While there are some measures you could take to prevent them, like investing in glasses for migraines or getting extra sleep, explains Rana Mafee, MD, a chief neurologist at Case Integrative Health, a Chicago-primarily based health facility focused on treating chronic illnesses, the throbbing, splitting ache can show up sporadically to every person whenever. Fun!
Most of the time, you in all likelihood, pop multiple OTC pills and pray to god herself that you can extremely effectively get via the day. But, unluckily, that strategy may be doing extra damage than accurate thanks to the excessive quantities of caffeine in your favorite ache remedy meds. Given that, uh, caffeine does now not constantly help with migraines. Since that entire pop and pray method is not tremendously effective, a few have grown to become additional natural remedies to fight their migraine ache at home. Some of those include just instantly up massaging your head.
So, are massages proper for migraines?
The quick solution: Yes! While she doesn’t propose it as your sole treatment plan if you’re affected by consistent migraines, Dr. Mafee explains that massaging your head can nonetheless be exceptionally helpful in relieving pain. You can do it as soon as you start feeling the ache, smack dab inside the center of the migraine, or maybe throughout that awkward time whilst you are looking ahead to your prescription meds to work while curled up in a mattress.
How does a rubdown for migraine paintings?
Migraine massages work to apply unique stress as a means of pain relief, which comes from the conventional Chinese therapy approach of acupressure. Applying pressure to certain factors at the frame alters the ache messages your nerves ship on your brain; because of this, you’ll grow to be feeling less pain than before, according to the National Institutes of Health.
So, in idea, Dr. Mafee explains that through the use of a rubbing movement on certain “strain factors” along with your palms, you may find a few ache reliefs in that region. Since migraine ache is often discovered on one or each aspect of the pinnacle, you’re going to want to rub that location—aka your temples.
Before you start massaging your head, recollect chatting with a neurologist first to see if this approach is right for you and your ache, as you might need a different treatment plan.
What form of massage is good for migraines?
Guys, this head rubdown is virtually tremendous easy and doesn’t require dispensing $$ for a flowery deep tissue situation.
Here’s the way to give yourself a migraine rubdown consistent with Dr. Mafee.
Mix drops every peppermint oil, frankincense, and lavender oil into one tablespoon of base oil (like almond). If you do not have the crucial oils handy, just the bottom oil is completely quality.
Rub a small little bit of your mixture onto your index and middle fingertips.
Massage your temples with those two fingers in a circular movement for 30 seconds.
Switch directions and massage your temples for some other 30 seconds.
While various people discover success with this approach (my migraine-ridden self blanketed!), Dr. Mafee stresses that it is essential that you do not press down too tough. By applying too much pressure, you run the danger of the rubdown, hindering any comfort and making your migraine worse. Basically, do what feels precise to you and don’t go over your ache threshold.
