MIGRAINES WITOUT THE MEDICATION



MIGRAINES WITHOUT THE MEDICATION

When the pain kicks in for the more than 28 million Americans afflicted with migraines, most sufferers turn to the many drug options available for temporary relief. Unfortunately, however, not only do these drugs wear off relatively quickly, but they fail to get to the source of what causes migraines in the first place.

Moreover, a recent study released by the medical journal Headache finds that overuse of migraine medications may prompt occasional migraines to become chronic. According to the study, overuse of migraine drugs may change the body's hormone production which, in turn, causes increased migraine frequency.

In addition, did you know that ALL migraine drugs are off limits to pregnant women, and of the 75 percent of women suffering from migraines, some will experience their first migraine during pregnancy as a result of the correlation between migraines and hormones?

There is some good news on the migraine pain relief front, though. Whenever drugs aren’t the option of choice or an option at all, there are several widely appreciated but little-known all-natural methods for migraine relief and prevention. Here are several migraine relief options to keep in mind, especially if you are among the countless numbers of people whose migraine symptoms are exacerbated during the hot months of summer.

MUSCLE TENSION & JAW PAIN

Did you know that migraine attacks and nighttime jaw clenching are both disorders of the same (trigeminal) nerve system? And that the majority of migraine sufferers experience intense nocturnal jaw clenching, which in turn increases the frequency of migraine attacks?

The discovery of the jaw-clenching and migraine relationship led to the NTI, a one inch plastic device that temporarily fits over your two front teeth while you sleep, effectively preventing your BACK teeth from nighttime jaw-clenching. During sleep, the hyperactive trigeminal nerve excites the muscles over the temples, causing them to intensely clench the back teeth. By providing a nighttime “air space” between the back teeth, the NTI disrupts the “circuit,” reducing trigeminal hyperactivity by 75%...as well as the subsequent migraine attacks.

For a practice demonstration of how this works, place your fingers on your temples and clench your back teeth together - do you feel the muscles around your temples contract? Now, bite on a pencil with your front teeth (positioned like a straw) - those muscles (and more importantly, your trigeminal nerve) is not nearly as active.

 

Developed by Dr. James Boyd, a dentist and long time migraine sufferer, NTI is as surprisingly simple as it is effective: 82% of migraine and headache sufferers who use the device experience an average 77% reduction of migraine pain attacks within two months. The device is easily fit at the dentist's office, involves no surgery, has none of the risks associated with pharmaceutical migraine treatments and is proven to be as effective if not more than any migraine preventative drug on the market.

Over 22,000 dentists worldwide have prescribed the device to nearly 1.5 million migraine sufferers around the world with great success. For more information, visit .

SUNSHINE/HEAT:

 

To guard against heat and light sensitivity that may cause migraines, try wearing a hat with a broad brim, bringing a beach umbrella to a ball game, or even a spray bottle. Polarized lens sunglasses that cut back on both brightness and glare can also help.

 

FLUIDS:

 

Dehydration is a key trigger of migraines and headaches. Don't try to compensate by drinking sodas, iced teas and coffees, etc., as caffeine can also play a role in causing migraines. Instead, drink plenty of water!

 

FRAGRANCES:

 

Certain fragrances can also trigger migraines/headaches, especially in summer with fragrances in sunscreen, insect repellent, and smoke from a charcoal grill. Try seeking out as many fragrance-free options as possible.

 

MIGRAINE FOOD/BEVERAGE TRIGGERS:

The National Headache Foundation recommends avoiding these foods, which may trigger migraine headaches:

• Dairy products. Primarily ripened cheeses such as Cheddar, Emmentaler, Stilton, Brie and Camembert. Cheeses that are permitted include American, cottage cheese, cream cheese and Velveeta. Migraine sufferers should have no more than 1/2-cup daily of sour cream.

• Meats and fish. Herring (either pickled or dried), sausage, bologna, bacon, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, hot dogs, lunch meats, chicken livers and pâté.

• Fruits and vegetables. Broad beans, lima beans, fava beans, snow peas. No more than 1/2-cup daily of citrus fruits, figs, raisins, papayas, avocados or red plums. Less than 1/2 banana daily.

• Grains. Breads and crackers containing cheese or chocolate. Also sourdough bread.

• Other foods. Items containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) such as soy sauce, meat tenderizers or seasoned salt. Fermented, pickled or marinated foods, aspartame, chocolate, nuts, peanut butter and pizza.

• Beverages. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee or cola drinks. Migraine sufferers should have no more than two cups daily. Limit yourself to two normal size alcoholic drinks selected from Haute Sauterne, Riesling, Seagram's VO, or Cutty Sark. Especially avoid red wine.

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