Migraine is one of the most annoying neurological disorders and is quite common. Almost 28 million Americans are affected by it and cannot function normally on a daily basis. Migraine can affect all age groups of people and can be triggered by various factors such as hunger or delayed meals, smoking, consumption of alcohol, lack of or too much of sleep, stress and intake of certain allergic foods.

Migraine headache is one of the most debilitating symptoms of this disorder accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness and visual and sensory distortions. It can range from moderate to sever intensity and can make the sufferer irritable, fatigued and drained out. There are various migraine headache treatments available these days ranging from over the counter (OTC) drugs and prescription drugs to alternative therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, reiki etc.

Medications for Migraine headache treatment:

Various OTC medications such as Excedrin migraine, Advil migraine and Motrin Migraine pain are available for treating migraine headaches that have been approved by the Food and Drug Association (FDA).

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for migraine headache: These include aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium and ibuprofen. NSAIDs are used for treating mild to moderate headaches.

Triptans: These are prescription drugs and are used for tackling with severe migraine headaches. Sumatriptan is the most commonly used tryptan for migraine. Other drugs belonging to this category are Rizatriptan and Eletriptan.

Ergotamines: These drugs were used before the launch of tryptans and the most commonly used ergotamine for migraine headache is Dihydroergotamine.

Botox: The discovery of Botox or Botulinum Toxin was made by coincidence for treating migraine headache. When migraine patients took Botox shots for treating wrinkles, they noticed a considerable decline in the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Botox injections are injected in the muscles where pain is felt to relief migraine headache.

Other Migraine headache relief options:

Aromatherapy: This branch of alternative medicine makes use of various essential oils and plant extracts to prevent migraines. Essential oils of lavender, eucalyptus, sandalwood, clove and peppermint help provide relief from migraine headache.

Relaxation techniques: Meditation and deep breathing exercises help relieve stress and can prevent the occurrence of a migraine attack.

Alternative therapies: These include acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu and reiki and can provide instant relief as well as gradual relief to patients depending upon how they respond to the treatment.

Herbs: Various herbs such as peppermint, cayenne, passion flower, gingko biloba and feverfew can help prevent the occurrence of migraines. These herbs can be taken along with salads or in the form of tea to provide relief.