Credits: Social Media
Doctor’s migraine ‘home remedy’ with hot and cold compress could help relieve pain
Migraines are one of the most debilitating conditions, often wiping you out for days and making everyday tasks impossible.
A doctor has shared one trick that could help to relieve the pain, although there is currently no cure for the extreme headaches.
Doctor’s hot and cold migraine ‘home remedy’
“This is a quick home remedy for anyone suffering from migraine headaches,” Dr Sood revealed on TikTok.
A migraine is a very bad headache with a throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head, NHS explains. Other common symptoms include feeling sick and sensitivity to light.
He said to apply a cold compress over your forehead and a hot one on the back of your neck, combining two types of heat therapy. You regularly hear of using ice and heat to relieve pain, but you may not have thought of doing both at the same time.
The cold towel will numb the pain and reduce any inflammation which may be worsening your symptoms, while the hot compress will help to reduce muscle tension and improve blood circulation, the doctor explained.
This helps to normalize blood flow, reduce the intensity of vascular changes in the blood vessels, improve oxygen delivery and remove toxins, which can accumulate and contribute to triggering your migraine headaches.
Warm showers or baths can have a similar effect to hot compress as they help relax tense muscles, Mayo Clinic explains.
More ways to relieve migraines at home
The NHS recommends sleeping or lying down in a darkened room as another migraine relief remedy. Light and sound can make the pain worse, so many find being in a quiet, dark room reduces some of the pain.
There are also many lifestyle changes you can do to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines including staying well hydrated, limiting caffeine and alcohol and getting plenty of sleep. Also try to keep to a healthy weight, eat meals at regular times, manage your stress and get regular exercise.
Often, certain things can trigger a migraine like specific foods, alcohol, anxiety, caffeine, dehydration and stress. It’s a good idea to keep a migraine diary and discover some of your triggers, then you can consciously avoid them.
Speak to a doctor for migraine support
If you suffer from severe migraines, speak to your healthcare provider who can offer further advice and treatments.
They may suggest using painkillers, medicines called triptans or gepants, which are new treatments developed to help migraines. Learning relaxation techniques and acupuncture could also help, and they may provide medicines that stop you feeling sick.
Certain natural treatments, such as riboflavin (vitamin B2) and coenzyme Q10, may also provide relief, MedlinePlus explains. Taking magnesium and a herb called butterbur can help migraine pain in some people too.
However, migraines are different for everyone, so you may need to try a combination of different medicines and relief methods before you find something that works for you.
Dr Kunal Sood (MD) is a double board-certified doctor who specializes in anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine. He works for the National Spine and Pain Centers�in Germantown, Maryland and received his�medical degree�from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine.�
