A Natural Option for Migraine Headache Relief

Living with migraine headaches is challenging, from dealing with chronic pain that interrupts your daily life to the trials and errors of finding a medication that works. Sometimes, those medications can have unwanted side effects and, after time, may lose their effectiveness.

For those looking for more natural relief for migraines, Doctor Hoy’s® is a topical analgesic with clean, safe, and effective ingredients that might help relieve migraine pain.

Migraines & Medication

Migraines are recurrent headaches characterized by severe throbbing pain typically on one side of the head. Depending on the type of migraine you have, you may also have nausea, vision loss, and light, sound or scent sensitivity. Often, the pain is so severe that it prevents people from doing normal activities like going to work or spending time with family and friends.

Though the causes of migraine vary greatly, too much stress, a lack of sleep, and diet or certain trigger foods are among the most common. The world of migraine treatment is ever evolving as medicine advances, with numerous medications available by prescription and over the counter. Unfortunately, insurance companies won’t always cover newer medications for migraines.

Using Topicals for Migraines

Topical migraine relief is one OTC option that’s more affordable than many prescription medications. In fact, Doctor Hoy’s is FSA/HSA eligible, making it even easier to afford natural relief for migraine pain.

When applied at the onset of an attack, migraine topical gels and creams work by relaxing the muscles and soothing inflamed nerves that cause migraine pain. Typically, they work best as a complement to your current physician advised treatment plan.

How Does Doctor Hoy’s Work?

NSAIDs and other pain relievers often come with a long list of potential side effects, at times doing more harm than good. Natural pain relievers, on the other hand, have fewer side effects and can still be just as effective.

Doctor Hoy’s Pain Relief Gel and Arnica Boost Recovery Cream use natural ingredients like menthol, camphor, and arnica to help fight inflammation and relieve pain. These three powerful ingredients often come in the form of essential oils. Multiple studies suggest that essential oils might reduce headache inflammation by mitigating pain sensitivity and relaxing vascular tension.

Why is Menthol Good for Headaches?

Menthol is the active ingredient in peppermint and peppermint oil. It’s what creates the cooling, numbing sensation many migraineurs look to for fast migraine relief. Peppermint is thought to stimulate inflamed nerves, activating a protein that prevents inflammation that causes headaches.

Menthol for migraines works as an acute treatment at the onset of an attack rather than as a preventative. Studies and user experience suggest that applying menthol as a topical gel might be effective in treating headache pain. Doctor Hoy’s topical gel uses time-release technology to protect the menthol from evaporating while reducing odor for relief that lasts for hours.

Is Camphor Essential Oil Good for Headaches?

In 2019, researchers at the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine found that the essential oil camphor suppressed pain signals and weakened neurogenic inflammation in mice. Though research about the impact of essential oils on migraines continues, camphor is used in various vapor rubs, balms, and topical ointments to ease inflammation from headache pain.

Natural camphor works to numb and cool nerve endings, then produces a warming sensation that increases circulation to the area of pain. Camphor is useful in treating muscle aches and pains while also interacting with sensory nerves. This natural anti-inflammatory is a great analgesic when used in topicals for migraines.

How is Arnica Good for Migraines?

Stiff neck, jaw and shoulder pain can be warnings of an oncoming migraine attack while headaches caused by nerve pain share similar symptoms of migraine. Arnica Montana is a natural anti-inflammatory that reduces muscle soreness and stiffness plus helps with neuropathy, which may cause nerve pain.

Arnica Montana is a powerful ingredient in our Arnica Boost Recovery Cream. Because menthol and camphor can trigger an attack for some migraineurs, Arnica Boost may be used as an alternative to pain relief gel. While you can use Arnica for migraines, it also helps heal bruises, soothe skin irritation, and manage joint pain.

How to Use Doctor Hoy’s for Natural Migraine Relief

Doctor Hoy’s is easy to add to your migraine treatment plan. Though it won’t get rid of all your symptoms, it can work as a complementary therapy. Here’s how to use Doctor Hoy’s for relieving mild to moderate migraine pain:

1. Use Doctor Hoy’s pain relief gel roll on, tube, or Arnica Boost Recovery Cream when you feel a migraine about to start.
2. Apply the product to the area of pain, such as your temples, forehead, behind the ears, neck, or shoulder. Be careful to keep Doctor Hoy’s out of your eyes.
3. As the product sits on your skin and dries, you should experience relief within minutes.
4. Reapply as needed and as many times as you wish.
5. Wash your hands immediately after applying.

Doctor Hoy’s Pain Relief Gel and Arnica Boost Recovery Cream can be used together in layers. Other reasons you might like Doctor Hoy’s for migraines? It’s non-toxic, paraben-free, and non-greasy so it won’t stain. Plus, Doctor Hoy’s is safe for children over the age of two. Talk to your neurologist or healthcare provider about including a migraine topical gel like Doctor Hoy’s in your treatment plan.

Doctor Hoy’s does not diagnose or prescribe treatment for medical conditions. Our natural pain relief gel and cream can help mitigate symptoms of those with chronic pain like migraines. Always contact your physician or healthcare provider for medical advice.

 

References:

Ali, B., Al-Wabel, N. A., Shams, S., Ahamad, A., Khan, S. A., & Anwar, F. (2015). Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 5(8), 601–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.007

St. Cyr, A., Chen, A., Bradley, K. C., Yuan, H., Silberstein, S. D., & Young, W. B. (2015). Efficacy and Tolerability of STOPAIN for a Migraine Attack. Frontiers in Neurology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2015.00011

FAN, L. Y., LIN, Q., YANG, N. Y., & CHEN, L. H. (2020). Analgesic Effects of the Essential Oil from Cinnamomum camphora Against Nitroglycerin-induced Migraine in Mice. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 82(1). https://doi.org/10.36468/pharmaceutical-sciences.634

Review of aromatherapy essential oils and their mechanism of action against migraines. (2021). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 265, 113326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113326

3 Simple Ways to Try Mint and Menthol for Migraine Relief. (2016, October 6). Migraine Again. https://www.migraineagain.com/3-simple-ways-to-try-mint-and-menthol-for-migraine-relief/

Mayo Clinic. (2021, July 2). Migraine - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201