Menstrual Migraines: Finding Natural Relief

Menstrual migraines afflict many women, caused by what is believed to be hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone prior to and during the menstrual cycle. There are various measures to fight menstrual migraines such as natural herbal remedies, balancing creams and body system cleanses. As each body is unique, these measures yield a variety of results.

Diet

Make changes in your diet. Avoid simple carbohydrates such as refined sugars and those found in prepackaged and processed foods. Chemical preservatives and additives such as monosodium glutamate, or MSG, are often linked to migraines.

Natural vitamins, herbs and mineral supplements offer many women relief from menstrual migraines. Medicinal herbs such as feverfew and butterbur can be found at natural health foods and drug stores. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, may also help decrease the severity and frequency of migraines caused by fluctuating hormones. Some women even find relief by drinking extra milk or orange juice several days prior to their expected period.

Eliminate toxins

Reduce the levels of toxins in the body by doing occasional cleanses such as bowel, kidney or liver cleanses. Such cleanses are believed to help reduce and eliminate toxins from the body, improve blood flow and circulation. Since migraines are caused by a constriction or narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, maintaining optimal balance of chemicals in is believed to help reduce their frequency and severity.

Bowel cleanses are designed to reduce or eliminate toxins, and therefore help relieve frequency of menstrual migraines. The cleanse can be purchased at the local drug store for less than $5 a package. Some cleanses can be created at home using a variety of ingredients ranging from water to coffee to vinegar. A kidney cleanse is a liquid mixture of any variety of watermelon seeds, celery seed tea, root tea or parsley seeds mixed with juice or water in an effective, if not too flavorful drink.

Before you perform any cleanse or enema, read package instructions carefully and understand the pros and cons of the procedure. Self-administered enemas can be a tricky at first, but with practice, the procedure is fast and easy. You can lie on your side on the bed, the bathroom floor or in the bathtub. After insertion, it is suggested for individuals to hold fluids from between 5 to 15 minutes, after which you can evacuate into the toilet. It is usually not a messy process.

Creams

Rub herbal creams containing natural progesterone onto the skin on a daily basis to help restore hormone balances in the body to relieve menstrual migraine frequency. You can buy these creams at your natural food store or order them over the Internet. Progesterone creams often contain diosgenin, a natural extract of soybeans and yams that is believed to provide natural estrogen components that replace lack of hormones in the body following menopause.

Creams are rubbed into the arms, breasts or abdomen on a daily basis. Though the creams can be expensive (averaging around $20 for a toothpaste-sized tube), doctors often recommend natural progesterone to women experiencing premenstrual symptoms and it works quite well for some.

Take the time to experiment when it comes to menstrual migraines. You never know which remedy might work best unless you try more than one.

http://www.menstrualmigraine.org/
http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Menstrual_Migraine