Migraine Headache: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Migraine headache is a neurological disorder that causes intense throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. It may occur in stages, lasting from a few hours to a few days. Other symptoms could accompany it, such as sensitivity to sound/light/touch, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, mood swings, irritation, fatigue, confusion, etc.

In severe migraine cases, carrying out daily activities can get difficult.

There is no cure for migraine, but you could get the best migraine relief and significant improvement of your symptoms from homeopathic medicines, lifestyle changes, the right diet, and self-care remedies.

What is a Migraine Headache?

Migraine is a common brain condition that causes moderate to severe one-sided headaches described as throbbing, pulsating, or pounding pain.

There are two types of migraines:

1. With Aura
2. Without Aura

Auras are a group of symptoms stemming from your nervous system. These include visual disturbances such as bright spots, colour spots, flashing lights, seeing different shapes, zig-zag lines, and tunnel vision.

Other speech, sensory, and motor symptoms may also occur, such as numbness or tingling in any part of the body, nausea, confusion, dizziness, yawning, tiredness, etc.

Signs and Symptoms of Migraine Headache:

Adults and children may experience migraines in gradual episodes such as pro-drome, aura, attack, and post-drome. Not all of them may go through all stages of migraines.

Prodrome Symptoms:

Days or hours before a migraine headache, you may experience some of the subtle symptoms such as:

• Mood swings or sadness
• Constipation, bloating, or diarrhoea
• Depression
• Stiff neck
• Frequent yawning or fatigue
• Frequent urination or feeling thirsty
• Fluid retention
• Sensitivity to light, smell, or sound
• Lack of appetite or food cravings

Aura Symptoms

The symptoms of aura may appear right before or during a migraine headache, starting gradually and getting intense in a few minutes. Migraine Auras occur due to your nervous system and include:

• Visual disturbances such as seeing flashes of light, different shapes, bright spots, black spots, wavy lines, etc.
• Numbness or tingling in one side of the face, arm, leg, or body
• Difficulty in speaking
• Ringing in ears
• Other sensory, language, or motor auras

Migraine Attack Symptoms

Experiencing an actual migraine attack may come with the following symptoms that can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours if not treated:

• Throbbing or pounding headache on one or both sides of the head
• Dull headache which gets intense over time
• Headache that gets worse with head movement
• Sensitivity to smell, touch, light, and sound
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Vision loss
• Face or neck pain
• Sweating
• Feeling too cold or too hot
• Abdominal pain
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Depression or anxiety

Postdrome Symptoms

After a migraine episode, you may feel fatigued, confused, or weak for a few hours or even days. Postdrome symptoms include:

• Pain when you suddenly move your head
• Confusion
• Fatigue or weakness
• Feeling sleepy, cranky, or sad

Migraine Headache Causes 

Migraines occur due to abnormal activity in the brain and nervous system but the exact cause is unknown. There could be several migraine triggers that affect the neural pathways and chemicals in your brain. This further disrupts blood circulation to the brain leading to pulsing pain and inflammation.

Migraines could be genetic and occur more in women than men, especially pregnant women. Children, teenagers, and adults – anyone can experience migraine episodes.

What Triggers Migraines?

The following are the common migraine triggers:

• Withdrawing caffeine
• Not getting enough sleep
• Exercise or strenuous activities
• Hormonal changes
• Birth control pills
• Menopause
• Extreme climate changes
• Loud noises or flashy lights
• Alcohol consumption
• Stress, anxiety
• Strong perfumes, and odour
• Smoking, consuming tobacco products, or exposure to smoke
• Skipping meals
• Jet lag
• Neck and shoulder tension
• Certain foods like chocolate, dairy, onions, nuts and seeds, foods having MSG, foods having tyramine, certain fruits, meats having nitrates
• Pickled, fermented, processed, or marinated foods

Prognosis for Migraine

The frequency, symptoms, and intensity of migraines vary for each person. Some people get migraines once a week, some once a year and most people get it 3-4 times per month. It is a temporary condition but tends to recur throughout your life.

What are the Risk Factors for Migraine?

Anyone can get migraine headaches. But people with the following conditions are at a higher risk for migraines:

• Sleep disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression and Anxiety
• OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Fibromyalgia
• Family history of migraine
• Epilepsy 

When should you consult a doctor?

Consult a doctor if you have regular migraines or experience the following symptoms.

• Unbearable, severe headache
• Headache with neck pain, fever, seizures, vision loss, double vision, or confusion
• Numbness in any part of the body (could be a sign of stroke)
• New headache after 50 years of age
• A chronic headache that gets worse with sudden head movement, strenuous activity, exercise, or coughing.

Homeopathic Treatment for Migraine Headache

Migraine does not occur due to serious medical conditions or brain tumours. For instant migraine relief at home, you can try homeopathic medicines like Iris, Stron Nit, Nux Vomica, Belladonna, Glonoinum, Bryonia, Natrum Mur, etc.

Disclaimer: These medicines MUST ONLY be taken under the prescription and supervision of a licensed homeopathic doctor.

Homeopathy has shown great results in migraine headache treatment, both new as well as chronic ones as it aims to relieve it from its root cause. It is one of the most effective, and natural ways to treat migraine without any side effects.

With a regular dose of homeopathic medicines, you will see reduced frequency and intensity of migraines. These medicines are suitable for people of all age groups and pose little to no side effects due to their natural ingredients, hence can be taken over a long duration.

What Other Remedies Can You Try for Migraine Headache at Home?

These are some of the self-help remedies you could do when you get a migraine attack:

• Rest with lights off in a quiet room
• Apply a warm or cold compress to your head and neck
• Massage your temples or scalp in a circular motion
• Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation
• Drink lots of water
• Have healthy meals at fixed times
• Proper sleep-wake schedule
• Write down your triggers in a diary to avoid them in the future
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
• Certain supplements like Vitamin B2 and Magnesium are known to reduce the frequency of headaches (must be taken under medical prescription and supervision)

Conclusion

If you are experiencing most of the symptoms listed above, it is highly recommended to consult a homeopathic medical practitioner. The doctor will learn your symptoms, study your family history, and conduct a neurological and physical exam to identify the cause of your headache.

Your doctor may recommend some tests to rule out other medical conditions, such as brain CT or MRI scans in case of severe symptoms.

Book an Online Consultation Now to get a diagnosis for your unique symptoms and personalized migraine treatment.