Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ahmad Haitham Jamee
How to Tell if It's a Headache or a Migraine
1. Area of Pain:
- Migraine: They typically induce sharp, throbbing pain on one side of the head, although they can spread.
- Headache: Common headache include dull, agonizing pain on both sides of the head or in the forehead.
2. The Intensity of Pain:
- Migraine: They are frequently severe and devastating, with pain levels that can make even basic tasks unpleasant.
- Headache: This pain is often mild to moderate, and while bothersome, it rarely interferes with daily activities.
3. The Duration of Pain:
- Migraine: Migraine attacks can continue anywhere from 4 hours to 72 hours if left untreated, and they may occur in waves.
- Headache:Most headache endure a few hours and can usually be treated with rest or over-the-counter medicine.
4. Trigger:
- Migraine: It can be provoked by stress, specific meals, hormonal changes, or sensory stimuli such as strong lights.
- Headache: They are less specific than migraine triggers, and are frequently caused by dehydration, stress, or a lack of sleep.
5. Impact on Daily Life:
- Migraine: They can severely disrupt daily life, frequently resulting in lost work or social engagements owing to strong pain and accompanying symptoms such as nausea.
- Headache: While uncomfortable, headache normally allow you to go about your day, but you may need to rest.
Home Remedies for Migraine and Headache Using Common Household Items
1. Ginger
Ginger is a plant that reaches two meters high, whose underground stem is very appreciated for its aroma and spicy flavor and is one of the most effective home remedies for migraine.
- How To Take It: A third of a teaspoon of powdered ginger dissolved in a cup of water should be diluted. You can also drink ginger tea several times a day or chew a piece of raw ginger root.
- Why Is It Recommended for migraine treatment at home : Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and that is why it is recommended against migraine, although there is no alteration in the diameter of the blood vessels during the crisis.
2. Ice
- When To Apply: When the head pain is accompanied by a rise in temperature or a sensation of heat in the head.
- How To Apply: Fill a bag with ice and put it on your head for quick headache relief. You can also soak a towel with cold water and place it on the forehead or the back of the neck. Another advisable option is to place an ice pack on the bottom of the feet between thirty minutes and one hour. The goal of this remedy is to move blood flow away from the head to the feet.
- Why Is It Recommended? This works wonders for when it comes to curing migraine at home. You can temporarily relieve the uncomfortable feeling of heat in the head.
3. Apple Vinegar
- When To Take It: Before suffering a migraine attack.
- How To Take It: It is recommended to dilute two tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water. Mix well and drink. If you are not used to taking apple cider vinegar, start with a teaspoon to gradually increase the amount. Important! You have to dilute it because pure is very acidic.
- Why Is It Recommended? : Its recommendation is due to the fact that this product is associated with detoxification and regularization of high blood pressure. Too much toxins and pressure problems can cause headache, but they are definitely not the sole cause of migraine.
4. Lavender Oil
Lavender is a genus of plants with lilac, blue or violet flowers. Lavender oil often used in homemade remedies for headache, is obtained by distilling fresh flowers.
- When To Take It: In the middle of a crisis or preventively you can try this natural cure for headache.
- How To Take It: It is recommended to use the oil as aromatherapy, perfuming wardrobes and rooms. It can also be used by diluting a few drops of essential oil in water, wetting a towel in the perfumed water and placing it on the forehead. Another option is to heat water and add a few drops of essential oil to later breathe the mists.
- Why Is this home remedies for migraine Recommended? Lavender essential oil is known for its sedative capacity. Therefore it is recommended to apply directly to the head, seeking reassurance when the crisis has already begun.
5. Fish Oil
- When To Take It: Preventively.
- How To Take It: One or two capsules a day. It is more recommendable and healthy to obtain the full benefits of fish directly ingest the fish rich in omega 3.
- Why Is It Recommended? The described benefits of this supplement is that it strengthens cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure. Migraine pain is independent of blood pressure, so it would not have a direct action on them.
6. Chamomile
- When To Take It: Throughout the day of the migrainous crisis or preventively for four consecutive weeks.
- How To Take It: It is recommended to make an infusion with 2 or 3 teaspoons of dried flowers in a cup of hot water to get instant migraine relief at home. You can also add lemon juice and honey. Drink 3 or 4 times a day to relieve the symptoms of migraine.
- Why Is It Recommended? It is known to be one of the best migraine treatment at home because Chamomile relieves vomiting and has sedative properties.
7. Mint
- When To Take It: In the middle of a crisis or preventively for three months.
- How To Take It: Drink an infusion of 20 grams of fresh mint for half a liter of water or a teaspoon of dried mint dessert per cup. Sweeten with honey.
- Why Is It Recommended? It is digestive and antivomitive. In addition, it is soothing and anti-inflammatory.
8. Cayenne Pepper
- When To Take It: In the middle of a migrainous crisis.
- How To Take It: It is recommended to dilute half a tablespoon in warm water. Optionally, and to improve the flavor, it is recommended to add a little lemon juice and honey.
9. Tight Hairstyle
- When To Do It: When you begin to feel pain in your head.
- How To Do It: Change hairstyle and loosen braids, pigtails and bows.
- Why Is It Recommended? It is maintained that a tense hairstyle can cause headache and cutaneous hypersensitivity. There is a disorder called cutaneous allodynia that consists of extreme sensitivity of the skin. Cutaneous allodynia is almost twice as common in patients with migraine as compared to other patients or other types of chronic headache.
10. Himalayan Salt
Himalayan salt is a type of pinkish-colored salt that comes from the mountains of Pakistan is considered as an effective home cure for migraine headache.
- When To Take It: When you have migraine pain.
- How To Take It: Add 9 grams of salt to 200 ml of water and add the juice of two lemons.
- Why Is It Recommended? Himalayan salt is rich in minerals and electrolytes is often recommended as a home remedies for migraine. It is said that taking salt from the Himalayas stops a migraine crisis in a few minutes. Because migraine is not due to an imbalance of mineral salts, this remedy may not be effective.
11. Massage
The massage is the activity that consists of rubbing and pressing with different rhythm and intensity on different parts of the body, making it one of the effective homemade remedies for headache.
- When To Do It: When you have the headache.
- How To Do It: Massage the area of the temples, the eyebrows and the base of the nose. Make circular massages regulating the pressure.
- Why Is It Recommended? Massages relieve muscle tension. Because the origin of migraine is not exclusively muscular, this remedy may not be effective.
12. Water
- When To Take It: Throughout the day.
- How To Take It: About 8 glasses of water a day.
- Why Is It Recommended? It is recommended to drink water due to the belief that dehydration is responsible for migraine.
13. Coffee
- When To Take It: Between the crises and also before them.
- How To Take It: Quickly pass hot water under pressure through the ground coffee.
- Why Is It Recommended? Due to the belief that migraine have a vascular origin and caffeine has a vasodilatory effect, it is therefore recommended that they be consumed.
14. Cabbage
- When To Apply: In the middle of a migraine crisis.
- How To Apply: With a knife cut the leaves of the cabbage and apply directly on the forehead and temples for 20 minutes to get quick relief from migraine headache. Then you will notice that the cabbage leaf will be hot and your head will feel more refreshed. You can apply this remedy as many times as you need.
- Why Is It Recommended? Cabbage leaves have anti-inflammatory substances.
15. Cinnamon Powder
- When To Take It: The infusion just when the pain begins and the compress when the pain has already started.
- How To Take It: Make a thin paste of cinnamon with water and apply it on the temples and forehead. You can also drink infused with a glass of milk.
- Why Is It Recommended? Alleviate the pain.
16. Apples
Apples are considered a good home cure for migraine headache because they help restore the body’s alkaline and acid balance, reducing migraine frequency and intensity.
- When To Take It: When you experience the first symptoms of a migraine attack.
- How To Take It: Eating an apple and also smelling a green apple is said to reduce the severity of the migraine.
- Why Is It Recommended? For its sedative properties to be rich in phosphorus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of a Migraine?
Q. How to Avoid a Migraine Headache?
Q. How Long Do Migraine Last?
Migraine can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours, depending on the individual and whether or not they are treated.
Q. Is Migraine Serious?
Although migraine can be severe and painful, they are rarely dangerous. If they become regular or severe, visit a healthcare practitioner for correct treatment.