Migraine headaches cause severe pain, usually accompanied by nausea and a sensitivity to sound and light. The pulsing and throbbing pain of this type of headache can involve one or both sides of the head. Treatments involve both preventative measures, avoiding situations that cause the headaches and medications for reducing the severity of symptoms. Just as different people's migraines have different origins, a treatment that works for one person won't always work for another.

Some people find that certain methods within alternative and complementary medicine can help. This page on how to treat a migraine gives you several options for helping avoid migraines, minimizing the severity of the pain, herbal remedies, alternative medicine techniques that are commonly used such as acupressure, chiropractic, and the conventional approach using medications.

Recommendations from the University of Maryland Medical Center that may reduce the pain severity of a migraine headache after onset include: drinking plenty of water, especially if you have vomited, resting in a quiet dark room, and placing a cool cloth on the head. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000709trt.htm

Everybody's migraines are different, and what triggers a headache in one person may have no affect on somebody else. Common triggers include stress, aged cheese, red wine, fluctuating hormones, flashing lights, and fermented foods If you have predictable triggers, avoiding them may reduce the number of migraines you experience.

A good way to help identify your triggers is to keep a journal. In that journal, you should record the times your headaches happen, the severity, what you have eaten during the day, when you go to bed and wake (sleep patterns), and any other symptoms that are associated with the headaches. This diary will help you identify patterns that are associated with the occurrence and severity of the headaches. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000709trt.htm .http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=causes Migraine Causes

Some people find relief from alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal remedies and biofeedback. Acupuncture focuses in releasing energy blockages that cause the headaches. Chiropractic helps align your spine if that is the cause of the migraines. Several studies support the use of feverfew and valerian for migraine relief. A form of biofeedback known as neruofeedback has been found useful as well. Lastly, some have found relief from migraine headaches by the use of mindfulness meditation techniques. A related how to on this topic is How to Manage Stress. MAGNUM: Complementary and Alternative Therapies http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_procedures_may_be_tried_tension-type_headache_000011_8.htm

Migraine medications fall into two general categories:

1. There are medications that are taken once an attack has started, to relieve pain and stop the symptoms of the headache.
2. There are also medications that are taken on a regular basis to prevent headaches from occurring in the first place.MayoClinic.com: Treatments and Drugs
   
   

These types of medications are listed in the Fast Facts section. Triptans are most frequently prescribed. Side effects of triptans include nausea, dizziness and muscle weakness. Those who have a risk for strokes and heart attacks are advised not to take this medication. In 2008, a single-tablet combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium (Treximet) became available and it has the advantage of being more effective in relieving migraine symptoms than either medication on its own. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs