

Petasites Hybridus (Butterbur)- Alongside Magnesium, Petasites Hybridus is a powerful migraine and headache preventative. It is not difficult to find as a supplement.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B-12)– Though Riboflavin may not be as effective as magnesium and butterbur with migraine prevention, it can be taken alongside both safely. 

Pain Management Methods

Massage and Acupuncture are quite similar in comparison in comparison for migraine and headache treatment. The focus of both when treating migraines is getting the muscles to relax. Tensed muscles are indicative of nerve irritation due to tissue damage. Massage and Acupuncture for migraines do not get to the root of the issue (the reason for the nerve irritation). However, they can temporarily reduce the symptoms and frequency by pulling your body out of its stressed state. 

Chiropractic could also be thrown up there with massage and Acupuncture, however, the joints are more of a focus in this practice. Where massage and Acupuncture focus on tension release in muscles, Chiropractic practices focus on joints to release muscular tension and stress. Chiropractic does not have lasting effects but is useful for temporarily holding symptoms at bay.

Regarding a Lasting Natural Migraine Treatment (Type One Class)

Approaching Victory by Finding the Root 

Before getting into this specific treatment system, a general background knowledge base is necessary to know. Dr. Jeffery Turner, Ph.D., for over a decade, has been one of the few pioneer leaders in the field of migraine and headache pathophysiology and treatment. Pathophysiology for migraines is the study of the actual biological issue behind them and how it affects the body. 2003 was the year he first came across what he saw to be the root of migraines and headaches.

While those in the neurology field looked towards new innovative ways to manage the pain through medications, and through the observance of the nervous system, Dr. Turner stepped back to look at the bigger picture. He found that when approaching migraines and headaches, all angles have to be considered. Looking at the issue from the standpoint of physical therapy alone was not enough. Nor was it adequate to only look at it from a neurological perspective. As a Physical therapist, it was commonplace to rehab the human body into functioning the way it was intended to work. It was the practice of either speeding up the healing process of the injury, or assisting the body in healing injuries that would not heal on their own. 

Approaching rehab for physiological issues that cause nervous inflammation has always been an interest and focus of Dr. Turner. This approach requires knowledge and research of Neurology, Physical Therapy, as well as numerous other fields of expertise.

To establish his practice, Dr. Turner established Texas Migraine Clinic. Over time, he has become one of the few practitioners to successfully fix many patients' migraine problems entirely. Some no longer need any form of treatment for their headaches and migraines any longer. And this is without invasive means such as surgery.

Since 2003, Dr. Turner has worked alongside numerous colleagues and with thousands of patients to relentlessly develop and perfect this treatment system. It has not gained much publicity until recently where it is now beginning to grow. Dr. Ron Calvanio, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, personally contacted Dr. Turner. He did this after seeing Dr. Turner's findings and connections between the nerve connections of the head and neck and the underlying issue of what inflames them. Dr. Turner was told that these findings would be a "game-changer" in the realm of migraine pathophysiology and their treatments. Dr. Turner was also offered a way to conduct a quality medical study for publication using the evaluation and treatment system he developed.

In the years to come, we are moving towards beginning research. Currently, we are expanding, making it possible to finally free more people of this debilitating, and life-stealing issue.

Does it work for everyone?

No, though, it works for the majority of people with migraines. There are many different factors to consider, and everyone's issue may differ slightly. The chance of migraines and headaches coming from a different root is a possibility. Still, it rarely is the case when considering the patients we have treated.

This treatment is completely non-invasive and is only to assist your body in fixing itself where the issue lies. Your body cannot heal on its own unless the root issue is resolved. No matter which treatment system you pursue, we are hoping the best for you.