If you’ve suffered a migraine, you know that feeling; the pain, the throbbing, and the sensitivity to lights. The following explains the triggers of migraines and some natural remedies to try at home.

Triggers
Though sometimes migraines can come without warning, there are actually many triggers to a migraine. Some include:

• Physiological triggers: Menstruation, ovulation, and ovarian cycle disorders.
• Emotional triggers: Anxiety, stress, and depression.
• Food habits: Missing meals, delayed meals, and inadequate quantity.
• Sleep factors: Lack of sleep, regular late nights, and sleeping longer than usual.
• Environmental factors: Bright lights, loud noise, strong smells, a smoky environment, over exercise, prolonged travel, sunlight glare and night driving.
• Certain foods: Cheese (especially cheddar) chocolates, citrus foods, coffee, vanilla, shellfish, and carbonated drinks.

Stages
The whole episode of a migraine can be described in four phases, as follows:

Prodrome: Symptoms last for few hours to 1-2 days and include: change in appetite, food craving, mood changes, fatigue, sensitivity to light and sound, yawning and loss of interest in doing work.
Aura: Actually a part of the attack; symptoms include: bright light in front of the eyes, dark spots in front of the eyes, tunnel vision, speech disturbances, confusion, and perceptual disturbances.
The Actual Attack: Usually lasts up to 72 hours and is a throbbing headache and pain increases with activity and is associated with nausea, vomiting, dizziness and visual symptoms.
Postdrom: The last phase, is where after a migraine attack, the patient may remain exhausted, tired, mentally fatigued and confused for few hours to few days.

Natural Remedies

Ice It
An easy remedy is to keep an ice pack ready. If you feel even the slightest migraine coming on, apply this straight to the back of your neck for instant relief. This will also help reduce the pain and provide relief.
Ginger
This helps reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, thereby lessening the pain. Simply boil for a tea or mix with lemon juice and drink.
Peppermint Oil
This contains menthol which helps regulate blood flow in the body and can help open up clogged blood vessels. One way to use this is mix a few drops in one tablespoon of almond oil or even water and massage the temples and back of your neck with this. For a tea, add a teaspoon of dried peppermint to boiling water and let it sit for 120 minutes. Drink slowly while hot.