How to Get Rid of Menstrual Migraines

Traditional remedies recommended by doctors in the US.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, 70% of people who suffer from migraines are women. Of these women, 60% to 70% report a link between menstruation and migraines. So if what you feel every month is similar, read on to find out what menstrual migraines are and how menstruation can be accompanied by headaches.

What is a migraine?

“The difference between a migraine and a tension-type headache (the most common) is that migraine pain is more severe, often throbbing, typically (but not always) on one side of the head,” explains Dr Alexander Mauskop in his work Migraine and Tension-Type Headache, 2018.

“The pain is aggravated by light physical activity and is accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light, noise and smells,” he adds. “None of these characteristics is necessary for a migraine diagnosis. If two or three characteristics are present, then it is a migraine.”

Migraine symptoms: migraines are typically quite severe. Not only can they be accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, plus nausea with or without vomiting, but according to studies from withcove.com, 25% of people with migraines experience an aura before or during attacks. These usually consist of visual disturbances, for example bright and flashing lights. They can be very frightening, especially the first time they appear.

In addition, many people with migraines experience symptoms over hours or days before the pain begins. You might experience changes in mood and appetite, for example. “These are called prodromal symptoms,” says Dr Crystal, a migraine expert. “Similarly, even after the pain resolves, many people have to deal with the ‘migraine hangover’ or postdrome, which can include impaired concentration, fatigue and a general sense of not functioning fully. This phase can last up to two days.”

What is the difference between a migraine and a menstrual migraine? “A menstrual migraine is a typical migraine that appears before or during your period,” says Dr Mauskop. “Falling oestrogen levels trigger the attack.”

Dr Mauskop also says that the drop in oestrogen happens to a lesser extent before ovulation too, with some women having migraines twice a month: once with ovulation and once with menstruation. “During pregnancy and menopause, migraines often improve because oestrogen levels remain constant,” she adds.

Why do I get migraines during my menstrual cycle? According to Maritza Worthington, a nutritionist and endocrinology specialist, hormonal headaches appear when the body is trying to communicate something or ask something of you.

When hormonal headaches occur every month (especially in the luteal or menstrual phase), this can indicate oestrogen dominance, thyroid/cortisol imbalances or nutrient/mineral deficiencies, such as B vitamins and magnesium.

Treatments for menstrual migraines

1. Track your periods and menstrual migraines. First of all, Dr Crystal recommends tracking your migraines — when they appear, their intensity, the symptoms and so on. “Over time, patterns often emerge that help doctors identify triggers and, more importantly, find the most effective treatment faster,” she says.

Track your periods too, she says. “Tracking both migraines and periods can help determine when the migraine starts in relation to your cycle, because anticipating the pain before it begins is very useful.”

1. Eat anti-inflammatory foods. “An anti-inflammatory diet full of vegetables and roots such as turmeric and ginger can be particularly useful in the days before your period,” says Worthington. “Turmeric is a powerful root that works to reduce the inflammatory pathways that can trigger pain. Turmeric can also be taken as a latte, a capsule or a tincture if larger doses are needed.”

Similar to turmeric, ginger root has been shown to be an excellent alternative to NSAIDs at higher doses (1,000 mg) and can genuinely reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the inflammatory prostaglandins released during menstruation. “It is always a great idea to use both roots and make a concentrated anti-inflammatory tea infusion,” Worthington adds.

1. Take magnesium. “Magnesium is one of the most common mineral deficiencies I see, and sometimes it can be linked to those debilitating headaches,” says Worthington. “Many women simply do not get enough magnesium in their diet, and a lot of that is down to nutrient-depleted soil and the stressors of modern life.”

According to Worthington, in the luteal phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle, magnesium stores are used up faster than at any other time in the cycle. “That is why it is a good idea to step up those magnesium-rich foods at least a week before your period arrives,” she says. “Excellent sources of magnesium include leafy green vegetables, fish, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate and Epsom salt baths or topical oil-based solutions.”

1. Use peppermint essential oil. “A few drops of peppermint essential oil massaged into the temples can add a boost of vitality,” says Worthington. “Because it is a stimulating and mildly energising oil, it can help ease the hormonal migraines and menstrual pain that can appear during your period.”

Source of the quotes: hellogiggles.com