So, what to do next after you’ve been diagnosed with migraine?
Migraine is a highly disruptive condition and it can render you unable to do certain functions for hours.
Pain relievers, for some, are heaven sent. They rid you of the pain by preventing the release of prostaglandin, the chemical responsible fo it. And the pain goes away, or so we think. Bear in mind though, that they may also come with side effects like:
Drowsiness. You’ll get sleepy because the pain relievers numb the body’s receptor to feel pain. This sluggish state should last up to 48 hours at the most but if you’ve gone over 3 days, it might be time to ask your doctor for another type of pain reliever. Do not take this type of pain reliever when you’re about to operate equipments or if you are driving.
Constipation. Pain relievers such as opiates may interfere with waste elimination because it relaxes the muscles in the intestines that help in bowel movement. With regular use of it, stools can be rock hard, and in extreme cases, can lead to sepsis or death. Along with constipation, patients may also experience abdominal bloating, cramping, blood and discomfort in bowel movement. If you’re experiencing such, try to take some laxative or ensure that you have fiber in your diet.
Nausea. Pain relievers contain morphine and to some people, this can induce nausea and vomiting. If you’re one for those, take the meds with a meal or with a glass of milk.
Heart and Respiratory Problems. Overconsumption and misuse of painkillers will slow down your heart beat rate thus resulting to fluctuation. Opioids slow down the heartbeat and if you have a known heart condition, it may even lead to heart attack. You might also experience tightening of the chest and difficulty in breathing.
Psychological effects. Some patients have reported hallucination, confusion, nightmares and extreme irritability. Abstain from alcohol especially when taking high doses of pain reliever as the combination of alcohol and drugs is fatal.
Others also experience sweating, fatigue, tremors, muscle pains, spasms, dry mouth and itching.
With all these side effects,wouldn’t you want to be freed of the pain the natural way? I’ve done a lot of reading and self testing and have found some to be effective. And they’re as good a popping a pill, without the side effects.
You can do the following:
Relax.
1. Take a hot bath followed by cold compress.
2. Press the base of your skull with your fingers with the massage oil in it and slowly release.
3. Light up a candle and pour some aromatic oil like lavender, peppermint, sandalwood and eucalyptus while listening to relaxing music.
4. Put a bag of frozen veggies(like crushed cabbage leaves)at the back of your neck for 10 to 15 minutes, lay down and try to relax. Change the batch of vegetables if still needed.
5. If the headache is a caused by the cold weather, boil some rosemary herbs in a liter of water. Pour in a bowl and with a towel in your head, bow down to it and inhale the steam coming from the concoction. Do this repeatedly for as long as you can bear until the headache has subsided.
6. Throw up and take a nap. For me, this is very effective.
Exercise
1. Take a stroll in an area where there’s fresh air and eat light and frequent meals.
2. Studies have shown that an active sex life lessens the frequency of migraine attacks.
Diet
1. As we all know,water is a great neutralizer, so drink lots of it.
2. Crush lemon crusts in a blender and make into a paste. Apply this on your forehead and rinse off once dried. Do this twice or three times a day or as needed.
3. Chew fresh ginger.
4. Mix carrot juice and spinach juice in a 3:2 ratio, and drink twice a day or when you’re experiencing the attack. You can also mix carrot juice with beet juice or cucumber juice in 3:1 ratio.
5. Unknown to many, apples can cure headaches. Remove the upper rind and the inner hard portion of a ripe apple, and eat it with a little salt every morning with an empty stomach. Do it everyday for one week and you will have lesser headaches.
6. Fast for three days on a diet of orange, celery or cucumber juice and water. This will flush out the toxins and cleanse your system. If the headache recurs, then follow this diet again for another 3 days then do an all fruit diet for another 3 days.
Relieving pain the natural way is still a better alternative but if the pain has become so intolerable to a point of passing out, then it’s best to consult a doctor to be advised of what pain reliever will be best for you. The doctor can properly advise you of what to take depending on your history, lifestyle and allergies.
Of course,takings meds will not address the prime cause of the migraine but will just temporarily relieve you of the pain. It’s still best to be familiar with your triggers so you can avoid them.
References:
http://www.opiates.com/prescription-painkillers/prescription-painkillers-side-effects.html
http://www.growthhouse.org/mortals/mort2504.html
http://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/Library/documents/patient_information_leaflets/Chronic_Migraine_Feb08_2%20.pdf
http://b4tea.blogspot.com/2011/08/disadvantages-of-painkillers.html
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Headaches.html