Migraine treatment

A migraine headache is caused by hormonal fluctuations which cause blood vessels in the head and neck to contract and then dilate.  The first phase, or contraction phase, may last minutes, hours, or days. This is called the aura.

When the blood vessels dilate, the headache pain starts. Apparently the hormones over-react.  Instead of just going from a contracted state back to normal, the blood vessels dilate much wider than normal, causing pain.

The migraine treatments listed here can be used when you are in pain, to reduce the pain.

Migraine treatment #1

Sit with your feet in a bowl of cool water.

Migraine treatment #2

Have some food, or a nutritious drink (especially tomato juice), if you have not eaten for a while.

Migraine treatment #3

Take a hot shower. Put your head, or the  back of your neck, under the running water since this helps the constricting bloodvessels to expand.

Migraine treatment #4

Lie down to rest in a dark room.

Migraine treatment #5

Put something cold on the back of your neck, such as a cold, wet cloth; or alternate hot and cold cloths where the pain is.