February 27th 2026
–
WellBeing Magazine
–
WellBeing reader Gift Mbay shares how he eased chronic migraines using herbs, acupressure, breathwork and stress regulation.
I still remember the morning I awoke to a migraine so fierce it felt like my skull was splitting open. It had been building quietly overnight – a dull pressure behind my eyes — and then it erupted into blinding intensity.
Light became a razor, sound a cacophony and every breath sent shockwaves through my temples. I collapsed onto the cool tile floor, praying for relief.
For more than a decade, that kind of suffering dictated my existence: missed gatherings, abandoned plans and the constant shadow of dread.
Prescription medications offered temporary reprieve, but their benefits came at a hidden cost. Grogginess clouded my mornings and rebound headaches arrived like uninvited guests when the drugs wore off.
I felt trapped in a never-ending cycle of symptom relief and side effects, each pill bringing its own toll. It was clear that treating migraines as mere inconveniences wasn’t enough.
I wanted a solution that strengthened my body, honoured its rhythms and restored a sense of agency.
Herbal allies
My journey toward sustainable relief began in a small, sunlit apothecary tucked away in the historic quarter of my city. There, I discovered two plants long celebrated for their healing powers: feverfew and butterbur.
Modern research confirmed what herbalists had known for centuries — feverfew’s parthenolide compounds help calm neurovascular inflammation, while butterbur’s petasin elements help stabilise blood vessel walls and soothe nerve endings.
Instead of buying capsules, I chose to become my own apothecary.
Each Saturday morning, I measured organic, lab-certified feverfew leaves into a glass jar, poured in high-proof vodka and sealed it. Over two weeks, the mixture transformed from clear to a warm amber, capturing the essence of the plant.
Meanwhile, I brewed butterbur tea in a ceramic pot, letting its earthy steam fill my kitchen before sipping each cup by candlelight. The ritual grounded me, turning a clinical process into a meditative practice.
Within three weeks, the savage spikes in my pain softened. By six weeks, the attacks were half as frequent.
Acupressure sequences
While herbs laid the foundation, acupressure became my frontline defence.
Early one afternoon, as I felt the first flutter of discomfort — a faint ache behind my brow — I paused, closed my eyes and applied steady pressure to the webbing between my thumb and index finger.
Sixty seconds later, the tension eased, and I moved to the base of my skull, massaging in small, circular motions until the knots in my neck unraveled. Finally, I pressed gently into my temples, kneading out lingering tightness.
As I refined the practice, I added two more points: a soft press behind each earlobe and a firm hold on the inside of my wrist. The full sequence took less than five minutes but often stopped a migraine in its tracks.
Whether on a crowded subway, in a hushed conference room or at home before bed, these simple gestures reclaimed power from pain.
Month by month, the routine reduced both the severity and frequency of my attacks, granting me precious windows of pain-free living.
Breathwork resets
Stress and migraines share a toxic bond. To calm the storm within, I embraced breathwork grounded in vagal nerve stimulation research.
Each dawn, I sat upright on my meditation cushion, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose for four counts, held the breath for two, then exhaled through pursed lips for six counts.
Over three minutes, the rhythm of my breath slowed my heart rate, relaxed my muscles and created a palpable sense of calm.
On high-tension days — when deadlines loomed or relationships frayed — I practised box breathing: four counts inhale, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four.
In virtual group sessions led by a certified instructor, I learned to tether the breath with gentle neck stretches and ambient music, deepening its effect.
These intentional breath resets rewired my stress response, transforming potential migraine triggers into manageable blips on the radar.
Progress tracking
Healing rarely follows a straight path. To decode my patterns, I kept a detailed journal — first on paper, then in a digital spreadsheet enriched with local weather data and heart-rate variability from a wearable device.
Every morning, I logged meals, sleep quality, hydration levels, stressors, remedies used and any pain scores on a scale of one to 10.
Over weeks, clear correlations emerged: skipped breakfasts, late-night screens and dry indoor air often foretold an attack, while consistent herbal rituals and daily breath breaks formed a protective buffer.
I also introduced a streak counter to celebrate pain-free days — five, 10, 20 in a row — turning small successes into powerful motivation. This data-driven approach shifted my perspective from reactive to proactive, giving me precise tools to anticipate and prevent migraines before they took hold.
Mindset and community
Pain thrives in isolation. Seeking solidarity, I joined online migraine forums and local wellness meetups. I swapped herbal recipes, learned advanced acupressure flows from an acupuncturist and shared breathwork tips from a yoga instructor.
Hearing others’ stories reminded me I wasn’t alone in the struggle — and often introduced me to new strategies.
Alongside external support, I cultivated an inner practice of daily gratitude. Each night, I wrote down three small blessings — sometimes the warmth of sunset light, other times the ache-free moments spent with loved ones. This simple act shifted my focus from pain to possibility, reinforcing resilience and reminding me daily of life’s small joys.
Bringing it all together
My holistic protocol – handcrafted herbal allies, strategic acupressure sequences, intentional breathwork resets, data-driven tracking and community solidarity — did more than silence pain.
It taught me to listen to my body, anticipate distress signals and respond with agency. Migraines no longer ruled my days. They became prompts to pause, apply my tools and move forward with intention.
If chronic migraines have cast a long shadow over your life, know that change is within reach.
Begin with one mindful step: steep a cup of freshly brewed butterbur infusion, press gently into your Hegu point (between the thumb and index finger) or breathe purposefully for three minutes. Over time, these small moments weave together into a journey from pain to power.
Your relief begins the moment you choose it.
Migraines no longer control my story — they’ve become a catalyst for deeper self-awareness. If you’re walking a similar path, know that even small changes can lead to powerful shifts. Your body holds wisdom. Sometimes, the first step is simply listening.
Please note: These are the views of Gift Maby. If you are experiencing symptoms, we recommend consulting your GP at the first instance.
The post Migraines: Nature’s wisdom to find relief appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
Read the full article here:
