According to research from the Mayo Clinic, migraine headaches are a type of primary headache disorder that cause moderate to severe yet recurrent headaches that can last a few hours and up to 72-hours in length. Symptoms of a typical migraine may include blurry vision, nausea or vomiting, radiating or pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head, lightheadedness, and environmental sensitivity (i.e., smell, light, sound, temperature, or physical exertion).

As more and more research studies are conducted on migraine sufferers, scientists are beginning to understand more effective ways to prevent migraine attacks and manage migraine pain using natural remedies, such as:

1. Caffeine

Believe it or not, many migraine patients report migraine relief after drinking caffeinated beverages, like coffee. Researchers believe that caffeine may help the body quickly process over the counter migraine medications (i.e., Excedrin), which is already made up of a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.

2. Magnesium

Magnesium is a potent mineral in the fight against migraine pain. You can get your daily dose naturally via foods like Brazil nuts, dark leafy greens, black beans, whole grains, and avocados. Or you can supplement with oral magnesium (in pills, powders, or drops) to aid restful sleep and prevent future migraines. Studies from the American Migraine Foundation note that during a migraine most patients experience low levels of magnesium, which is why they also recommend taking between 400–500 milligram magnesium oxide per day for ongoing migraine management.

3. Cooling effect

Although the verdict is out scientifically on why applying cold to a migraine actually works, researchers do see a pattern where migraine symptoms significantly diminish when patients apply an ice pack or cool towel to their neck, scalp, temples, or forehead. The thinking is that cold temperature lowers blood flow and reducing the severity of migraine pain.

4. Trigger avoidance

As you can imagine, triggers for migraines vary widely among migraine sufferers. Some patients report certain environmental conditions (i.e., humidity) bring on migraine pain. While others point to specific foods (i.e., alcohol, cheese, artificial sweeteners and food nitrates) as the cause of their migraines. Whatever your prime triggers are, learn to identify them by keeping a journal, then avoid them at all costs.