Migraine Hygiene

When we hear the word hygiene, we think of cleanliness with regard to our bodies. Migraine hygiene refers to the many steps that can be taken to avoid or cope with migraines.

As a parent of a migraineur, I found that my son was receptive to learning strategies that prevented or reduced pain; however, he refused to apply them. I think this was because it was so difficult for him to remember what he had learned when he was experiencing pain.

I believe this ability comes with maturation. Now that he is twelve he will actively drink enough water, put himself to sleep, or avoid triggers. Just as symptoms and types of migraines vary from person to person; migraine hygiene is unique to each individual.

My son must incorporate the following "rituals" in his daily life: maintaining a certain level of hydration, avoiding extreme heat, eating 3 meals plus 2 snacks every day, maintaining a consistent bed time, avoiding foods with MSG, avoiding artificial odors (candles), and reducing stress.

What steps does your child take to control his or her migraine headaches? Please share. Hopefully, this information will help other individuals who are struggling to cope with this condition.

Biofeedback

When my son was in third grade, he learned a number of different biofeedback techniques to help him relax and reduce his pain. A psychologist who specialized in pain management worked with him one hour a week for a couple of months.

He was taught how to visualize a pleasant setting by thinking about the sights and sounds of a particular locale.

He was also taught how to rub his hands together in order to bring the flow of blood to his hands rather than his head. This was called "Hot Hands."

She also taught him deep breathing, how to make his body feel loose and relaxed like a rag doll and something called "Tense and Release." My son would tense a part of his body and then try to sustain a relaxed state after releasing the tension.

As with other remedies mentioned in this blog, they must be tried by each individual to determine what works.

To learn more about relaxation techniques go to this link.

Lavender

Sometimes my son asks me to sprinkle lavender oil on his pillow when he has a bad migraine. The smell of the oil is soothing and helps him to relax. He also has a small pillow, which is filled with lavender and can be placed on his forehead or around his neck.

Basically, we use whatever makes him comfortable when he is dealing with a bad headache. Through trial and error we have found a number of things which help control his pain. It's essential to try different remedies to see what works for you!

If you are interested in trying lavender, many pharmacies, health food stores, or even specialty bath stores sell this pleasant smelling herb.

Learn more about the importance of using natural remedies and relaxation. http://www.foxnews.com/health/headaches/index.html

Learning how to relax

My son was taught a variety of relaxation techniques to use when he began to feel pain. He learned these techniques from a psychologist who specialized in pain management. As a migraine sufferer, I always found it hard to relax during an extremely painful migraine episode. In fact, the only thing that worked for me was to concentrate during the moments when the pain subsided a little. It was then that I would breathe deeply and feel my body relax a little.