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Migraines are excruciating headaches that affect people in various ways. However, no matter what type of side effects they cause, they can be very painful and difficult to deal with. Thankfully, there are many ways to help relieve them, including with the use of music. Below you’ll discover more behind migraines and how music can heal them.

What is a Migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache that causes severe pain on one side of your head. It can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. A migraine is often confused with a tension headache but tends to be more intense.

There are a handful of different migraine types, such as aura, retinal, and cluster, all of which come with their own symptoms. Some of these include nausea, dizziness, and light sensitivity.

6 Common Causes of Migraines

Migraines can be the result of numerous things.

Your Diet

The food you eat can play a huge part in whether or not you’ll experience a migraine. While it’s not known why, it’s often believed that certain natural components in fruits and vegetables can trigger them. In addition to this, artificial sweeteners and salt could result in one as well.
Some food that is notorious for causing migraines include:

• Onions
• Aged cheese
• Cured meat
• Pickles
• Citrus fruit
• Chocolate
• Red wine
• Potato chips
• Olives
• Tomatoes

Hormones

Sometimes hormone fluctuations can trigger migraines, especially in women. If estrogen levels drop, it could result in a migraine. Estrogen also helps reduce painful sensations. If there isn’t enough of it in your body, it could cause this agonizing problem.

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Stress

Stress makes it easier for migraines to form. This is because it overwhelms your brain causing molecules in it to shift around, something which could cause migraines.

Lights

Bright lights often set off migraines because they beam into neural pathways that connect to the brain. This can irritate them causing a migraine to develop.

Weather Changes

Sometimes a change in the weather can cause certain brain chemicals to fluctuate. While it’s still not known why this is the case, many believe it’s related to a change in barometric pressure. This indicates the current air pressure. It’s thought that when this pressure goes down, it increases the likelihood of you developing a migraine.

Insomnia

If you’re unable to get a good night’s sleep it doesn’t give your brain enough time to rest. This can cause it to overwork making it easier for you to develop a migraine. Due to this, you’ll find that insomnia can make your migraine feel worse and even lead to side effects like depression and poor concentration.

Can Music Relax Migraines?

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Many studies have shown that listening to music can decrease the severity of your migraine. This is believed to happen because the music’s vibrations reduce bodily stress.
While some might think it needs to be calm music selections, like classical, you might be surprised to learn that dubstep and heavy metal can be very effective. However, these might not be the best options for all migraine sufferers, especially if you know your migraines are caused by loud sounds.

Many migraine sufferers find that implementing binaural beat technology is very useful at treating their headaches. This creates similar yet different frequencies in each ear. As your brain tries to process these two tones, it creates a binaural beat which is an auditory illusion. This in return relaxes your brain helping to calm down painful pulses.

Keep in mind that music therapy for migraines is best done without headphones. Sliding earphones into your ears or over your head could create pressure making the migraine worse. Because of this, it’s best to softly play the music in the background or invest in headphones that are designed specifically for this purpose.

5 Additional Ways to Help Heal Migraines

In addition to listening to music, you can use these tips to stop a pounding headache fast.

Try Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care can be very beneficial in preventing migraines. This is because the adjustments ensure that your nervous system (the part of the body that produces migraines) is functioning correctly. This prevents tension and stress around your nerves which would otherwise irritate them. These adjustments will also help you improve pain management allowing you to learn how to deal with migraine discomfort better.

Use Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is useful at treating migraines because it relaxes tight muscles and keeps them from contracting. The oil is able to do this thanks to a large amount of menthol in it. You can use peppermint oil for migraines in a few different ways. One is by holding it under your nose and inhaling its scent. You could also dilute it with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil or jojoba oil) and rub it on your temples.

Drink Ginger Tea

Ginger tea can soothe your body and reduce painful pulses in your head. It also naturally reduces side effects like nausea and dizziness. Ginger can do this thanks to the impressive amount of shogaols and gingerols in it. Both of these chemical compounds contain anti-inflammatory properties and encourage your body to release serotonin.

Consume Magnesium-Rich Food

Magnesium reduces strong brain waves, something which is thought to intensify migraines. It’s also believed that if you consistently consume magnesium-rich food, it lowers your chances of experiencing future migraines.

Some food that is high in magnesium include:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes
• Brown rice
• Swiss chard

Exercise

Exercising can be very helpful in reducing migraine symptoms. It’s thought that by moving your body through aerobic exercises it lowers stress. As you move, your body will also naturally release endorphins. These painkillers trick your brain into feeling more positive and block its pain receptors.

Exercising when you have a migraine doesn’t have to be extreme. Doing simple movements can be very effective at giving you relief. Some of the best to do when you have a migraine attack are:

• Walking
• Yoga
• Swimming
• Jumping rope
• Cycling

Migraines can be tough to deal with but with the help of music and many other natural methods, you can quickly combat them.

Dr. Brent Wells is a licensed chiropractor who founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in 1998. He is currently leading 10,000 Alaskans to more active and pain-free lifestyles without drugs or invasive surgeries. He brings a progressive and highly innovative approach to chiropractic care and physical therapy in Anchorage. Dr. Wells continues to further his education with ongoing studies in spine conditions, neurology, physical rehabilitation, biomechanics, occupational ergonomics, whiplash, and brain injury traumatology. He is also a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11810342/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4428073/

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