Menstrual Headache

Menstrual migraine affects over 50% of women. Of these women, most will experience migraine during menses but also at other times of the month. Migraine during menses tends to be a more severe, harder to treat and often re-occur even despite medications. There a number of options to treat and prevent menstrual migraine attack. To understand how and why these treatments can help, it is worth understanding what causes menstrual migraine. How the Menstrual Cycle Causes Migraine Attack   Women who have a tendency to get menstrual migraine are those who are sensitive to hormonal fluctuations experienced just prior to the onset of menstruation. Just before menstruation there is a natural drop in progesterone levels. The two important females hormones involved are progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone is a natural steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle that stimulates the uterus to prepare for pregnancy. It is a naturally occurring hormone in the female body that helps a female function as normal. Estrogens are a group of compounds which are important in the menstrual and reproductive cycles. They are also naturally occurring steroid hormones in women that promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body. Throughout the natural menstrual cycle the levels of these hormones fluctuate. During the cycle, the levels of progesterone and estrogens also change in relation to each other. This occurs as part of being a healthy fertile woman. Women with menstrual migraine attacks may be sensitive to the changes in their estrogen level relative to progesterone. If this balance is slightly off for what your body requires, then you may have uncomfortable physical symptoms such as PMS, breast tenderness, headaches and, in susceptible women, migraine attacks. Remedies for Menstrual Migraine Talk to your Doctor   Have your physician take a closer look at your estrogen/progesterone balance, as well as your thyroid levels. Based on the results of these tests, the two of you can decide what treatment options may be best for you. If you suffer from severe menstrual migraines, applying progesterone cream to the skin may be helpful, but should be considered under the guidance of your doctor. Check your Diet Try alifestyle “reset” by eliminating gluten, reducing sugar intake and cutting out red wine from your diet. Avoid tyramine, too, which is a migraine-triggering compound found in aged and fermented foods like old cheeses, smoked fish or cured meats. Enact these changes for at least 30 days and you will probably notice an improvement in hormonal-related headache symptoms. Drink about 3 liters of water every day to keep yourself hydrated. Check Deficiencies   Once you have a better understanding of your hormonal profile, you can also use supplements to support nutritional deficiencies that might be contributing to headaches. Magnesium, CoQ10 and 5-HTP are all recommended for these purposes. Try any Daily Essentials Multivitamin and talk to your doctor about proper dosage. Reduce Stress   Remember that stress can directly influence your hormonal balance. Find ways to cope with PMS-related mood fluctuations and eliminate stress during those difficult times in your cycle. Yoga, meditation, exercise, and a good belly laugh are all great techniques to keep you calm and centered, which may reduce hormonal headaches.

Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes- The Worst Symptom of Menopause

Power surge, Flashing, Flushing, Night sweats- hot flashes are undoubtedly the most troublesome symptom of menopause and the most common menopause symptom to cause women to visit their doctor’s office. Hot flashes refer to sudden and intense hot sensations on the face and upper portion of the body. These are often preceded or accompanied by other symptoms, such as excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, weakness, headache or a feeling of suffocation. Hot flashes are most common in women going through menopause. This is the time when many hormonal changes occur in the body and there is a decrease in estrogen in the body, which happens to be the main cause of hot flashes. There are some factors which may worsen the symptoms of hot flashes. These include obesity, eating spicy foods, physical inactivity, excessive stress, smoking, saunas, warm baths, and excessive drinking. Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes   Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)   While there is no consistent or conclusive evidence of red clover leaf extract reducing hot flashes, some women claim that red clover has helped them. Studies outline few side effects and no serious health issues with its use. However, studies in animals have reported concerns that red clover might have harmful effects on hormone-sensitive tissue. Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa)   This particular herb has gained quite a bit of scientific attention for its possible effects on hot flashes. Studies conducted on its effectiveness in reducing hot flashes have produced mixed results. Some women though have reported that it has helped them. A recent research has suggested that black cohosh does not act like estrogen, as once thought. This reduces concerns about its effect on hormone-sensitive tissue such as the uterus, breast. Black cohosh has had a good safety record over a number of years. There have been certain reports connecting black cohosh to liver problems, which continues to be studied. Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis)   This herb has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat gynecologic conditions for several years. Still, only one randomized clinical study of dong quai has been done to determine its effects on the symptoms of hot flashes, and this botanical therapy was not found to be useful in reducing them. This herb should not be used by women with fibroids or blood-clotting issues such as hemophilia, or by women consuming drugs that affect clotting like warfarin as it can result in bleeding complications. Wrapping up: With all these therapies, there are also some risks involved. People usually take herbal therapies in the form of supplement pills, and not as preparation made directly from the herb by a trained herbalist. Know that herbal supplements are not as closely regulated as prescription drugs. The quality, amount of herbal product, purity, and safety may vary between brands or even between batches of the same brand. Herbal therapies may also interact with prescription drugs, leading to dramatic changes in the effect of the botanical, the drug, or both. In order to be safe, tell your healthcare provider about all botanical therapies that you are considering.

Easy and Simple Home Remedies to Treat Dandruff

Dandruff can prove to be quite an embarrassing condition. Though it isn’t a very serious condition, its appearance lowers confidence of the person. It targets the scalps of many young as well as old people. It also leads to other skin issues such as acne and pimples. Dandruff is usually caused due to stress, dry skin, improper diet, poor shampooing, and hair brushing habits. Now that you are aware of its causes, it is time to fight dandruff. You should consider spending money at a salon for curing this hair problem only after you have tried at home with the ingredients you may find in your kitchen. Find out some simple home remedies for curing dandruff here: Coconut oil and Lemon massage This is the easiest home remedy to cure dandruff at home. While coconut oil nourishes your hair, lemon juice helps to treat dandruff at home without the use of harmful chemicals. Remedy: Heat two tablespoons of coconut oil and mix it with equal amounts of lemon juice. Gently massage your scalp with the mixture and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse it off with shampoo. Curd   This is one ingredient you can easily find at home. Though treating your hair with curd can be a little messy, it is super effective. Remedy: Apply some curd to your scalp and hair. Let it sit tight for an hour and then rinse it off with a mild shampoo. Baking Soda   Baking soda can be used to treat dandruff at home. Remedy: Slightly wet your hair and rub a spoonful of baking soda on the scalp. Leave it on for about 90 seconds and then wash it off. Apple Cider Vinegar   Curing dandruff and hair fall at home is a little tricky. Apple cider vinegar is considered to be one of the best home remedies to treat dandruff and hair fall. Remedy: Mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water and set it aside. Apply this mixture to your wet hair after a regular hair wash. Massage your scalp well and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse it off. Fenugreek Pack   This effective remedy for dandruff uses fenugreek seeds. Remedy: Soak some fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Drain the leftover water and mash the softened seeds into a fine paste. Apply this paste to your hair and let it sit for about an hour. Rinse it off with a mild shampoo. Orange Peel Pack   Orange peel is yet another effective remedy for dandruff that can be tried at home. Follow the instructions below to know how orange peel pack can be used for dandruff removal: Remedy: Put some orange peel in a food processor and squeeze in some lemon juice as well. Grind the ingredients into a fine paste. Apply this paste on your scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash it off with a mild shampoo. Wrapping up: Remember all of these remedies need to be applied at least thrice a week for optimum results. Continue to do so till you observe the difference. So, now you are empowered to do your own dandruff treatment at home!

Get Rid of That Uneven Skin Tone with These Home Remedies

Each one of us dreams of having a smooth and evenly-toned skin with a natural glow and a fresh appearance. Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons that can lead to an uneven skin tone and an unhealthily tired-looking complexion. The cause of uneven skin tone is often a condition known as hyperpigmentation (actually an overproduction of melanin). Melanin is a pigment which protects our skin from harmful ultraviolet radiations. When it is produced in normal amounts in the body, it generally reflects well on our appearance. However, an overproduction of melanin leads to unevenly colored skin and dark spots. Various factors such as hormonal changes, too much exposure to sun or impaired skin integrity are the reasons for increased melanin production. So, we have compiled some of the effective home remedies for uneven skin tone. No matter whether you have a light skin or a dark skin, we are sure you are definitely going to benefit from these easily available at home remedies. Baking Soda   This particular ingredient is usually present in many homemade recipes for beauty and health. Baking soda possesses exfoliating properties and is effective in cleansing dry and peeling skin as well as dark spots caused due to some injuries or sun exposure. Remedy- Make a paste of baking soda with some water or organic rose water. And apply this paste gently on your face, massaging with your fingertips. Leave it for few minutes before rinsing your face with lukewarm water. Repeat this procedure many times in a week for better results. Sugar   This one is a good exfoliating agent as it removes the dead skin gently to find the even-tanned skin underneath the dead cells. Remedy- Make a homemade sugar paste by mixing some sugar with little water. Add to this mixture some olive oil or your regular face cream and mix well. Now, rub your face with this resulting mixture for few minutes. After the proper exfoliation of the skin, wash with some warm water. Green Tea   Everyone is well aware of the many benefits of green tea. In addition to all its health-related benefits, green tea has also been found to be quite effective to even out skin tone. Remedy- Apply some cold green tea bags to the dark areas of the skin and leave it for around 15 minutes. You can make your own mask by mixing cold green tea with a little kiwi juice, a banana or some rice flour. Turmeric   This easily available at home herb is an amazing color corrector. Most of the dark patches usually have purple undertones. Yellow, on the color wheel, falls on the opposite end of purple. And hence, the yellow of the turmeric cancels out the purple of the pigmentation and scars, providing a bright, flawless skin. Remedy- Prepare a paste of turmeric with some milk or honey. Apply this paste all over your face and neck area. Let it dry for few minutes and then wash with warm water. For long-lasting results, repeat this procedure at least once every weak. Wrapping up: Though there are a number of skin care products available for even the complexion and improving the skin tone, they are not always effective and sometimes unsuitable for sensitive skin. Try out these natural and well-affordable homemade remedies and say goodbye to uneven skin tone and dark spots.

Exotic Spa Treatments You Can Do at Home

After all the christmas and new year celebrations, spending a relaxing day at the spa is something you must be desiring. Is it so? So, why to spend your hard-earned fortune on super pricey spa treatments when you can actually make your own spa treatment products at home and that too using natural ingredients. Fruits, cocoa, honey and yogurt are some of the few yummy ingredients that you can use at your home and make your own oh-so-tempting spa recipes. These natural spa recipes will not only pamper your body, but will also relax your mind and soothe your soul. Find these amazing home spa recipes below: Choco Facial Mask   This sinfully delicious facial mask is ideal for normal skin. It will leave your skin soft, smooth and silky. The oatmeal discards dead skins, and the honey and cream add moisture. The choco facial mask is deliciously edible and perfect for smelling romantic as well. Ingredients required: 2 tablespoons heavy cream, ¼ cup cocoa, 1 teaspoons cottage cheese, ¼ cup honey, 2 teaspoons oatmeal powder Recipe: Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and smooth onto the face. Just relax for 8-10 minutes and then rinse using warm water. Nourishing Coconut Conditioner   In Vedic times, women used to oil their hair using coconut oil mixed with rose, jasmine, or sandalwood. Doesn’t it sound lovely? So, here’s a hair conditioning recipe you can enjoy at home, with the flowers you can find near your home. Ingredients required: 1 teaspoon black tea leaves, handful of coconut oil, holy basil, hibiscus, and marigold petals and coconut oil Recipe: Heat some coconut oil in a pan. Remove from the stove and add dried hibiscus, marigold petals, holy basil. Also add 1 teaspoon of black tea leaves. Stand for a day, straining it into a glass jar. Apply this solution to your tresses once in a week and see the results. Anti-Aging Hand Mask   Beside your face skin, the skin on the backs of your hand can also reveal considerable aging signs. However, unlike our faces, we really don’t pay much attention to our hands. Poor thing to do. Don’t you think so? The skin on our hands is so thin which causes it to become easily dehydrated. But do not panic. You do not need a costly surgical solution to cure this skin-aging problem. A simple and all-natural home recipe can make your skin feel fuller and youthful. Honey, an ingredient of this recipe helps in retaining moisture in your skin, whereas yogurt exfoliates your skin and makes it shine bright. And then there is kelp powder, which is filled with Omega-3 fatty acids and provides nourishment to the skin. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon yogurt and 1 teaspoon kelp powder Recipe: Mix the yogurt, honey and kelp powder together in a bowl and apply the mixture on the back of your hands. Let it dry for 10 minutes. Now wipe the mixture using warm water. Repeat this two times in a week and keep your skin moisturized and say goodbye to off fine lines! Coffee Body Scrub   Does the smell of coffee perks you up every morning? Now inhale a complete shower full of it! This scrub made of ground coffee and massage oil moisturizes your body and weeds off dead, flaky skin cells. Ingredients: 1 large cup of ground coffee, 2 tablespoons of massage oil such as sunflower or kernel oil, half cup raw sugar or sea salt Recipe: Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Apply this mixture onto your skin rubbing the scrub with strong and even pressure in a wide, circular motion. Now shower off and lastly apply your favourite body lotion. Get ready to start your morning on a fresh note! Wrapping up: Your skin is your body’s most visible part. So, saving it from excess of sun exposure and nourishing it using right products are vital elements of optimal skincare. It will keep you feeling and looking fabulous and young for years to come. Start off today itself!