How to Cure Your Migraines Naturally
4 natural solutions that you can count on, including a lavender lemonade recipe you’re about to be obsessed with.
04 August, 2019
Health
10 November, 2021
Migraines are the pits. You essentially have to hole yourself up in a dark room, dealing with any small sound feeling like a knife to the head, you may deal with tingling sensations or blind spots, and at times nausea—sounds a whole lot like something we have no time for. Unfortunately, migraines are pretty much unavoidable, caused by anything from stress to allergies to jet lag (and more), but we can at least learn of all the ways we can cure these monsters without resorting to hard-core painkillers. We asked Jessica Rosen, holistic health coach and creator of Raw Generation, what natural remedies we can count on to get rid of a migraine and why we should perfect the below lavender lemonade recipe.
“Unlike taking a painkiller, these natural remedies aren’t accompanied by side effects like liver and kidney damage,” Rosen explains. “These natural remedies safely get to the root of the problem instead of temporarily covering it up.”
“Unlike taking a painkiller, these natural remedies aren’t accompanied by side effects like liver and kidney damage,” Rosen explains. “These natural remedies safely get to the root of the problem instead of temporarily covering it up.”
PEPPERMINT OIL
“Combine a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil, like almond or jojoba. Apply to temples, forehead, and/or neck. Peppermint [oil can] reduce tension, is numbing and improves circulation, reduces stress, and relieves muscle tension. Peppermint oil’s effects are long-lasting, increasing blood flow and relieving muscle contractions. Essential oils serve as headache treatments because they safely and effectively treat the headache trigger, getting to the root of the problem instead of minimizing the pain temporarily. Plus, when using essential oils for headaches, there are no nasty side effects. A tiny amount has a powerful effect.”
MAGNESIUM
“Consuming adequate magnesium (200-600 mg) each day will help prevent headaches from occurring. Some healthy sources of magnesium: leafy greens, beets, nuts, quinoa, avocados, and bananas.”
TURMERIC
“Use turmeric spice to spice your dishes, [as it] is super anti-inflammatory.”
LAVENDER
“Lavender, with its highly calming therapeutic properties, has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate headaches and migraines—measurably more than placebos. You can use lavender essential oil externally [or] aromatically to get relief, or use dried culinary lavender to create an infused beverage [see below].
“Using lavender essential oil (on skin or in a diffuser) helps provide relief from headaches because it’s anti-inflammatory, it dilates blood vessels, regulates serotonin levels, can help decrease stress and anxiety, and can help you sleep. If you’re going to consume lavender orally, don’t use the essential oil. Instead, boil water, add organic culinary lavender, and let steep for 20 minutes. [You can also] soak your lavender in water overnight to infuse it. For external use, diffuse ten to twelve drops of lavender oil into the air, rub one drop behind your ears, back of neck, or temples, add ten drops to a warm bath, or mix two drops with your body lotion.”
LAVENDER LEMONADE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 cup raw honey or pure maple syrup
5 cups pure water
¼ cup fresh lavender or 1 tbsp dried lavender*
6-7 lemons (freshly squeezed)
ice cubes
*Ensure your lavender is organic in order to avoid pesticides
DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring water to boil and then remove from heat.
2. Stir in honey or maple syrup and lavender. Cover and let steep for anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours.
3. Strain mixture into a large container.
4. Stir in lemon juice.
5. Refrigerate or serve over ice.
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