Natural Remedies for Migraines

Hi all. I love this site! I've had migraine attacks since i was 15. 30 years later I continue to suffer from them. They are most often triggered by the hormonal changes I have when getting my cycle. Symptoms began yesterday, sensitivity to light and nausea started and I realized one was coming. I have been drinking ACV daily for about 2 months now and although it has improved my overall health, it didn't stop my migraine from coming back. I did take 60 mg of zinc supplements and read that magnesium also helps. I didn't have any but did have Milk Of Magnesia so took a little bit of that. To my surprise my symptoms lessened significantly. By now i would be in a full blow episode but I am doing okay! As all migraine sufferers know, the constant pain can be truly debilitating I'm so relieved this seems to have worked!

I had been suffering from daily severe headaches, usually on the left side of the head, and migraine symptoms, migraine headaches, most severe pain I have ever experienced. I was given many pain meds from doctor from naxopen (ibruprofen type pain killer) to tylenol w/ codeine # 3 and # 4, I was beginning to experience what is called a "rebound headache" from over use of pain meds (both prescribed and OTC), I read somewhere that magnesium helps relieve/prevent migraines. I began taking magnesium w/calcium supplements as well, and in less than 2 weeks, I began to feel much better. I am now headache-free/migraine-free about 90% of the time. I really recommend it to anyone who suffers from daily migraines/headaches, it has really improved my quality of life, hope it helps you too.

I have been a long time sufferer of migraines and last summer I started taking magnesium supplements. I have not had a migraine since July!

My mother discovered this cure for migraines - my father has suffered from them and also others in our family. When I started having severe migraines often, I called her.

1 magnesium pill (200 mg)
1 calcium pill ("")
1 omega 3 pill (1000 mg)
1 flaxseed oil pill ("")

Take these daily for six weeks, then you will have no more migraines. You have to wait 6 wks before it goes into effect. I used to get severe migraines, vomiting, etc. up to 3x a week. It was intolerable. Now I get maybe one mild migraine (no vomiting) when I'm PMSing and if I'm tired.

My father takes 2 supplements/day, but I found 1/day was enough for me - I guess because I weigh less than he does.

I have had horrible migraines weekly for the past 2 years, ever since I had my miscarriage. I was at my last resort when I tried a magnetic therapy pillow case, and unbelievably, I have not had a migraine, or headache even in the 3 1/2 weeks since I have been sleeping on it!

Marjoram tea relieved my migrain. I have suffered from migrains for over 20 years and have tried most medicines OTC and prescription out there. I know most of my triggers but sometimes one will sneak up on me anyway. I found a remedy online a few years back and now it's all I use. I steep 1 1/2 to 2 Tablespoons of marjoram in a small 2 cup tea pot and drink it strait up. It doesn't taste the best but after one cup I find relief from the pain and the foggy head feeling. I buy mine in the spice aisle at the grocery store, some stores carry it cheap in a bag- that works too.

I haven't tried any of these remedies posted, but I have tremendous migraine attacks the the best thing I have discovered for myself was to rub menthol-camphor ointment on my temples and forehead and put a small amount just under my nose and it begin the relieve the tension in my head and put me to sleep. If it begins to wear off repeat the process until it finally goes away.

where do i start with treating food intolerance? i need relief from migraines which are a result food intolerances. food intolerance tests show i am intolerant to many foods and food additives. Some of these foods i can directly relate to migraines but some of them i cannot directly relate to migraines.

for example, i am intolerant to oranges, lemons, bannanas, tomatoes, diary, but i do not notice any headaches with these.

i do however, relate headaches to preservatives, msg, also chocolate, cheese, wine, and some breads.

as there are preservatives in many foods, it is very difficult to avoid them. i really need to address whatever imbalance there is in my body.

it is difficult for me to know what to take, i cannot take lemon juice and even though i can eat an apple i cannot drink apple juice as it will trigger migraine.

my system seems extremely sensitive as i can take milk thistle tablets but i cannot take milk thistle drops, so if anyone has treatments will they please tell me which form of the treatment is the least likely to trigger migraine? For example, tablets, powder, drops, etc.

if more than one treatment to be taken, please tell me if i can take them together, and what dosage.

many thanks to all who help and if alfred has any further advice i would be glad to hear it.

jackie

A friend who I have known for roughly 30 years always has had migraine headaches for as long as I have known her. About two years ago, she started showing symptoms of early onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD), which is advancing very rapidly.

I was wondering if migraines might be a forewarning of future AD, and according to the following article, it definitely is with people who regularly have migraine headaches being three times more likely for men and 6 times more likely for women to get AD than non-migraine people :

https://www.migrainedisorders.org/migraine-and-alzheimers-disease/#:~:text=The study found that a, 9.9% of cognitively intact participants.&text=They also found that people, dementia than people without dementia.

Here are two very relevant quotes from this interesting article :

' A 2001 study examining the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease found that men and women with a history of migraine were three times more likely to develop AD.5 Looking at women alone, the study found that they were almost 6 times more likely to develop AD.5 '

' Another study was conducted to determine if migraine was a risk factor for dementia subtypes; Alzheimer's and vascular. The study found that a history of migraine was noted in 23.5% of participants with AD compared to 9.9% of cognitively intact participants.6 They also found that people with a history of migraine were three times more likely to have dementia than people without dementia.6 Similar to the previous study, they found that people with AD were four times more likely to have a history of migraine disease.6 Interestingly, when looking at the subtypes of dementia, they found no correlation with a history of migraine and vascular dementia.6 '

I tried to convince my friends to try alternative means of improving her situation, but my other friend, her husband, will not try any alternatives even though she is declining very rapidly. She is now so bad in just two years that she could not remember to take helpful supplements without someone giving them to her.

If you have migraines regularly, you are at increased risk for AD, especially if you are a woman. It may be worth taking steps early on to improve your chances against getting AD.

Art

Migraine and Herpes virus connected?

Hi Earth Clinic:

I just found out that there is a connection between some migraines and the herpes virus, which is a frequent visitor to so many of us.

I started taking low dose naltrexone and my herpes outbreaks gradually went away. My migraines became very infrequent and when they do come, they are changed, more manageable and tolerable. Still very painful. Now I have to avoid light and I vomit.

I had a hunch (maybe because of the changes) so I started searching online and found out that herpes can cause migraine, and something called herpes meningitis. Also herpes encephalitis, which can be fatal if not treated in time.

Here is a clip of some text I found:

Herpes Meningitis.

Herpes meningitis occurs in 4% to 8% of cases of primary genital HSV-2, and women are more likely to develop it than men are. Symptoms include headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Fortunately, herpes meningitis is self-limited, lasting for only two to seven days. Neurologic consequences are rare, but recurrences have been reported.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q="herpes meningitis"&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g7

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q="herpes encephalitis"&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10

Anyway, my question is this: Should there be a page for this, so that it can be discussed, and those with migraines could learn that it exists? I searched the site and there is no connection anywhere that I could find between herpes and migraine.

Just a suggestion.
Thanks for this site. It is super!

Mind over migraine remedy.

I woke up with a headache yesterday which progressed to a migraine, perhaps my worst one ever. I tried the ice pack at the base of the neck remedy for migraines but it was very uncomfortable when you have axe splitting pain in your brain. The last thing my body wanted was an ice pack on my neck. Better on the forehead but only for 20 seconds at the most. Maybe I'm wrong, but there isn't much you can do about a migraine when you get to the point of such severe nausea that your body gags every time you move your head. This went on for several hours. I ended up sucking on an ice cube and then lying in bed half propped up with a pillow over my eyes and forcing my brain to go into quiet mode. Every time a wave of pain seared through my brain as I lay there, I forced myself to go empty. I fell into a half sleep and continued to stay quiet in my head every time the pain cycle hit. I didn't allow myself to get up until the pain had all but passed. The pain was gone after 2 hours. When I could eat and drink I took a potassium and a magnesium supplement and that definitely helped.

Maybe it was just a matter of time anyway, but next time I will try quieting my mind as soon as I have migraine symptoms and see if I can get it to pass more quickly.

Where has mint oil been all my life?! ?

I have suffered from migraines since I was about 5 years old, though after puberty they had become frequent and often unbearable.

After going to a neurologist who confirmed that I have migraines and not just headaches he prescribed Imitrex, it works amazingly, though I just don't like taking medicines (especially expensive ones! ) if I don't have to.

I have tried every remedy on the earth (at least it feels so! ) for migraines and everything I tried either never worked or worked once, maybe, and never again.

Then enter mint essential oil. I use either spearmint or peppermint and rub it on where it hurts, and voila, no more pain. It can take a few applications, but so far it knocks out most headaches/ migraines for me. It's amazing, I have cut back on my Imitrex use by at least half. I have been using it undiluted, however I have read this can cause adverse effects and can make it so my skin develops a sever sensitivity to it. I will from now on try diluting it with almond or jojoba oil and hope it still works as well. Because if I had to stop using mint oil because of my bad judgement I would be kicking myself for the rest of my life. Either way, I am in love with Mint oil, it works amazingly well for me. I have also had success drinking a mint tea for headaches, but not for migraines, I think it's too weak for that.

Oh, and they types of migraines I get are typically hormonal, non-aura. Occasionally they are allergy triggered, and rarely offensive smells (like strong B.O. or perfumes) . I do not drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages.

This is just to maybe help those who know what triggers their migraines, maybe if it works for me, it will work for you if you have similar triggers.

Dietary recommendations for migraines:
Supplement your diet with magnesium. Up to 50% of patients experiencing an acute migraine attack have lowered levels of ionized magnesium. Because of its safety profile, oral magnesium supplementation can be recommended to a majority of migraine sufferers. One study showed that migraine attack frequency was reduced by 41.6% in those who participated in regular magnesium supplementation.

Take 5-HTP in the morning. 5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. Migraines are caused in part by low serotonin. When serotonin levels are low, blood vessels dilate. Therefore, increasing serotonin may be helpful in preventing migraine occurrences.3 * Supplement with CoQ10. In one particular key trial, 61.3% of migraineurs who supplemented with CoQ10 during a four-month trial period reduced their occurrence of migraine attacks by at least 50%.4

1. Add ground flax seed to your diet since it contains healthy dietary fiber and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
2. Add virgin coconut oil to your diet to benefit from plant-based healthy saturated fat.
3. Add foods rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids to your diet.
4. Eat plenty of unrefined low-glycemic carbohydrates (brown rice, sprouted grains, winter squash).
5. Limit intake of fruits that have a high glycemic index such as apricots, raisins, banana, papaya, and mango.
6. Eat plenty of vegetables and vegetable juices (kelp, sprouts, green and black olives, peppers, spinach, chard, celery, zucchini).
7. Drink purified water throughout the day.
8. If you are a caffeine addict,chances are caffeine are causing your headache, detox your body of caffeine and stay away from caffeine and you will not have any more headache.

No need to see a doctor for he will just prescribe medicine with side effects, it is simply not worth it.Do not overload your body with artifical chemical!

1. Feverfew is great for migraines.

2. Gingko helps with the blood circulation in the brain.You can get a good one from this brand (pharmanex).

3.You can get buy 1 or 2 cans of isotonic drink (eg.100PLUS), and mix it with drinking water according to a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 (simply, it means one cup 100plus, one cup water.or 2 cups water). Another method will be to submerge your feet in a basin of warm water so that it bring the blood pressure down from your throbbing head.

4. Tian ma mi huan jun pian is cheap and effective for headache. You can get it from chinese medical shop.

5. Gatorade is useful for headache.Try it!

6. Inhaling lavender,eucalyptus or pepermint oil work for headache.Just dab some pepermint, eucalyptus or lavender oil to a cotton ball & breathe in the scent for a few moments. Do not get pure peppermint oil on your skin-this could burn it,if it is not duliuted. This remedy works everytime for John.You can also apply any of these oil to your temple.
Eye pillow stuffed with lavender also works great for headache.

7. Rub half a lime on your forehead and you will have no more headache.

8a. Rub the area right above your eye brows slowly in a circular motion and your headache will go away.

b. Rubbing the area on the back of your head right where the head and neck meet is useful too!

9. A study at Michigan State University suggests that apples act as a tranquilizer. The study reveals that eating 2 apples a day reduces tensions, headaches, and emotional upsets.

10. For headache relief, apply a cold compress of witch hazel over the forehead.

11. Spicy soups will cure a migrane.It's capsaicin in the Hot Chili peppers that does the trick.Chinese Hot and Sour soup works too. So next time you get a migraine, get some of these soup.

12. Raw cabbage is useful for headache.

Back in early 2016, I was looking into molybdenum-containing foods and realized that a regional diet study had found lower morning sickness in areas where the diets were high in legumes and whole grains, which happen to be the best commonly-eaten food sources of molybdenum (element #42). The grains that are high in molybdenum are oats and barley, not wheat.

While I was researching the morning sickness issue, I noticed that the nausea triggers were similar to migraine triggers. A friend who gets awful migraines decided to try molybdenum for her migraines since none of her prescribed medicines were helping her. She found that around 500 mcg of molybdenum glycinate could end her migraine even after it got started. No need to take it chronically. We both thought that was pretty cool, and so I told a couple of other migraine-sufferer friends about it. They also experienced dramatic relief from their migraines. Not bad for a supplement that costs less than $10 at our local vitamin store.

Molybdenum is used by five known enzymes in the body, one of which is sulfite oxidase. Sulfite oxidase, which converts sulfite to sulfate, catalyzes the final step in the process of breaking down endogenous (made in the body) hydrogen sulfide all the way down to sulfate (which is recycled or excreted in urine). Sulfites are known for making people sick, including with migraines and nausea. It looks as though migraines could be a result of excessive sulfite in our brains due to not being able to break sulfite down fast enough. Foods that interfere with sulfite oxidase (sulfites and nitrites, especially) do seem to be common triggers for migraines.

Do post if you try it. Maybe enough people will notice it helps them and spur a scientific study as to why it does so. The world definitely needs progress in migraine research!

Been taking 2,000 mg of MSM (pill format) for several months now. I take it in the evening because when I started it caused unpleasant gas. (That side effect eventually wore off but took time.) What I've really noticed is that my migraines have disappeared! I used to get at least 5 - 10 days a month of headaches which would progress to migraines and optical migraines. Since taking MSM I now experience 1 day of headache a month on the first day my cycle starts. There might be other benefits of taking MSM as time goes on but was really surprised that after years of living off pain relievers, I don't need them anymore.