Migraines, ranging in severity and seriousness, can be caused by a variety of factors. As centuries have passed, healers have uncovered numerous home remedies to manage the pain and symptoms of recurring migraines.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are extracted from plants through a process of distillation. The extractions give off distinct fragrances that can be therapeutic.

The natural plant medicine can be inhaled as a vapor or applied to the skin. Essential oils are safe and medicinal, though it’s important not to use too much because the strength of the scent can be overwhelming.

Lavender, peppermint and basil oils have been proven to benefit headaches. By providing a fresh and rejuvenating scent, essential oils help to release tension in the head, increase blood flow and open the sinuses.

Massage & Acupuncture

Massaging the scalp can help to alleviate migraine pain, though results may vary. When massaging the head, be sure to target the occipital nerve, which can be found at the base of the skull. It may be useful to purchase a pressure pointer, such as a Body Back Buddy.

Reflexology, a Chinese pressure-point massage, may also be helpful. Though it’s not proven, reflexology focuses on zones in the hands and feet to relieve tension and pain throughout the body.  

Acupuncture, which uses thin needles to relieve pain, is another option for individuals seeking out alternative medicine. For those wishing to save money on specialist visits, acupressure is a do-it-yourself option as well.

Foods

Feverfew, a medicinal herb, is an age-old cure for migraine. Since the 1980s, feverfew has been linked to reduced symptoms of migraine pain. The plant contains a chemical known as parthenolide, which is proven to reduce headaches and keep blood vessels from becoming overly dilated. Feverfew can be chewed, consumed raw or as a tea.

Certain foods reduce inflammation, which is a potential contributor to migraines. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseeds, are known to work on inflammation. Flax seeds come in various forms, including as an oil or powder in addition to a whole seed.

The Japanese, grain-like seed known as buckwheat may also help to manage the pain of migraine headaches. Buckwheat contains rutin, a flavonoid nutrient that functions as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help to flesh out toxins and repair cells, reducing inflammation and curing the symptoms.

Ginger is another option for reducing inflammation. Known to cure a stomach ache, ginger is great for assisting with the passing of nausea. A cup of fresh ginger tea may do the trick.

Supplements

Research from the New York Headache Center illustrates that migraines may be linked to nutrient deficiencies, magnesium in particular. A study published in the National Library of Medicine showed that adding magnesium into your daily routine could decrease the amount of migraines by 42 percent.

Riboflavin, a B vitamin present in animal products, nuts and green vegetables, acts as an enzyme and increases the production of energy in the cells. Riboflavin should be taken in the morning. If you’re not able to eat omega 3s in food, you could consider incorporating supplements into your diet as well.

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Though not life-threatening, migraines can be a serious and debilitating condition. Natural remedies can help to relieve pain and manage migraines, without the potential for nasty side effects. Give some of nature’s remedies a shot and see what works best for your particular condition.

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According to the American College of Physicians (ACP), the problem affects approximately one-quarter of U.S. adults, who reported experiencing low back pain for at least one day in the past three months.

New studies released from the ACP described some methods for treating acute and chronic back pain naturally. The guidelines, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, outline evidence-based, non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical approaches to treating back issues for physicians and adults.

Updated Research On Back Pain Relief 

In 2007, the ACP released guidelines illustrating that acetaminophen, duloxetine and pregabalin are effective for the treatment of low back pain. In the most recent guidelines, researchers utilized an ACP grading process to systematically review numerous randomized trials.

The research, conducted from April 2015 to November 2016, focused on reducing, eliminating or improving acute to chronic back pain. The trials used pharmaceuticals, in addition to natural approaches, to mitigate back problems. Researchers highlighted treatments focusing on mindfulness, exercise and other forms of alternative activities.

Acupuncture

In the study, evidence supporting acupuncture for back pain relief wasn’t strong, though it showed the age-old treatment could reduce the intensity of the pain. The results showed that acupuncture could slightly increase improvement of functioning without using NSAID pain medications. If you’re interested in exploring alternative solutions for pain management, you can consider visiting happy hippo.

Massage

Researchers discovered that massage techniques could improve back problems on a short-term basis, with relief lasting for one week. Another trial found the evidence was insignificant after five weeks.

As a short-term pain reduction treatment, massage can be sufficient for patients with acute to chronic back pain. Researchers found that massage, in combination with another method such as exercise, would reap longer-lasting results.

Superficial Heat

Using heat to relieve back pain was supported by moderate-quality evidence. Heat wraps can improve pain for five days, and reduce disability for four days.

Though exercise alone is not more effective than heat-based treatments, researchers noted that the addition of exercise would extend the pain reduction for seven days. The research illustrated superficial heat is “more effective for acute or subacute low back pain.”

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduced the intensity of pain. Researchers found the improvement compared with sham laser therapy for individuals dealing with acute or subacute pain.

Lumbar Supports

Lumbar supports are often sold for use in vehicles, in the office and as braces. Unfortunately, the evidence to support lumbar supports for pain relief is low. However, when added to an educational program, the treatment is more successful. 

A Future Without Addiction

Opioid medications like Oxycodone and Oxycontin are often prescribed to treat back pain. The new recommendations describe evidence to support other options, mitigating the addictive and dangerous nature of overprescribing painkillers.

The researchers also discussed additional non-pharmacologic treatments, such as spinal manipulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical muscle stimulation, inferential therapy, short-wave diathermy, traction, superficial cold, motor control exercise (MCE), pilates, tai chi, yoga, psychological therapies, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, ultrasound, and taping. Read the full study here.

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Researchers are hopeful that the omega-3 compound in fish oil could stop the development of schizophrenia, which is a severe mental health disorder that affects 1 percent of Americans.

People say that eating fish is good for the body and the brain. Scientists are now working to confirm that fish oil’s omega-3 compound has a positive impact on slowing the development of  mental health disorders.

Although the cause of schizophrenia remains unknown, about 1 percent of Americans suffer from the disorder, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. A recent trial that builds on older studies shows fish oil may be the key to stopping schizophrenia from progressing past the first stage.

Fish Oil And The Human Brain

Omega-3 compounds could lower levels in the brain that are associated with mental illness.
Via: Science News

Schizophrenia begins to show itself with mild symptoms, including delusions and  paranoid thoughts, as individuals enter their teen years. The disorder is usually diagnosed in patients between the ages of 16 and 30 years old. The symptoms, which are listed below, will start developing slowly and begin to worsen as time goes on.

Cognitive: amnesia, belief that an ordinary event has special and personal meaning, belief that thoughts aren’t one’s own, delusion, disorientation, making things up, memory loss, mental confusion, slowness in activity and thought, thought disorder, or false belief of superiority
Behavioral: aggression, agitation, compulsive behavior, excitability, hostility, hyperactivity, nonsense word repetition, repetitive movements, self-harm, social isolation, disorganized behavior, or lack of restraint
Mood: anger, apathy, excitement, feeling detached from self, general discontent, inability to feel pleasure, elevated mood, or inappropriate emotional response
Psychological: anxiety, depression, fear, hallucination, paranoia, persecutory delusion, religious delusion, hearing voices, or mistrust
Speech: circumstantial speech, incoherent speech, rapid and frenzied speaking, or speech impairment

When the symptoms do begin to show, doctors are wary of prescribing antipsychotics to younger patients. Antipsychotics are associated with various short-term symptoms, including drowsiness and skin rashes, and long-term issues such as the movement disorder known as tardive dyskinesia.

For those with early symptoms, about one-third of people go on to develop psychosis. But fish oil’s active ingredient may help to slow the progression if its prescribed to patients at the right time.

Fish oil supplements possess the polyunsaturated fatty acid omega-3, which can help to lessen brain inflammation and protect neurons from damage. People with schizophrenia have lower levels of these fatty acids in their bodies and potentially in their brain cells.

Researchers believe that the omega-3 chemical could lower levels in the brain that are associated with mental illness.

The Trials

Schizophrenia is a debilitating thought, speech and movement disorder. Its cause is still unknown.
Via:Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Research into fish oil as a treatment for adults with schizophrenia has been inconclusive. Four trails found a successful impact from fish oil, whereas four other trials found no difference or improvement.

However, previous trials have suggested that fish oil will have a positive impact on the disorder’s progression if prescribed early in its first stages. A trial conducted seven years ago included 81 people from age 13 to 25 who experienced early symptoms of schizophrenia.

Half of participants took fish oil pills for three months, whereas the other half took a placebo. Those who took the fish oil pills were found to be less likely to develop psychosis a year later.

The recent trial acts as a follow-up, confirming that those who were given the fish oil may have been put on a different path altogether.

Out of the 71 included in the small-scale follow-up, 10 percent of participants who used fish oil developed schizophrenia. In the placebo group, 40 percent developed the disorder.

Researchers warn that the trial is small and must be reproduced to confirm fish oil’s effect on schizophrenia. In addition, the over-the-counter dosage of omega-3 may not have enough fatty acids to be beneficial to the patient.

Therapy and antipsychotics are the only treatments currently available, but recent trials bring hope that an effective and safe natural remedy is out there.

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