Natural Relief For Migraine Headaches

By Holly Dunbar, CMT, RH (AGH)

New Moon Body Work and Botanicals

. http://www.newmoonbody.com

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Natural Relief For Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are one of the over one hundred types of classified headaches, and affect millions of people on a regular basis. Migraines have a range of symptoms, and can be persistently annoying to downright debilitating. Herbal medicine, and essential oils combined with massage therapy, can offer both immediate relief and preventative measures.

Essential oils are oxygenating, stress relieving, and offer anti-spasmodic, relaxant, and cooling properties, all of which lend them appreciably to migraine relief. The anti-inflammatory ones such as peppermint, lavender, and chamomile offer an immediate vaporizing effect that can prevent a tension headache from escalating into a more severe headache. Diluted into distilled water or a natural lotion, these oils can be applied to the temples, forehead, and the muscles at the back of the head and neck at the first sign of a headache.

Migraines are often triggered by a complex set of factors hormone fluctuations, weather changes, dietary choices, and stress all play a role. Clary sage is a hormonal balancing essential oil that used regularly in the bath and massage application has a gentle regulatory effect on hormones that may mitigate this influence. Essential oils help restore normal para-sympathetic nervous functions, and as stress is a huge factor in any disorder, it is important to consider essential oils as a preventative measure.

Feverfew, a close relative of the common chrysanthemum, has long been used for the treatment of migraines. It is a very cooling herb, and is particularly helpful for those whose headaches are triggered by excess heat, or excess in general- too much noise, overeating or drinking, and high temperatures. Other helpful herbs to consider are white peony and chamomile, effective anti-spasmodics and liver tonifiers. Magnesium citrate or malate are also effective, and can be particularly effective for pre-menstrual related headaches or chronic muscle tension.

Massage therapy plays an essential role in headache prevention, particularly when used in conjunction with essential oils. Effective modalities to consider for massage are Swedish massage for stress relief, deep tissue, myofascial release, and cross fiber friction of the neck and upper back muscles.