Tips and Tricks for Migraine Relief

A majority of my practice of CranioSacral Therapy is geared towards those suffering with regular migraines and headaches. As a long time migraine suffer it is something that through decades I have accumulated a lot of tricks and tips for managing my own migraines and finding ways to help others manage their migraine attacks, tension headaches, or concussion related headaches. 

My migraines started when I was a kid around the age of 5 or 6. I had a pretty classic pattern of a severe migraine which usually ended up with me vomiting. That pattern continued through most of my life and finally eased off in college and a few years after until my concussion brought them back into my life with a vengeance. When I was little I would use a meditation to treat my migraines and as an adult I found a lot of help with bodywork, physical therapy, and prescription injections. This combination brought my 2-3x a week migraines to 2-3x a year and eventually got me to maintenance mode where I'm able to maintain with semi-regular bodywork and self care. 

If you are a regular migraine sufferer here are some of my go to's for dealing with a migraine. Every person is different and depending on the type these suggestion may or may not be helpful.

1.) Track your migraines and suspected triggers - this is extremely helpful for working with your Doctors. Doesn't have to be fancy I have a whole folder of photos of my face whenever I got a migraine.
2.) Temperature change - hot showers, ice caps, heat on neck cold on forehead
3.) Saltines, coca-cola, and tiger balm on your temples (a family favorite)
4.) Rehydration drink - salt and lemon in hot water, gatorade, liquid iv, rehydration salts.
5.) Pain meditation (included below) from "Mountains, Meadows, and Moonbeams a Child's Spiritual Reader" by Mary Summer Rain. I read this as a kid and have used it to treat my migraines ever since. 
​
"Close your eyes and relax your body. Think real hard about the pain in your head. Imagine a brilliant, shining White Light on the pain and say to yourself: Pain, Pain, Pain. Do not tell the pain to go away, just let the pain know you are aware of it. Send all your thought energy into the center of the pain. If you have done this right you will be surprised to find the headaches is almost completely gone. Practise this and each time it will be easier. NOTE: Going into the very center of pain is like traveling into the very center or eye of a hurricane. The center is always quiet and calm."
 
What I love about this is that it is simple and anyone can do it. It also acknowledges the body by letting it know that you have received the pain message and are taking action. Pain is a message that something is going on in our body that requires change or attention/acknowledgement. That is one of the reasons identifying migraine triggers can be so important. For me when I have a migraine come on now I know that it's my body letting me know hey - you missed some sleep and need to rest. It has shifted my migraine experience from an uncontrollable thing that happens; to my body is letting me know something is going on and it needs to be addressed. 

Have headache or migraine relief tips or tricks you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!