Manage Your Migraines—naturally

Check out these drug-free pain fights.

Try a natural remedy.

Acupuncture can work as well as prescription drugs to prevent migraines, according to a study in The Lancet Neurology . Some scientists suspect the needle pricks activate the release of pain-relieving neurochemicals. Ask your doctor for a referral, or find a licensed therapist at MedicalAcupuncture.org.

Train your body.

Put one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen. Inhale and exhale slowly for 60 seconds while counting, to curb muscle contraction and the release of hormones associated with migraines, such as cortisol and adrenaline.

Make smart food choices.

Cheese, chocolate, nuts, cured meats, citrus fruit and red wine all contain naturally occurring chemicals that dilate blood vessels in your brain, triggering a migraine. To discover food connections, jot down what you ate when a migraine strikes. Download a headache diary at Headaches.org.

Consider supplements.

If you get frequent migraines (three or more a month), taking 200 milligrams of riboflavin or 75 mg of butterbur twice a day may cut their occurrence in half, report studies in Neurology . Ask your doctor if one of them is right for you.