Herbal Remedies for Migraine

A migraine is a severe headache that is often exacerbated by a number of factors, such as stress, diet, lack of sleep, and even exposure to extreme climatic conditions. It results from a combination of blood vessel enlargement and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels in the brain. Migraine activates the sympathetic nervous system that controls automatic responses to stress and pain. Theactivation of this response leads to the symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When trying to combat migraine attack, it is important to treat the underlying causes of the pain as well as to treat the symptoms of the attack. Find in this post, certain simple and effective natural herbal remedies to treat Migraine.

• Henna flowers have found to be beneficial in providing relief from head pain. Dip the flowers in vinegar and rub them on the forehead to ease migraine.
• Eating ginger or having a hot cup of ginger tea with basil leaves is also said to provide soothing relief from pain. Also, chamomile or mint tea works wonders.
• Prepare carrot juice combined with beetroot, cucumber and spinach. Take this preparation for migraine pain relief.
• Drinking fresh juice of ripe grapes is also said to be effective for migraine.
• A cabbage compress can relieve the pressure of the migraine. Just take several cabbage leaves and make a compress and lay on your head.
• Cold compress is thought to relieve the migraine pain. Placing an ice pack at the nape of the neck or surrounding the head with an ice wrap can help reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain, relieving the primary cause of Migraine.
• To treat the symptoms of migraine, put a single drop of pure peppermint oil on the tongue. Massage it on the part of the head that hurts. Peppermint oil is as an effective aid against vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
• Massaging the tensed muscles with tea tree oil will not only make the person feel good but will also relieve migraine.
• The most effective and safe natural medicine is butterbur, also known as petasites. It is available in pill form at the stores and is very effective in treating migraine pain.
• A hot shower is also said to give relief from head pain. Vinegar or Hydrogen peroxide can be added to water bath to relieve tensed muscles.
• Lie down in a dark room for instant relief as bright light makes the headache worst.
• Lie down with your face-up and your head hanging off the edge. Keep your legs elevated to allow the blood circulate to the affected area. Use this in combination with ice therapy to immediately reduce inflammation of the blood vessels.

Diet and Exercise for Migraine:  To combat migraine, eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of
exercise and sleep. Avoid smoking and Alcohol. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration! Migraine can be a result of dehydration, as sweating excessively and heat can trigger migraine attacks. Taking a complex combination of B Vitamins, particularly Vitamin B2 (400 milligrams a day) and B6, in diet or as supplement helps to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Take vitamins every day for best results. Vitamins will help you stay healthy and migraine-free. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are believed to be effective in reducing the intensity and the frequency of migraine attacks. Taking magnesium in diet or as supplement (at a dose of 400 - 600 milligrams/day) it is believed to be effective for menstrual-associated migraines and migraines associated with auras. Take caution that Magnesium may cause diarrhea, if you take too much. Also, consuming CoEnzymeQ10 (300 mg/ day) has proven to be effective in reducing migraine pain. A regular exercise is always recommended to migraine sufferers. Breathing exercises are quite helpful in providing relief. Every time you feel a migraine coming, begin taking long, slow and deep breaths. As you take deep breaths, allow all the tension to flow out of your body. Learn to cope up with day to day stress and anxiety. Get an adequate amount of sleep each night. By implementing a few healthy changes in your daily habits, and taking advantage of these beneficial natural remedies, you may look forward to a migraine-free life. Source: HerbHealtH,

Read More........→December 12, 2013

Six Lifestyle Choices to Slow Memory Decline Identified in 10-Year Study of Aging

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A 10-year study of Chinese adults over the age of 60, showed that a healthy lifestyle, in particular a nutritious diet, is associated with the slowing of memory decline in older people.

The major new research published in The BMJ, showed that the benefits of healthy living were even seen in those with a gene making them genetically susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.

Carriers of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene—the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and related dementia—saw a slowing in memory loss associated with healthy habits, such as refraining from alcohol.

The Chinese research team said that memory continuously declines as people age, but evidence from existing studies was insufficient to assess the effect of a healthy lifestyle on memory in later life.

Given the many possible causes of memory decline, they explained that a combination of healthy behaviors might be needed for the best effect.

A combination of these 6 healthy habits is best

The researchers analyzed data from 29,000 adults over 60 with normal cognitive function. The group had an average age of 72 and almost half were women.

At the start of the study in 2009, memory function was measured using an Auditory Verbal Learning test (AVLT) and participants were tested for the APOE gene; 20 percent were found to be carriers. Follow-up assessments were then conducted in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019.

A healthy lifestyle score combining six factors—diet, regular exercise, active social contact, cognitive activity (such as reading and writing), non-smoking, and never drinking alcohol—was then calculated.

Based on their score, ranging from zero to six, participants were put into favorable (four to six healthy factors), average (two or three), or unfavorable (one or zero) lifestyle groups—and separated into APOE carrier and non-carrier groups.

After taking into account other health, economic and social factors, the researchers found that each individual healthy behavior was associated with a slower than average decline in memory over 10 years.

“A healthy diet had the strongest effect on slowing memory decline, followed by cognitive activity and then physical exercise,” said study lead author Professor Jianping Jia.

“Compared with the group that had unfavorable lifestyles, memory decline in the favorable lifestyle group was 0.28 points slower over 10 years based on a standardized score of the AVLT, and memory decline in the average lifestyle group was 0.16 points slower.

“Participants with the APOE gene with favorable and average lifestyles also experienced a slower rate of memory decline than those with an unfavorable lifestyle.

“What’s more, those with favorable and average lifestyles were almost 90 percent and almost 30 percent less likely to develop dementia or mild cognitive impairment relative to those with an unfavorable lifestyle—and the APOE group had similar results.”

He said the research was observational so can’t establish cause, but it was a large study with a long follow-up period, allowing for evaluation of individual lifestyle factors on memory function over time.

The researchers say their results provide “strong evidence” that sticking to a healthy lifestyle with a combination of positive behaviors is associated with a slower rate of memory decline, even for people who are genetically susceptible to memory decline.Six Lifestyle Choices to Slow Memory Decline Identified in 10-Year Study of Aging

Read More........→May 21, 2024