If you experience migraines, your doctor may prescribe you a preventive or acute treatment to manage the condition. Preventive medication is taken every day and helps to keep your symptoms from flaring up. Acute drugs are taken as an emergency in the instance of a migraine attack.
You may have to try out a few different medications until you find one that works for you. It can be frustrating, but everyone responds to treatment differently, and you have to find your best fit.
In addition to preventive and acute treatments, I’ve also found complementary therapy to be helpful for migraine pain. The following are five complementary treatments that work for me. This will also take some trial and error, so don’t feel like a failure if your first attempt doesn’t work. Make sure to talk to your doctor before trying any of these therapies.
1. Essential oils
These days, essential oils are at the top of my list. But when I first tried them years ago, I couldn’t stand them! I didn’t get the hype over essential oils. I found their scent to be triggering.
Eventually, though, essential oils started to help with my migraine pain. As a result, I now love how they smell. It’s the smell of “feeling good.”
My go-to brand is Young Living. A few of my favorite products of theirs include:
- M-Grain Essential Oil
- PanAway Essential Oil
- Stress Away Essential Oil
- Endoflex Essential Oil
- SclarEssence Essential Oil
- Progressence Plus Serum
If you choose to try out the PanAway Essential Oil, I would recommend first putting it on your feet or other areas away from your head since it is a hot oil. Also, I like to put the Progressence Plus Serum on my wrists. I put the SclarEssence Essential Oil under my feet.
2. Vitamins and supplements
Some vitamins and supplements have been shown to help a lot with migraine pain. Here are some I take daily.
Fish oil
Experts don’t know what exactly causes a migraine, but a leading culprit is inflammation of the body and blood vessels. Fish oil is rich in fatty acids that help to relieve inflammation.
You can get fish oil from foods like:
- tuna
- salmon
- sardines
- trout
You can also buy a dietary supplement containing fish oil. Consult your doctor to find out the right dose to take.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin is a type of B vitamin. It provides energy and also works as an antioxidant.
For migraines, it works best on its own, so be sure to get a riboflavin supplement and not a vitamin B complex. Of course, talk to your doctor first to see if it is a safe option for you.
3. A healthy diet
A healthy diet is key to managing my migraines. I have tried many different diets, but I’ve found that avoiding specific foods is more useful.
Things I’ve cut out of my diet include:
- wine
- cheese
- meat
- soy
Of course, everything is about balance. Sometimes, I will treat myself to dairy at a restaurant or whatever seems most appealing on the menu.
4. Probiotics
For me, a healthy gut means a healthy head. So, I start by eating a healthy diet as a strong base, but I also take probiotics daily.
5. Reiki
I started going to a Reiki healer this year, and it has been life-changing. She has taught me a lot about meditation, including different techniques.
I meditate two or three times each week, and it has been beneficial for my migraines. I’ve seen a significant improvement! Meditation relieves stress, improves my mood, and helps keep me positive.
Takeaway
Complementing medical treatment with these therapies has been life-changing for me. Talk to your doctor to see which complementary treatment might work best for you. Listen to your body, and don’t rush the process. In time, you will find your perfect remedy.
Precision Pain Care and Rehabilitation has two convenient locations in Richmond Hill – Queens and New Hyde Park – Long Island. Call the Richmond Hill office at (718) 215-1888, or (516) 419-4480 for Long Island office, to arrange an appointment with our Interventional Pain Management Specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Chacko.
