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As a lifelong sufferer from migraines, I have tried basically everything to get rid of the pain. Here is a comprehensive list of all of my favorite things that I have found effective to get natural headache relief. You don’t have to suffer alone, and there’s ways to mitigate the pain.
1: A Plug in Heater Pad
First off, is the Sunbeam Heating Pad for Pain Relief. Honestly this belongs in anyones kit who gets any sort of chronic pain. It can be plugged in anywhere and is a great companion for when you don’t feel well. Even if you rarely get aches and pains – a heater pad is a must-have if you live somewhere where it gets cold in the winter. There’s lots of options out there but I will always recommend Sunbeam for a few reasons. They last way longer than the knock-off brands, are way safer, and their customer service is unparalleled. I had a heater pad that stopped working a few months ago and they had responded within hours to get me a free replacement. Sunbeam has been around forever, and this is definitely why.
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2: Tiger Balm Patches
If you aren’t overly familiar with Chinese medicine, this might be a new one to you. Tiger Balm Patches are made out of camphor which is found from the bark of a tree in Asia. It has a strong minty scent and has been used in holistic healing for generations. This is one of my first go-to when I feel a headache coming on. One of my favorite things about it is that you can cut them to a size that works for you. My migraines are often in both temples, so I cut mine length wise to create a cradle over my forehead. It is one of the best ways I have found to relieve a headache quickly. I also use them on my lower back often and it helps a ton with the pain.
I will say that they also come send gel form, but it tends to get messy. I’ll prefer the patches for ease of use and targeted relief. But both of them work well in regards to pain relief.
3. Headache Hat
I adore my Headache Hat! It is more expensive than a lot of the other options like it on Amazon but I promise that it works the best. A lot of the competitors items have gel inside which does not stay cool for very long. Maybe 5-10 minutes at best which simply isn’t enough. The headache hat is kind of like a flexible ice cube tray that you fit around your head. It sounds really weird, but it is one of the best things that I have found. In my experience it will help with pain relief for hours before needing to be popped back into the freezer.
4. A Hot Shower
Don’t underestimate the power of a natural soak in the tub. When I feel a headache coming on, one of the first things that I do is I hop in the shower and just let the hot water run all over me for about 30 minutes. Heat is one of the best ways to relieve a headache in its infancy and I can stop pain signals from traveling to the brain and increase blood flow which can help soothe muscles and give you pain relief.
5. Migraleaf Migraine Supplement
This was actually recommended to me by my neurologist! Shockingly, some doctors still recommend natural pain relief methods. And I am so glad that she did. I take two of these a day and it has reduced my migraine days by half. Magnesium is an important part of why we get migraines and headaches, so it’s important that you and shirt you are taking enough magnesium.
6. Take Ginger Supplements
Ginger has a plethora of benefits that are well known. Especially if you too suffer from migraines and get nausea (Seriously the worst combination!!) One of the lesser known benefits is that Ginger Root can help reduce headache and migraine pain. It is actually said that Ginger works similarly to triptans (which have a ton of horrible side effects) but without the side effects. What I do is I take a ginger supplement at the first sign of a migraine coming on. While it doesn’t exactly reduce the pain, it sometimes can stop the pain from progressing further. Anyone who suffers from headaches or migraines knows that any less pain is a blessing. I specifically take Natures Way Ginger Root Supplements because I have found they are the most effective and I trust but there ingredients are natural and good for me.
7. Rest, Rest, and More Rest
This is not something I can state enough. While everyone has different headache and migraine triggers, rest is one of the most important things that you can do. Stress exacerbates symptoms, as does when your nervous system is dysregulated. This can look different for everyone, but for me I am a huge fan of screen fasting and grounding myself in nature. Having a migraine or headache relief room in your house is very important. It is important that the room be silent and pitch black. I personally have black out curtains on all of my windows and it helps a lot when I have flareups. Most importantly, you just want a space that you feel safe and protected in that will support you in your healing journey.
8. Track your headache triggers
Similarly to how you would track your period – there’s apps out there to help you track what triggered your headache or migraine. I personally use Migraine Buddy so that I can figure out longterm trends about what’s triggering my own migraines. While it’s not always. clearcut what is causing your headaches or migraines, it is an easy way to figure out the root issue when you have lots of data about what’s going on. Listen to your body! It’s likely trying to tell you something.
Final Thoughts on Natural Headache Relief
I am sorry that you found yourself here needing relief. I hope that this list brings you some comfort in that you are able to find some relief soon. Having suffered from a chronic migraines for 20 years has forced me to learn a lot about wellness and finding natural remedies to every day problems. And if that means that I can help someone else, I will consider it worth it. Let me know if you have tried any of these relief methods and how they work for you. I would love to hear about your experience!