Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 9-23-16 Online Edition

Health
Part II
Other dietary tips for how to get rid of a migraine include:
Avoiding extreme dieting or skipping meals, preventing dehy- dration, avoiding drinking too much caffeine throughout the day, and maintaining normal blood sugar levels by eating something bal- anced every few hours (especially if you’re diabetic).
3. Supplements for Migraines and Headaches
If you suffer from migraines or other types of headaches often, you can likely benefit from taking the following supplements: (5)
* Omega-3 fish oils: Some studies have found that omega-3 supplements can help decrease severity and frequency and mi- graines. (6)
* Magnesium
* Vitamin B2
* 5-HTP: An amino acid that can help improve serotonin levels
and lower frequency and severity of pain.
* Feverfew: An herb that helps reduce the frequency of mi-
graine headaches and headache symptoms, including pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and noise.
* Kudzu extract: An herbal treatment with over 70 phyto- chemicals or phytonutrients.
* Melatonin: Can help improve sleep quality when used in mod- eration.
* Capsaicin cream: Apply a small amount of capsaicin cream to the inside of your nostril, or use a nose spray containing capsaicin, which works by blocking nerve pain signals. (7)
* Medicinal mushrooms
Essential Oils for Treating Headache Pain
Essential oils have a variety of uses, and you can add essential oils to the list for how to get rid of a migraine. They’re natural painkillers, help lower stress or anxiety, reduce inflammation, im- prove blood flow, help balance hormones, and lower muscular ten- sion.
Essential oils can be applied to the painful side of the head, neck and elsewhere to soothe muscular tension and stress.
You can also numb any pain directly by applying several drops of an oil to a heated towel (or simply use a heating pad or ice pack ap- plied to the head and neck for about 15 minutes at a time). Essential oils for headaches include:
Peppermint: Reduces pain and inflammation. Works by having a natural cooling effect on the skin, inhibiting muscle contractions and stimulating blood flow around the head when applied topically.
Lavender: Soothes stress and anxiety. Can improve sleep qual- ity, decrease muscular tension, and has natural antidepressant and sedative qualities.
Eucalyptus: Improves blood flow, is uplifting, helps cleanse the body of toxins and harmful substances, and reduces high blood pres- sure and pain.
Frankincense: Lowers inflammation and has numerous bene- fits for improving overall immune function, anxiety and hormonal balance.
Rosemary: Reduces pain through regulating blood flow, helps decrease withdrawal symptoms of caffeine or medications, aids di- gestion, and soothes an upset stomach.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B