Natural Remedies for Migraines

When specific remedies did not work for me, I looked through my homeopathic stash. Ruta Graveolens (6c) is indicated on the label for "eye strain due to computer use or artificial lights". Somehow that equaled "migraine" to me so I researched online. I saw that it was one of the components in a compound that also contained olive leaf (and some other ingredients) that had been tested for migraines.

I put four pellets under my tongue then rubbed a little organic olive oil on my left temple. I also had my daughter give me Reiki for a few minutes. Thankfully it was enough to get me to a painless sleep. In the morning, I woke up without pain. However, when I put my glasses on, the pain began to pulse. *sigh*

I did more research, this time on oil of oregano. (NOT oregano essential oil.) I read that it has worked for some. The recommended dosage was three (3) drops under the tongue (to stop a current migraine; not to be taken as a preventive). Ran to my medicine cabinet, took three drops under the tongue, then headed to my water bottle. For those of you who are not familiar with it, oil of oregano (NOT oregano essential oil) is spicy HOT. For some it may burn. It is STRONG.

We keep it in our medicine cabinet to ward off viral issues so I'm used it. Still, I can only take about 10 seconds of it under the tongue before I chug-a-lug as much water as I can. Sometimes my lips tingle for a while after and the smell has a tendency to linger on the breath for a while.

The oil of oregano worked but not 100%. The throbbing ceased within five minutes and I was able to wear my glasses again but at various times during the day I've felt the migraine threatening to rebound. It's been more than 12 hours since I took the oregano. I've been sipping water all day to stay hydrated, eating small amounts here and there so I don't get a hunger headache.

Compared with the off-the-charts level of pain I had Thursday and Friday, I would say the pain has been 1-3 all day Saturday.

Just an update. I have come to the conclusion that I have Occipital Headache causing migraine.Still trying to find a solution for it. I think the way potassium may help the nerve pain is the ratio of sodium and potassium in body effects the nerve firings.

Too much salt in blood could make nerve firing worse so potassium is an antidote. I have come across one anecdotal report who minimizes salt in their diet and it has helped significantly. So just one more thing to experiment with.

on further examination, I think it was the fact that it helped some because it was potassium gluconate which is an ionic form.

I just found your site today and have been reading all the posts. For the past couple weeks I have been reading that MSG could be causing my migraines--and this most recent migraine started Dec 26,2014 and I still have it today, Jan 23,2015. I started eating healthier avoiding all additives, preservatives, etc... in July 2014 (So I am still new at this) BUT OVER CHRISTMAS I INDULGED AND ATE THE BAD FOODS AGAIN....then it was the day after Christmas I began with the BAD MONTH LONG MIGRAINE! I am hoping to hear from someone who has migraines and has had luck finding out that MSG was the culprit...or if there is another additive/preservative/chemical that could be causing the bad migraines. I also need websites, books, etc.... if you have them so I can do further research. Thank you so much for your help. I need to get rid of my pain and peppermint oil, mint tea, and Excedrin Migraine are not working :( I want to get rid of this and fix the problem for good...naturally. Thank you!

I started getting migraines after eating dark chocolate when I was in my 30s....never bothered me before. So my point is look at what you eat every day. Eliminate processed foods, coffee, tea. eat fruit and veggies for a few days and see if that helps. Or go to a chiro and see if they can do food allergy testing on you or it could be environmental. Try to live as natural as possible and see if that helps.

Hi Sue, read the book Heal Your Headache by David Buchholz M.D. It's a three step program and food is one of the steps. You're right, MSG is a culprit.

Ocular migraines are the very frustrating zig zag bright moving light flashing migraines that can be accompanied by pain or not. Conventional medicine has not crosstream figured out that they can be stopped within 15 minutes with a dose of (optimally) sublingual L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (a form of folic acid). This is the natural occurring folic acid, NOT the usual found in fortified foods and prenatal vitamins.

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.

I've had frequent migraines since I was a teenager and tried many remedies over the years with little success. Painkillers don't touch the pain; triptans don't work, ACV triggers one within minutes and I've tried pretty much everything else to boot. So I recently visited a specialist migraine consultant and thought I'd share the advice.

Firstly, magnesium in much larger doses than one would normally think. Even if blood levels are normal the specialist suggested that individual body chemistry may result in deficiencies at the transcellular level. She suggested any or all of:

Transdermal magnesium oil (solution of magnesium chloride and distilled water, 50:50 by volume - buy the crystals in bulk online) 10 sprays per day - may sting at first - wash off after 30 mins if uncomfortable

Ionic magnesium: 2.5 ml per day diluted in a large glass of water

Magnesium malate (better absorbed than many of the other forms taken orally). She didn't specify a dose for this but implied it can be taken up to one's tolerance level - if it results in diarrhoea, take less

Epsom salt baths. If it seems extravagant to put 1 lb of Epsom salts in the bath and then run it all out down the plughole, use a half cup in a footbath instead.

A lot of people have posted that they sleep better after using magnesium at night. I found it kept me awake so I use it earlier in the day. Everyone's different.

So far so good - 3 weeks and no migraines, despite a number of potential triggers.

In addition she recommended 400 mg/day of Vitamin B2; and 1000 IU Vitamin D3 (I would suggest not to take this dose long term - perhaps have a break in summer).

And at first sign of an acute attack to take some form of gastric protection such as 10 mg Domperidone or 20 mg Omeprazole before any painkillers.

I hope this helps.

Update 3 months later: After a good start, there's no real reduction in average number or severity of migraines, unfortunately. That's with daily doses of: 1000 IU Vit D3; 2.5 ml ionic magnesium; 10 squirts transdermal magnesium (magnesium oil); and an excellent diet. However for various reasons I've had less exercise than usual and that certainly plays a part as well. I will continue and report back

Update 1 year on.

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.

Melissa.. About 5HTP

I am also leary of 5 htp after doing research on it.. Actually the last doctor who I didn't like said I should take it for anxiety.. she also gave me a supplement with L lysine, 5 htp and folate and L tyrosine in it.. the 5htp is 150 miligrams.. I am a bit scared to take it as I have read good and not so good things with 5 htp.... I also meditate and use essential oils.. maybe just stick to that.. I also try and get sun and take vit.D..

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Peppermint essential oil gave me relief from migraines. I was desperate for something, and I probably saw a post here on Earth Clinic and decided to try it. It works! It doesn't stop the migraine for me, but it relieves the pain and nausea temporarily so that I don't feel like I'm going to die. I just hold the bottle to my nose and inhale it. You can put it on your face if you want, but it burns quite a bit, so I don't really recommend that. The burn is, at least, a distraction from the agony. I definitely suggest investing in a bottle if you get migraines.

Amanda,

Re; Migraines

Solution to classic migraines...I had them since 17 years old. Need to use dilation nutrient...I use either B3 (niacin) in quantity to feel a flush in scalp, face and upper torso...if too much aspirin can relieve itch. I later found that the herb "feverfew" taken five times weekly at two tablets per day can also be a great dilator. The theory is that some genetic types use up more B3 and under pressure or other triggers the capillaries around the eyes collapse in a cascading effect...so supplement with a substance that can neutralize the genetic flaw. I take the niacin three times weekly...usually 250 mg will produce the flush. But a "newbie" should start with 50 mg and work up next day until the flush is obtained. If taken after a light breakfast the effect is greater and faster. You don't need to take both at the same time.

That is my theory and in practice I have no more classic migraine headaches UNLESS I fail to take the niacin/feverfew for a few weeks. Then ...bam! ...migraine time and I curse my stupidity for running out of the preventative.

I've read in many places where people had great success using peppermint essential oil (which must be diluted with a carrier oil prior to application to your temple area). I'm not one of those people. In fact, the peppermint EO made the migraine I am currently experiencing much worse. I wonder why that is?

I recently started using bioidentical progesterone cream for awful PMS (caused by estrogen dominance/low progesterone). I read a suggestion online that, for premenstrual migraines (which have been debilitating for me, particularly on cycles where I ovulate), rubbing a little bit of progesterone cream on your temples helps. It worked pretty well for me, during my most recent cycle (I'm only on my second cycle using the cream and my body is still adjusting). I'm hoping the cream will eventually help me achieve hormone balance and that I won't get those awful migraines ever again.

I have had migraines for my whole life including my mom, sister... Each time the weather changes, rain snow thunder comes cold to hot, hot to cold really horrible migraines happen. I have tried all the remedies, supplements, diets I could find and now the only thing that completely works is unfortunately a prescription drug called sumatriptan, I wish I could understand why and how I can find the equivalent effects in a natural remedy, so I never have to take it again....any idea??

Bella: I had headaches too. Brain cells need more fuel than regular cells. I take 600g raw carbs daily from honey, whole sugar, organic fruits, and activated barley. Brain cells need neurotransmitters. Raw proteins from whey, hawaiin spirulina, dessicated liver, and cocoa powders make the best. High mountain cold water extracted shilajit, skate liver oil, and maca are also good. Marine phytoplankton liquid, the expensive one, is the only food that detoxes and energizes the back of the brain where the seat of the emotions are located. Watch raw food and superfood videos for good info.

Bella: I suppose you must be experiencing bad side effects from the sumatryptan. The closest natural substance chemically similar to s is 5HTP. Take 50mg 5HTP before retiring every evening. It seems logical to reduce the s proly 50% (if you have tabs a pill splitter will work fine) while taking 5HTP.

Have you tried brain-specific antioxidants like Chinese Skullcap and Gingko biloba?? I would also recommend Magnet Therapy over the entire skull. A strong magnet like a music speaker mag will work well. Do this about 15-30 min daily for a few weeks. Herbs like White Oak Bark, Buthchers Broom, and Horse Chesnut are indicated in vacular disorders as they strengthen the vascular. Vit-C w/ added Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex also helps veins.

Ever consider you might be GLUTEN SENSITIVE? I have been hearing a lot about the connection to migraines. I don't experience these myself, but it's part of every gluten book and post I've read. One thing you could do is find a FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE doctor and get tested. Google the Functional Medicine Institute for a doc in your area. There should be a directory. I know a conventional doc probably won't administer this type of test. I believe it measures your anti-bodies specific reaction to gluten. Good Luck!!

Choose an registered osteopath instead. Absolutely the best I've ever tried.

Whilst I acknowledge everyone is unique and that this may not work for everyone, I wanted to share my recent experience with using tumeric as a natural remedy for treating migraine.I have been getting semi frequent migrains for the past 12 months, and put it down to neck problems/stress. I get the kind which start in the head and travel down to the face, particularly behind the eyes. Sometimes this is accompanied by nausea. Meditating seems to alleviate it somewhat, but as soon as I get up and start moving about again, the pain comes back. So on the weekend I resisted taking a pill and instead reached for some freshly minced tumeric. I bought organic minced tumeric from the health food store. I took 2 teaspoons with warm water, layed down in a dark, quiet room and fell asleep meditating, anything to divert my attention away from the pain. I woke up the following morning, migraine gone, pain free, feeling relieved! I guess the anti inflammatory effect of the tumeric really helped me, and would strongly encourage people to try this before they reach for the nasty pharmaceutical pill.

For 14 years I have had 3-day migraines approximately once a month (more or less). This week my 3-day migraine morphed into a 5-day full head headache. I haven't had a traditional "headache" since the migraines began, so I was very concerned. My standard migraine Rx (Relpax) only takes pain away for a few hours and it didn't even do that this week. A couple of times I tried 3 ibuprofen, which worked for about 2 hours each time. On earthclinic, ACV seemed to work for some people, so I decided to drive (nauseated and in pain) 20 minutes to the health store. I bought ACV capsules and took 2 (500 mg each) with water in the parking lot. By the time I reached home the headache/migraine pain was gone. I was exhausted and aching from 5 days of pain so I went to bed early. I took my normal nighttime supplements (200 mg chelated magnesium and 1 gr L-Glutamine), I woke up refreshed and back to normal. I will try ACV capsules the next time pain strikes. Thanks.

About a year ago I stopped drinking anything with caffeine in it and quit eating chocolate as this was advice given in a book about preventing migraines. It helped my migraines not to be as long and as painful, but they came back none the less. I decided to stop using artificial sweetener in my lemonade I make every day and started using Stevia. One package every morning is all I use. I NEVER get migraines anymore as long as I faithfully use this natural sweetener. I have made the mistake of not using it for a couple of days and I wind up with the start of a migraine. But if I take some stevia, mix it in some water and drink it real fast before the migraine gets worse, it gets rid of it for me. I don't know what it is about this natural sweetener that has cured my migraines but I thought I'd share it with others just in case it can help them too. The stevia I get is the Wal-Mart brand that is in the vitamin section in a box.

Alka Seltzer reduced the headache only slightly but made the nausea worse.

I wondered about this too. Been using it for years.

I have suffered with migraines for 61 years with relief only from sesame oil pulling and acv. It never completely alleviated migraines but helped. The past five years the migraines increased from two or three a week to five. I missed so much work, was out of it most of the time and unable to function when a new naturopath suggested I might be gluten sensitive! After yrs at pgh and Cleveland clinic no one had ever suggested that! I had been living on toast, too I'll to eat much else! I immediately started a gluten free diet and amazingly have been migraine free four months today! I feel my life has been a gift returned to me! I still use avc and sesame oil pulling every day for the remarkable health benefits but want to share my experience for any of you migraine sufferers. Our modified wheats now have over 500 times more gluten than they did 20 yrs ago. It is estimated that 50%of the population of the U.S. have some gluten related illness. Our livers simply cannot process this load. I hope my experience may help someone out there!

Can you do ACV tablets instead of the drink? Asking this because of a child who can't palate the taste?

Some anti migraine steps:

1. Walk for an hour and a half nonstop everyday for circulation

2. Daily, take pills made of black grape peels and pips, Take 1 and a half or twice the amount recomended on the bottle (for circulation)

3. Take digestive enzymes whenever you eat anything that isn't raw. And/or other natural digestive aids.

4. Try not to get very upset emotionally.

5. Eat one or 2 big lettuce salads with lots of raw ingredients everyday & avoid the well known triggers- coffee, chocolate, any cheese that isn't fresh or cottage (Blue cheese is especially dangerous), milk, cream, ice cream, and soya sauce, or miso or soya products that resemble meat, and black tea.

6. Sleep in a very well ventilated room (preferably in a howling gale)

MIGRAINES:

Here is a very quick and cheap thing to try, because all it'll cost is a small bottle of the niacin form (nicotinic acid) of Vitamin B3! I note that B3 is not listed under the Vitamins on this site, and B3 is not in the Remedies list under Migraines, either.

From the Linus Pauling site (well, one of them):
Http://www.orthomolecular.org

Two Case Reports on the Treatment of Acute Migraine with Niacin: Its Hypothetical Mechanism of Action Upon Calcitonin-Gene Related Peptide and Platelets
Jonathan E. Prousky, N. D. , FRSH; Erika Sykes, N. D. (Cand)

http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/2003/pdf/2003-v18n02-p108.pdf

At the first sign of aura, he orally ingested 300 to 500mg of niacin, slightly chewing the niacin pills to allow them to dissolve slowly in his mouth. Hall found that the benefits of niacin were most pronounced when taken on an empty stomach, although it was noted that there was still a MH relieving effect when taken after meals. Additionally, he remarked that the migraines were resolved when intense flushing occurred.

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

I went through all of these tests, saw many doctors and one suggested the SCD diet this is a very simple neutral sort of diet it helps to calm the Central nervous system down and helps heal the body. Taking minerals and electrolytes is helpful I was already eating NON Gmo organic I also figured out that if there is something else aggravating the body, your body just begins to react to things that it once did The body is on hyperalert. Look at everything in your environment. Got rid of dryer sheets, memory foam, all scented things, all chemical sprays, I checked for mold and did an air check, radon and carbon monoxide checks. I went to all natural shampoos. Even the insecticide you neighbor sprays can effect you.

10 years of weekly migraines gone with Swedish bitters, a digestive complex and sublingual vit B12.

I take 2 tablespoons of Swedish bitters at the slightest hint of migraine- sometimes several times a day(I take a bottle wherever I go).
Also I take 30 drops of a digestive complex which has artichoke(cynara scolymus),fumaria (fumaria officinalis), boldo(peumus boldus Mol) bitter chamomile, rosemary and artimisia absinthium). These I take after any cooked meal.

And I take 2 sublingual vit B12 a day, double the recommended dose.

I would recommend a big lettuce based raw vegetable salad everyday as one main meal and I believe that all the above would cure any migraine that is digestion related. (I feel my whole chemistry has changed)

Good luck.