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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

Self-care measures can help ease the pain of a migraine.

  • Try muscle relaxation exercises. Progressive muscle relaxation, meditation and yoga don't require any equipment. You can learn them in classes or at home using books or tapes. Or spend at least a half-hour each day doing something you find relaxing — listening to music, gardening, taking a hot bath or reading.
  • Get enough sleep but don't oversleep. The average adult needs six to eight hours of sleep a night. It's best to go to bed and wake up at regular times, as well.
  • Rest and relax. If possible, rest in a dark, quiet room when you feel a headache coming on. Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the back of your neck and apply gentle pressure to painful areas on your scalp.
  • Keep a headache diary. Continue keeping your headache diary even after you see your doctor. It will help you learn more about what triggers your migraines and what treatment is most effective.
Alternative medicine Treatments and drugs
References
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  2. Wilson JF. In the clinic: Migraine. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2007;147:ITC11-1.
  3. Allais LK, et al. Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis (review). Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons; 2009.
  4. Headache and facial pain. In: Aminoff MJ, et al. Clinical Neurology. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=66. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  5. Goadsby PJ, et al. Headache. In: Fauci, AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed April 3, 2009.
  6. Bajwa ZH, et al. Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
  7. Bajwa ZH, et al. Acute treatment of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
  8. Bajwa ZH, et al. Preventative treatment of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
  9. Trigger avoidance information. American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/tools/TriggerAvoidanceInformation.asp. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  10. Migraine. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Migraine. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  11. Hormones and migraines. National Headache Foundation. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  12. Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  13. Cruse RP. Pathophysiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of migraine in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
  14. Cruse RP. Classification of migraine in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
  15. Cruse RP. Management of migraine headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
  16. Martin VT, et al. Eletriptan treatment of migraine in patients switching from barbiturate-containing analgesics: Results from a multiple-attack study. Cephalagia. 2005;25:726.
  17. Taylor M, et al. Botulinum toxin type-A (BOTOX) in the treatment of occipital neuralgia: A pilot study. Headache. 2008;48:1476.
  18. Lawler SP. A randomized, controlled trial of massage therapy as a treatment for migraine. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2006;32:50.
  19. FDA public health advisory. U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/SSRI_SS200607.htm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  20. Bigal ME. Excessive acute migraine medication use and migraine progression. Neurology. Neurology. 2008;71:1821.
  21. Bigal ME, et al. Advil. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare. http://www.advil.com/products/advil/tablet_label.asp. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  22. Maxalt (prescribing information). Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck & Co.; 2008. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  23. Treximet (sumatriptan and naproxen sodium) tablets approved by FDA for acute treatment of migraine. GlaxoSmithKline. http://www.gsk.com/media/pressreleases/2008/2008_us_pressrelease_10034.htm. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  24. Neurontin (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer; 2007. http://www.pfizer.com/products/rx/rx_product_neurontin.jsp. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  25. Acupuncture: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  26. Natural product effectiveness checker. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  27. Feverfew. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  28. Butterbur. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed April 2, 2009.
  29. Rios J, et al. Evidenced-based use of botanicals, minerals, and vitamins in the prophylactic treatment of migraines. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2004;16:251.
  30. The dangers of aspirin & NSAIDS. The American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.gi.org/patients/women/asprin.asp. Accessed April 3, 2009.
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  32. Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 20, 2009.
  33. Saarto T, et al. Antidepressants for neuropathic pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD005454.
  34. Ninan M, et al. Dynamic optimization of chronic migraine treatment: Current and future options. Neurology. 2009;72(suppl):14.
  35. Olesen J, et al. New appendix criteria open for a broader concept of chronic migraine. Cephalagia. 2006;26:742.

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June 6, 2009

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