I admit being one of those people who easily recourse to pain relievers in order to alleviate a throbbing headache particularly if it ends up excruciating or unbearable.
But I understand the fact that using over the counter drugs may give you an instant pain alleviation to migraines yet, the root cause of headache remains untreated. And as a result, it may develop a vicious cycle of unnecessary use of drugs in the long term.
This is a prevalent situation with the OTC drugs, as they simply suppress the pains along with the unfavorable signs of a painful condition as they fail to treat the primary cause of a specific ailment.
Over time, people will develop an inordinately reliance on painkillers for every little ache they encounter. Researches have shown that frequent consumption of pain relievers might result in kidney problems along with other complications or negative effects that may cause due to prolong use of medicine.
Migraine vs. Headache Pain: Similarities and Differences
The pain of migraine and tension headache are similar and tend to be mild, moderate, or severe in nature. The pain for each type of headache may be located on one side of the head or on both sides of the head.
The differences between the pain of migraine and headache are that migraine pain has a throbbing quality, and many people report even slight physical exertion walking up a flight of stairs may worsen their pain.
In contrast, the pain associated with tension-type headaches tends to be more chronic and steady. Many people with tension headache describe a band-like tightness or pressure.
Similarities and Differences between Migraine vs Headache
The only similarity between a migraine and a headache are that both cause pain. The headache may come on gradually or suddenly.
Migraine is different from other headaches because it may cause symptoms including:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells
- Worsening of the headache with slight physical exertion
These symptoms are often considered to be an acute migraine attack.
Tension-type headaches may be associated with tenderness of the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders. If you have this type of headache, you do not have a change in pain with physical activity, and there are no associated sensitivities to light, sounds, or smells.
Triggers: Differences between Migraine vs. Headache
Certain factors are common migraine triggers, including:
- Foods like red wine, chocolate, peanut butter, dairy products, and citrus fruits.
- Hormonal swings associated with menstrual cycles or pregnancy.
- Weather changes
- Certain smells
- Lack of sleep
- Gluten can be a migraine trigger for people who have true celiac disease. If you are concerned about this issue, eliminate gluten from your diet for a test period and keep a log for a possible trigger.
The cause of tension-type headache tends to be related to stress and associated tightness or tension in the muscles of the neck or scalp.
Reflexology
Do you have pain in your body, neck, back, or head? Reflexology
might be the cure you’ve been looking for. It’s only just a theory, but reflexologists believe that by applying pressure to certain parts of the hand or feet, pain or conditions in all sorts of places in the body can be alleviated.
Reflexology is considered a holistic massage technique, that is, it focuses on the entire body to restore balance. Each organ, gland or body part corresponds to areas in both the hand and foot.
When pressure is applied to the points on the hands or feet, it is believed to activate specific pressure sensors that stimulate the internal organs which each point is connected to. The perception of pressure by the feet and hands taps into the energetic reflex network that makes everything we do possible
As a note, you should always consult a physician before embarking on any alternative treatments, although reflexology as an adjunctive treatment is seen as very safe. Stimulation of these reflex points can promote relaxation, improve circulation, and encourage self-healing
Migraine Relief Pressure Point
I had a deadline to meet the other day and was a bit behind my timeline for completing. Of course, it wasn’t the perfect time; migraines or headaches never seem to come when you have time to malinger or take 20 minutes to recoup. They typically come when you have no time to take a half day or half hour break and a deadline to meet.
Normally, I’d pop some ibuprofen and hope it got better, which it does most of the time after a 15 minute to a half hour wait. In the meantime, I’m working at less than half speed.
A friend had posted a link on Facebook, and I not only had watched it, but I also put it in my favorites to “try sometime.” That sometimes was today.
Where Do You Massage to Get Rid of Migraines?
Enter the The Reflexology Massages. This could be the perfect solution for a migraine on the road, at work or a party when you want to feel your best. It’s not only faster than pills, but it also won’t damage your body in any way. Aside from doing this, I’m a fan of doing the foot massage to stimulate weight loss and of course, the famous facial massage for glowing skin.
Massage Tip #1
The Reflex Points to the Brain
The first tip is the reflex area to the brain. Press the fleshy part behind the nail of your big thumb, sends energy to the brain. It can actually prevent a migraine, so if you feel one coming on, just press your big thumb right away.
① Make small circles with really firm pressure or you can just hold for seconds and press your thumb firmly.
Massage Tip #2
The Reflex Points to the Neck
① If you have a migraine, you often have a neck pain. So, you can move down right on the base of the thumb and make small circles in the fleshy part of the base. Press firm and hard while doing this for about 10 seconds. This is the reflex area to the neck.
Reflexology is base on the idea that every part of the body is connected through nerves, to your hands feet and ears. By pressing on this reflex area, you’re actually relieving tension on the neck area.
Massage Tip #3
The Reflex Points to the Eye
Migraine is normally associated with light pressure to the eyes, you start seeing squiggly lines. The reflex area to the eyes is right below the index and the third finger.
① Apply firm pressure with your thumb on that area and make small circles. This clears up the energy pathways to the eyes. Alternately, you can also press the reflex area to the brain by pressing your big thumb to prevent the migraine.
② Press this area for about 10-15 seconds and then reverse the direction of the circular motion.
Massage Tip #4
The Reflex Points to the Stomach
① Now, if you feel nauseous having a migraine, press down the V-part of your palm, between the thumb. This is the reflex area to the stomach.
② Press hard and put firm pressure on this area for about 10-15 seconds.
Massage Tip #5
The Point Points to the Solar Plexus
Right in the center of the palm is the reflex point to the Solar Plexus which is considered the nerve switchboard to the body. It is the clustered network of nerves that sits directly behind the stomach.
① Cup your hand as if you are catching a raindrop. Right in the dip of your palm, press this point firmly using your thumb, then move the thumb in a rotating motion. Once, you’re done, you can switch to the other hand and do the same techniques.
This technique is effective in relieving migraine as well as to wind down at the end of the day.
Massage Tip #6
Neck Pain
And once you’re done both hands, you can move to your neck, if you get neck pain with migraine.
① Place both of your index and third fingers on the side of your spine right at the base of your neck. Move your fingers in a small rotating motions.
② You can tilt your head in one side and keep those fingers in small circles going. And tilt to the opposite side and do the same.
③ You can work your fingers all the way up of either side of the spine until the base of your head and work back down.
Massage Tip #7
Reflex Points to the Brain
After you’ve worked both hands and neck, you can work on the reflex area to the brain.
① Since you do have a headache, start with the brain point. Place your thumb on the fleshy part behind the nail of the big toe using firm pressure in circular motion. You can do small circle rotation in one direction and switch to a different direction.
Massage Tip #8
The Reflex Points to the Neck
After the brain point, we can move to the neck point just down to the base of your big toe, this is the reflex area to the neck as lot of people who suffer from migraine have intense neck pain.
① Using your thumb, press this area doing the circular motion as firmly as you can handle it. Do this for about 10-15 seconds.
Massage Tip #9
Reflex Points to the Eye
If you experience any eye strain or eye issues like zigzag lines or tunnel vision with migraines, you can work the reflex area to the eye right below the 2nd and the third toe.
① Press this point firmly, putting a bit of pressure while making small circles in one direction and switch to the opposite direction.
Massage Tip #10
Reflex Points to the Stomach
If you’re like me who often feels nauseous when having migraine, you can work the reflex area to the stomach which is right in the middle of the foot.
① Press firmly coming inward to the middle section of your foot, and work to the inner edge. You can do this for about 10-15 seconds or longer if you feel nauseous.
If you’re done working on this area, you can repeat the process again or you can work on the other foot.
Natural Remedies for Headache
Let’s focus on what’s promising here as I found a great list of folk remedies for headaches or migraines with fairly sensible explanatory descriptions. Most tips are incredibly uncomplicated and you might be amazed and thrilled to realize the prospect of non-toxic relief is indeed readily available at home.
You have the ability to choose which way you want to go. You have to believe great things are going to happen in your life. Do everything you can – prepare, pray and achieve – to make it happen.