Can Migraine Be Cured Permanently?

"Can Migraine Be Cured Permanently?" is a very serious question we need to ask! More than a bad headache, migraine is a neurological disease. It is a headache of varying intensity. The pain that starts as mild can become severe without treatment. The most common area that is affected by migraine pain is the forehead, and the pain may move from one side of your head to the other. In most cases, migraine attacks last for 4 hours, but if the treatment is not provided at the right time, it can last for more than 3 days to a week. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, or you may feel pale or faint. So, Let's understand in detail, how migraine occurs and can migraine be cured permanently?

Migraine attacks progress through 4 phases, each of which has their own characteristic symptoms. Each phase varies in severity and duration. At times, symptoms of these phases actually overlap significantly with each other. These 4 phases, in chronological order, are: 

Prodrome
Aura
Headache
Postdrome

Not every person experiences these 4 phases, and every individual has a different migraine experience from one another.

Symptoms of Migraine

Migraine headaches are sometimes preceded by warning symptoms. They occur 1-2 before an actual migraine headache. The symptoms of migraine look like this:

• Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
• Food cravings 
• Lack of appetite
• Mood swings
• Low energy
• Feeling heavy in your arms and legs
• Changes in smell or taste 
• Irritation
• Dizziness 
• Stiffness

Most of the time, migraines go undiagnosed and untreated. If you regularly experience migraine symptoms and signs, it is recommended that you consult a doctor. Meanwhile, you can incorporate lifestyle changes. 

The Causes of Migraine Attacks

Migraine, commonly known as migraine headache, is very common in India with more than 10 million cases per year (source: Apollo Hospitals). Migraine, based on its intensity, may cause disruptions in day-to-day basic tasks. There are many triggers for migraines. We have rounded up some for you - 

• Flashing lights
• Exposure to loud noises and strong smells
• Stress and anxiety
• Sleep deprivation 
• Lack of adequate fluid/food intake 
• Hormonal changes 
• Trigger foods like chocolate, cheese, red wine, soy sauce, 
• Too much or too little consumption of caffeine. 
• Changes in weather 
• Magnesium deficiency
• Alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Missing a meal

If you have experienced a migraine attack in the past, it is advisable to keep a headache journal. It helps you to keep track of your health and lifestyle habits, which in turn helps you to modify your routine and habits. 

Is Migraine Curable Permanently?

How to get rid of migraines permanently is the most common query? It is important to note that migraine can’t be cured permanently, but there is a treatment for it. With treatment, a person may experience fewer attacks of migraine or a fall in the intensity of headaches.

Although there is no cure for migraines, their frequency can be reduced. However, there are at-home remedies and medication treatments that help in the prevention of migraine attacks or reduce their intensity and duration. 

How Can Migraine be Cured Permanently at Home?

Up till now, there has been no permanent cure for migraine. However, there are many natural remedies that can help you manage migraine symptoms. At home, easy remedies include lying down in a quiet, dark room, massaging your scalp, or placing a cold cloth behind your neck or over your forehead. We have rounded up a few natural remedies to reduce migraine symptoms- 

1.Avoid migraine-inducing foods such as

• Nitrate-enriched foods like hot dogs, deli meats, bacon, and sausages 
• Chocolate and cold foods like ice cream
• Cheese that contains the naturally occurring compound tyramine
• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Foods that contain flavour enhancers
• Processed or pre-prepared foods
• Dried fruits
• Cultured dairy products, such as buttermilk, sour cream, and yogurt

It is advisable to keep a daily food journal to keep track of which foods and beverages act as migraine triggers for you. It is important to keep track of how you feel after consuming a particular food or beverage. This exercise helps in the prevention of migraine headaches in the future. 

2. Consume Ginger
   The easily available root at home, ginger, is known for easing nausea caused by migraines. It has pain-relieving benefits for migraine attacks. 
3. Practice Yoga
   Stress and anxiety are the most prominent migraine triggers. Yoga, a world popular practice, is known for promoting health and well-being. The use of breathing, meditation, and body postures reduces anxiety and stress, which in turn reduces the occurrence of migraine attacks or reduces their intensity and duration.
4. Add Magnesium to Your Diet
   Magnesium deficiency is another prominent migraine trigger. It is advisable to add magnesium-enriched foods to your diet like - 

Almonds
Sesame seeds
Sunflower seeds
Cashews
Oatmeal
Eggs
Milk

5. Take Sound Sleep
   Many researchers have found a strong correlation between poor sleep quality and high migraine frequency. It is advisable to take at least 7 or more hours of sleep every night. Following the night routine, avoiding caffeine intake before going to bed, and avoiding electronic device usage before bed are some of the ways to improve your sleep.
6. Stay Hydrated
   Dehydration is known as a migraine trigger. It is advisable to drink at least 4 litres of water a day to reverse dehydration. At present, as the mercury is rising, keep a check on your water intake. 

Can Migraine be Cured Permanently in Ayurveda

The conventional approach to treating migraine involves taking over-the-counter medicines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and acetaminophen. However, the long-term use of these OTC medicines may lead to more complications. Therefore, there has been an inclination towards ayurvedic medicines to treat migraines as they don’t use prescription drugs.

Ayurveda uses natural methods and focuses on:

• Detoxification of body
• Herbal remedies
• Dietary changes
• Lifestyle changes
• Relaxation techniques

It is advisable to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner who will assist you with the right ayurvedic treatment and ayurvedic medicines. It is important to note that there is no permanent cure for migraine in Ayurveda either. However, with ayurvedic treatment and medicines, there are no side effects on the body, unlike conventional treatment for migraine.

Takeaway

A migraine is more than a bad headache. It causes severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Though they don't cause lasting harm, they interfere with daily activities. 

Though at present there is no cure to get rid of migraine permanently, a change in lifestyle coupled with non-conventional ayurvedic treatment lowers the occurrence, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches. It is advisable to consult your doctor from time to time to keep a check on this condition.