There are many simple solutions to get rid of migraines such as applying essential oils to your temples, cryotherapy, sweetened coffee or paracetamol… Here are eight ways to relieve headaches.
- Migraines affect 7 to 8 million people in France.
- They can be very debilitating and require you to stay in bed for several hours when they occur.
- Simple tips make it easier to get rid of migraines.
Particularly because of our addiction to screens, migraines are more and more frequent, they concern 7 to 8 million people in France, especially women. When a migraine occurs, it can keep you in bed for several hours. Although it usually goes away on its own, here are tips to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
Using water to soothe pain
Headaches are often caused by dehydration. Consider drinking water throughout the day by keeping a water bottle in your bag or on your desk.
You can also place a towel soaked in cold water on your forehead. Sit calmly in the dark, close your eyes until you feel better.
Cold or heat depending on the painful area
You can take advantage of cryotherapy by applying cold compresses to your forehead and temples. This triggers the constriction of dilated blood vessels and relieves symptoms. Wrap ice cubes in a cloth and pass it over the painful area.
When the pain is in the back of the head, it may be due to an old neck injury returning due to fatigue or stress. In this case, the neck must be heated to relax the muscles at the base of the skull. Many accessories are at your disposal: cherry stone cushions for microwaves, hair dryers, traditional hot water bottles, etc.
Essential oils and self-massage of the head
If an attack occurs during the day and you cannot rest, use tiger balm (a mixture of camphor and menthol) or a roll-on essential oil (peppermint or lavender). They can be found in many organic stores and pharmacies. Apply the product of your choice to the temples and neck, massaging gently.
If that’s not enough, place your elbows on the table, relax your jaw and open your mouth halfway. Place your index finger at the height of your jaw joint and draw small circles from the inside towards your earlobe. You can also use three fingers to knead the skin on the back of your neck and massage it with gentle head movements. Finally, you can start with the trapezius muscles around your neck and move your hands up towards your ears.
Combine paracetamol and sweetened coffee to fight migraine
Take paracetamol with a cup of sweet coffee. Caffeine works with paracetamol to constrict dilated blood vessels (which often cause headaches), thereby speeding up its absorption and increasing its effectiveness. Sweetening your coffee can help overcome possible hypoglycemia that can lead to migraines.
Headaches: watch out for screens
If you are at home, turn off your screens, which may be causing your headaches. If you are at the office, gently close your eyes every 15 minutes and reopen them at the same rate. Repeat this movement at least ten times a day and remember to blink often.
There are also many filters and applications to protect your eyes from damage caused by screens. Software such as RedshiftGUI, F.lux or LightBulb allows you to adjust the color temperature.
And for those of you who use your smartphone before sleeping, even though it’s a very bad idea according to doctors, the Screen Filter app allows you to apply a darkening filter to your device’s screen.
