If, like me, you get migraines, you’ll know that many things can make them worse but sometimes you come across something which can help a little bit.  When that something is drug-free, so much the better.

Ginger is something which is supposed to make a big difference.  Ginger ale helps.  But if you’d like some ginger ale with a bit more of the ginger “kick” to it, try this recipe.  You’ll need an electric juicer to get the ginger juice from the fresh ginger first:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/dining/201grex.html?_r=2

Very yummy as well as very good for the old head.  If you have an electric juicer, fresh root ginger works really well with other juices - I love it with carrot and apple. 

One of my other favourite migraine helpers is the humble Uncle Joe’s Mintball- a rep from the company told me it’s because of the pure peppermint oil they use in the sweets. 

Suffice to say, I keep a small collection of  ”Emergency Uncle Joes” in my handbag.  Better than any painkiller, they help keep me vaguely functional and clear some of the pain and fuzziness in my head.  And the mention of my Emergency Uncle Joes always raises a chuckle amongst friends and family.  It’s a useful remedy which usually helps to get me home safely if a migraine starts when I’m away from home.

I was really surprised to discover from the Uncle Joe’s website www.uncle-joes.com that this sweet is not more universally known.  Apparently, it’s a bit of a rarity outside our little bit of north west England, having its roots in the lovely down-to-earth town of Wigan.

Uncle Joes mintballs