Stop Migraines Fast with These Simple Remedies: Peppermint, Magnesium, CoQ10 and More

Have you noticed more migraines recently? Seasonal changes might be to blame. Fluctuations in temperature and barometric pressure can trigger migraines and auras. Here’s how to tame migraines and block their return.

Before a migraine starts, sniff peppermint

When you feel the first signs of a migraine brewing, take a slow, deep whiff of peppermint oil. Peppermint oil works as effectively as lidocaine, reducing the intensity and frequency of migraines, according to a high-quality study in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine. Mint’s menthol relaxes spasming scalp muscles while also improving healing blood flow. The best part? You’ll feel migraine relief in as little as five minutes.

To prevent a migraine, try magnesium

Up to 80 percent of women are deficient in muscle-relaxing magnesium, which can lead to migraines. Taking 400 milligrams of magnesium glycinate daily reduces the duration and frequency of migraines.

Woman's World Answers

What’s going on with Dolly Parton’s health? What’s the best time to take my multivitamin? What causes hair loss in women over 50? How can I relieve my tinnitus? What are early signs of dementia in women? What’s going on with Dolly Parton’s health? What’s the best time to take my multivitamin? What causes hair loss in women over 50? How can I relieve my tinnitus? What are early signs of dementia in women?

Can Senobi breathing really help me lose weight? What causes cataracts? How can I get my doctor to listen to me? Is Dolly Parton sick? How can I release trapped gas fast? Can Senobi breathing really help me lose weight? What causes cataracts? How can I get my doctor to listen to me? Is Dolly Parton sick? How can I release trapped gas fast?

Powered by

For fast migraine relief, cool down your throat

For fast relief from migraine pain, head to your freezer and pull out an ice pack. Placing an ice pack across your throat, rather than your forehead, can ease migraine pain in five minutes, according to a high-quality study from the Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health. The ice pack cools the blood in your neck, reducing inflammation that triggers migraines.

Additionally, when you sense a migraine coming on, slip on rose-colored glasses. Wearing rose-tinted glasses can stop migraines in just 10 seconds, suggest a study in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science. The color blocks “short” wavelengths of light that can overstimulate light receptors in the retina and trigger symptoms.

For soothing migraine relief, try a caffeine-ginger combo

If you weren’t able to catch a migraine in the earliest stages and now your head is throbbing, sip an 8-oz. glass of water mixed with a pinch of ground ginger. A study in Phytotherapy Research found that taking just ¹⁄10 tsp. of the spice worked as well as the commonly prescribed Rx sumatriptan, reducing migraine pain by 90 percent in two hours. Ginger’s phytonutrients ease pain without causing the side effects common in migraine medications, like dizziness or grogginess.

Deal of the Day

This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal

Note: While sugar may alleviate migraines in some people, it’s a common trigger in others. If you believe sugar triggers your migraines, consider a sugar-free ginger drink.

Block future migraine flare-ups with CoQ10

Supplement with the antioxidant CoQ10 daily, and you may say goodbye to migraine misery for good. The nutrient improves energy production in cells’ mitochondria, shielding them from metabolic stress that causes throbbing and auras. Indeed, Swiss research found 48 percent of folks who took 100 mg of CoQ10 three times a day for three months cut the risk of a future migraine in half. 

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.