★★★★★
If you cannot get sublingual, taking the capsules will also relieve the visual disturbance, just a little slower to relief.
Some emergency rooms will treat a ocular migraine with a folic acid IV, also effective, but is not the best way to treat long term.
If you suffer from ocular migraines, ask to be tested for a genetic defect, MTHFR. It's likely you have this inability to assimilate folic acid, causing a myriad of problems.
Magnesium
★☆☆☆☆
Magnesium was helpful at first but after a few months migraines became more and more frequent, at least 3 a week, untreatable - nothing touched them.
Stopped everything for while and gradually reintroduced the 400 mg B2,1000 IU D3,800 microgram Folic acid + a few strands of saffron daily but no magnesium.
Migraines are down to about 3 a month and those have been treatable. (The saffron was the recommendation of an acupuncturist but no, the 8 months of acupuncture didn't seem to help - couldn't even reduce a headache present at the time of treatment).
Everyone's different and migraines seem to follow cycles so one can never be sure what is and isn't helping, but on this regime, so far, so good. Possibly magnesium can be overdone, over time.
5-HTP
Second, supplements are regulated by the FDA by the same standards as foodstuffs. Hospitals report any problems w/ bad food or supplements from sick patients the same as drug interaction or overdoses, and these reports are monitored for public safety. Also many or most supplement manufacturers are standardized and inspected by oversight companies like GMP which is overseen by the FDA as well as WHO. So yes, nutritional supplements ARE regulated for safety.
Mint Oil
★★★★★
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.
Re your husband's migraines, I take two feverfew five days a week to fight off migraines... and often take niacin (the flushing kind) a few times weekly.
You are correct in using as a preventative...if he takes when migraine is already underway, little help.
I've been on Niacin for ... I guess thirty years, and feverfew for ten.
Never caused stomach upset for me.
Niacin and Feverfew are natural dilators and if your husband's migraines ...which you think may come from the brain injuries... are the cause of the migraines, the dilation of the capillaries staying open may well act to keep blood flowing properly.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
★★★★★
I immediately tried acupuncture on knots in my neck and shoulders, followed by chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy on these sore muscles. Usually, this helps but did not work this time. Realizing that a virus was causing my migraines, my wife suggested Grapefruit Seed Extract.
The directions on the label suggested 5-15 drops, in water, 3 times a day, to be taken with or without food. I took 5 drops, maybe a total of 7 times over a period of 5 days, whenever I felt ill.
The results were dramatic and amazing. After the first 5 drops, my migraines stopped. The sore neck went away and my general feeling of sickness began to abate. After the next three doses, over the next two days, my general feeling of sickness disappeared and my energy came back to 90% of peak. After a month of abandoning all forms of intense exercise, I was able to run for 20 minutes and cycle for 3 hours.
White Noise
★★★★★
Please do not play white noise loud, just softly works better.
Multiple Remedies
What worked for ME was chiropractic adjustments. If you have tried *everything*, then its something to consider.
Multiple Remedies
I will add a couple of more thoughts to the excellent suggestions I have already seen come through. I would seriously consider each of them. There are so many different causes of headaches. All of these ideas will help you to leave no stone unturned in your quest for a solution.
I have family members that have had migraine relief from taking feverfew daily as a preventative. I myself have been relieved of headaches from going to a good chiropractor.
Herbalist Rachel Weaver cites two common sources of headaches that seem too simple...dehydration and/or constipation. She recommends for a headache to drink a tall glass of water with a pinch of sea salt in it. Better yet, just be sure to be getting plenty of water (a pinch of sea salt is a great addition to that.) Regarding the constipation, if your system is not eliminating toxins daily, you can get all kinds of symptoms, including headaches. If this is an issue for you, do look at the constipation solutions on Earth Clinic.
Do you have chronic sinus infections? How is your diet?
Do you have dental issues? Mercury fillings or root canals? Sometimes these things are linked to headaches. (Mercury fillings from the toxicity of mercury and root canals because sometimes there is an underlying infection that cannot get out.)
Please let us know what you try and what helps. I hope you find relief soon. I am sorry you have had to deal with this for so long. I am praying for wisdom and relief for you.
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
5-HTP
★★★★★
Currently I take 200 mg/day and can have a sandwich for lunch and cheesecake! (it's SO wrong, I know! ) I still try very hard to keep the gluten and casein out of my diet. Even though I can cheat and not have a migraine attack, I still can tell that my body feels wrong or icky when I have those foods. But it's SO nice to go from 10 migraines a month, down to 1, maybe 2 per month. I plan to cut back to 100mg/day because I know that there is differing opinions about how much is too much. Plus being able to eat whatever I want makes it very hard to stay gluten/casein free. I hope this post helps other people to realize that they may have food allergies/intolerances that they are unaware of yet.
★★★★★
I do this for a few days. Sometimes if I start to feel a headache coming on I will soak in a warm bath of Epsom Salt, 2 cups or the full container. I haven't had a headache come on for the past couple months now, and I used to suffer through 3 days of headaches prior.
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Stevia
★★★★★
Fenugreek, Thyme
★★★★★
For years I suffered from Migraines. The symptoms I experienced were nausea, light sensitivity, smell sensitivity, and sharp pain on the left temple as well as my eye. To make matters worse this lasted for 2-3 days. I then noticed that it would happen around my menstrual cycle ever month without fail. I couldn't find relief in any over the counter medications. It got to be debilitating. The only thing I could do is lay in bed in a dark quiet room with a cold towel over my head.
One night I said enough is enough, I got up and ran cold water over my head and neck, as I did this the migraine would subside but when I took my head away from the water it would come back. I then remembered being given Fenugreek & Thyme capsules a few months back and decided to give it another try, but this time instead of taking the recommended dose of 1000 mg (700 mg of which was Fenugreek and 300 mg of Thyme), I increased the dosage amount by three and I took 3000 mg.
In 20 minutes my migraine was GONE! All these years of failed over the counter medications and being miserable and all I needed was in an herb. I was able to get a good night's sleep and when I woke in the morning I felt it coming on again so I took 1500mg, but it didn't seem to stop it so I took another 1500mg 30 minutes later and again the migraine disappeared. (I haven't noticed any side effects so far but if anything comes up I will repost).
I hope this helps, and I am happy to add my experience to the community as you all have given me so many great remedies over the years!
Melanie B - of Los Angeles, CA
NSAID + Real Coke
★★★★★
Good luck and feel better!
Chiropractic
★★★★★
5-HTP
5-HTP
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Multiple Remedies
1.) Digestion - always have enzymes with you to take whenever the first sign of a migraine appears and /or after you have cooked food.
2.) Circulation - there is certainly a circulation disorder in a migraine sufferer. So improve circulation-a.) By walking at least an hour a day nonstop 6 days a week b.) Natural supplements that are known to help circulation.
3. Sugar balance - It is important to maintain sugar levels so take stevia instead of sweeteners or sugar or fructose and eat regularly.
4 Nutrients. - Very important to take nutrients that the brain needs ie: magnesium, linseeds, vit B, wheatgerm and beetroot
Other essentials for avoiding migraines:
A- Eat alot of raw food - the minimum per day a big lettuce salad with at least 2 other raw veg and seeds, and apple cider vinegar, cold pressed oil, sea salt or rock salt and cayenne pepper
B. - Completely avoid coffee, black tea, milk and soya products like miso.
C- Sleep in a very well ventilated room.
Good luck
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
Ice Pack
★★★★★
When 'on the road' and a migraine starts, I buy cold drinks (bottles or cans) to cool my neck while driving; they are the perfect fit between my neck and headrest. At home, I often use bags of frozen vegetables (after when I use up all my gel packs), then I make a hearty soup out of them the next day.
