Health - Tip of the Month

Hello. My name is Renee Angelovic and I am excited to bring you some helpful tips that have worked for my family, clients and myself over the years.

First let me tell you a little about myself. I have been married for 37 years. For 30 of those I have been a mother of two, and for the last 5 years, a proud grandmother of 3. I have been practicing a holistic approach to health, nutrition and lifestyle for this entire time. I have also been a massage therapist since 1990 and have spent many of those years compiling natural remedies for the relief of pain and discomfort associated with life's ailments and injuries. I have used these for myself and shared them with all those I care for. I am now delighted to share them with you! Please check in regularly to see what I have to offer.

MIGRAINES

I have been suffering from migraines for over twenty years. During this period I continued to try a variety of things to alleviate them. What I am presenting to you is what has worked best for me.

A migraine is a vascular headache associated with change in the size of the arteries within and outside of the brain. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Typically there is a 30 minute warning before the blood vessels dilate and the pain sets in. For those of you who get migraines, you know what I am talking about. It is very important that you pay attention to these warnings as stopping migraines means that you need to address them within this period of time.

Here is what I do:

• Take 1,000 milligrams of Acetaminophen with 8 to 12 ounces of strong coffee or black tea. This will constrict the blood vessels.
• Drink plenty of water, such as 15 to 20oz, right after to assist the kidneys in flushing out the above.
• If time and life permits, I add an ice pack to the back of my neck and put my feet in hot water. This really seems to make the process more effective as it will aid in the constriction of those arteries in the neck and head.
• Since this original formula, I have also found an essential oil by Young Living called 'M-grain.' I rub this on my head, neck, and feet.
• To make this easiest, after taking the Acetaminophen and caffeine, I sit on the edge of my bathtub so my feet can be in the hot water and the ice pack on my neck. I try to stay like this for about 10 minutes.

Note: If I awake in the middle of the night with signs of a migraine coming on, I eliminate the caffeine and putting my feet in hot water. Instead, to keep my body warm and my neck/head cold, I put warm sox on my feet and do whatever to keep my body warm while putting the ice on my neck. I find the easiest way to have ice for the night is to freeze folded washcloths in ziplock bags. They conform easily to the shape of my neck and are easy to grab in the middle of the night. This combination of warm/hot body and cold neck/head seems to balance out my body.

This may seem like a lot to do but it really works. And, I feel it is worth the effort if it means preventing that debilitating head pain that I would otherwise suffer from if I did not get on top of it soon enough.

If you are not familiar with Young Living Essential Oils, you can contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will be happy to talk with you about them.