Five Natural Treatments for the Prevention of Migraine Headaches
For those who suffer from frequent, long lasting migraine headaches there are many options for prevention of migraines. The goal of prophylactic treatment is reducing attack frequency, severity and duration. There are many medications that have been shown to be effective including beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants but these carry side effects. Some interesting data has emerged on natural therapies for migraine prophylaxis and with little downside they are probably worth a try.
1) Butterbur- An extract of Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) root is an herbal medicine that is marketed as a pharmaceutical medicine in Germany (Petadolex). At least 2 clinical trials have found Petasites extract to be effective for migraine prevention. In the larger of these studies, Petasites at a dose of 75 mg but not 50 mg daily was effective and well tolerated as preventive therapy for migraine. It is important to know that parts of butterbur are carcinogens so only consume the parts of the petasites plant in commercial products.
2) Coenzyme Q10- In a small trial of 42 patients with migraine, CoQ10 was effective for migraine prevention. Patients treated with CoQ10 100 mg three times a day experienced a 50% reduction in the frequency of migraines. CoQ10 is also well tolerated.
3) Feverfew - The herbal remedy most studied for the prevention of migraine is Feverfew. Several trials have shown it to be effective for prevention of migraine. The dose to take it not so clear, some studies looked at capsules of 100 mg a day and these were capsules of freeze dried leaves. Other studies used 143 mg capsules with an alcoholic extract of feverfew.
4) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - A trial of 55 patients found that riboflavin at a dose of 400 mg a day as compared to placebo resulted in a significant number of people with greater than 50% improvement in the frequency of headaches. The benefits were apparent after 3 months of therapy.
5) Magnesium - Several studies have found 600 mg of magnesium daily for 12 weeks reduces headache frequency significantly. The duration and intensity of the headache attack was also reduced. The word of caution here is that 18% of those taking 600 mg of magnesium a day experience diarrhea but it does appear to be effective for prevention of migraine.
Dr O.
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I TOOK ALL OF THE ABOVE MEDICATIONS THAT SPOKE ABOUT AND I HAD 2 TAKE THEM EVERYDAY THEY WORKED 4 ME BUT AS SOON AS I STOPPED THE HEADACHES CAME BACK . AND IT'S TRUE YOU DO GET SOME SIDE AFFECTS . I HAVE BEEN HAVING HEADACHES SINCE I WAS 2 AND 4 SOME STRANGE REASON I KNOW HAVE TEMPROLARTERITIS AT THE AGE OF 35 AND THE DOCTORS TELL ME THAT THIS ILLNESS IS FOUND IN PEOPLE OF 60 -70 YRS OLD . AND NOW MY BODY IS GOING THROUGH LOTS OF THINGS BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS THEY HAVE ME ON AND NOW I'M STARTING 2 FEEL LIKE I AM OLD CAUSE I DON'T THINK NO ONE MY AGE SHOULD B TAKING ALL THIS STUFF . NOW I'M CRYING CAUSE I'M SAD .
By ADELISSEXY September 25, 2008 1:52am
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I had migraine headaches for 40 years. some time they lasted 7 - 8 hours, sometimes for a few days. no Doctor ever worried about them. January 14 2008 I had a brain aneurysm rupture and it nearly killed me. I am still recovering from the coiling and side effects of all the blood in the brain. If you have haedaches on a regular basis ask your Doctor to send you for a ct or mri. Better safe then sorry. Stop smoking too. I smoked for 48 years when this happened. Have not had a cigarette since 01/14/08.
By Grannycare September 24, 2008 12:24pm
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My husband has suffered from ''migraine'' for over 30 years,recently he was diagnosed with''helicobacter pylori'',now we have found out that there is a link,sufferer with migraine could be infected with helicobacter pylori,which is the cause of migraine.I believe that is true in his case,his migraine started after a week of stomach upset and diarrhoea.Hope this will help,he has taken ,turmeric and vitamins,his migraine are better and not as severe.Lucy..
By JOYHOLY September 1, 2008 8:48am
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I have been having ongoing migrains, and that it makes me sick to my stomach, and usually lasts for 3 days.
By Beatta August 19, 2008 9:30pm
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Thank you for writing this. I've started to have long lasting migraines over the past month. This information is very helpful. Since I see my doctor today, I"m going to print this out and take it with me. Thank you!
By LillyBlossom August 19, 2008 9:58am
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Doc, I take all of these accept the feverfew, which is very bad for my liver. My headaches last anywhere from a few hrs to 9-10 days. My doc does not know what else to do.
By thorne7 August 17, 2008 12:59pm
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Thank you for that information. Dawn
By catlover02 August 11, 2008 10:46pm
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Thank you so much for your info on this subject my Mother died as she suffered terribly since she was 3 years old and died as a result of an over dose of Demerol injections. She got up in a stupor still in extreme pain and nausea thinking it was time for more medicine and gave herself another shot and this went on to many times that evening. She was dead by morning. I was always afraid this would end up happening. It was back in 1984 when some doctors that were the old fashion 'family docs' that had been in the family for 30 years. He would give her a 30ml bottle and let her inject herself PRN. I lost her way to soon in my life at age 30. I to suffer these terrible headaches including the ocular ones. I take Topamax, Imitrex & Compazine. I have tried Feverfew, but I have never tried the CoQ10 before to provent the headaches so I will give it a try.
By willow54 August 10, 2008 1:54pm
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I have been taking a Beta blocker for a few years to control migraines. Recently, I had my other medications tweaked and there is a possibility that my blood pressure could bottom out. I am going to save this article and with my doctors approval, I will try these remedies.
Thank you.
By StillOfTheNight August 8, 2008 12:15am
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Feverfew has worked for me in the past. I also noticed that right before I got a migraine, I seemed to be constipated and also holding water, not urinating a normal amount. So at times like this I had also used cascara sagrada for the constipation. The two worked very well together as a migraine preventative
By asilinc298 August 7, 2008 9:11am
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Jacee1967 they are worth a try...add them to your mix
By DrOrrange August 6, 2008 6:12pm
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thanks so much...there are so few doctors in my area who seem to have any knowledge of Ocular/Opthalmic migraine (aura, disorientation, with mild headache). I think I'm learning that anxiety is a serious trigger for me. MSms
By Msms August 6, 2008 3:18pm
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thank you for the information. I am working on going all natural, I am sick of all the meds they push on us. I am currently taking the B2 and magnesium, ( I do not take those higher doses though) I also take fish oil I was looking into either butterbur or feverfew. should I add one to my daily mix?
By jacee1967 August 6, 2008 3:42am
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YAY! Thank you for posting this! Its funny that you did because I am studying to become a Master Herbalist and just covered this section about migraines! Thanks again! :D
By OpheliaRising August 5, 2008 2:39pm