Natural Remedies for Migraines

My doctor showed me an article in the NJOM years ago about bag breathing for migraines. This has changed my life and made me functional when otherwise I might be a mess.

Celery juice has been a MIRACLE for me. JUST celery juice alone...no other fruit or veggies. Drink on an empty stomach is best but if you can't drink whenever. I had migraines for years and drinking celery juice every day - one cup - CURED them.

Update: I awoke with a migraine headache and tried two tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar by mouth first. Within about one and a half hours, the severity had been reduced from an 8 on a scale of 10 to about a 2. I must add that I also drank coffee, but I will be using the ACV first from now on.

All good advise from Ben, but back to the question of Borax. Yes, Borax is also effective against mycoplasma infections and a good first option before running for the few good Dr's that can do the service that was suggested by Ben.

I have only recently made major progress on a longstanding myco infection which was too severe for oral Borax administration, so I got smart and started whole body hot baths w/ about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Borax. You may also consider making a paste of Borax and apply directly to the affected area, or make a simple Borax poultice.

Hello, wonderful people! I came across this awesome website about two years ago. I was trying to help one of my BFFs cure her uterine fibroids. Unfortunately, she ended up having surgery but I became addicted to your site. I have suffered from migraines for many years. I had to take medication because my migraines would become a vicious cycle until I took pain relievers to get out of it. I read a lot about Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and how wonderful it is for migraines. I took 2 tbsp of AVC and 1/2 tsp of baking soda in an 8 oz glass of water and it did not work. I went back to the site and read some more and realized I needed to play around with the dosage. So I now take 3 tbsp of ACV and 1/2 tsp of baking soda in an 8 oz glass of water and my migraines disappear within 10 minutes or less. It is just awesome! I am so grateful for this site and all the people who contribute to it. God bless you all and let's keep helping each other. It is the right thing to do.

WARNING!

I was super excited about taking 5-htp, as I use Imitrex and from what I read 5-htp seemed pretty much like a natural Imitrex. Imitrex imitates serotonin and basically alters the body's pain reception for migraines. (or something to that effect).

5-htp is a precursor to serotonin, which means your body will take 5-htp, convert it to serotonin and it in theory will act like Imitrex. Though that's where the awesomeness ended for me.

I have a few major warnings for anyone interested in 5-htp:

1) You cannot use it if you are pregnant

2) You cannot use it with many anti-depressants

3) You cannot use it within about 24 hours before or after you use Imitrex. Both anti-depressants that increase serotonin and Imitrex that imitates serotonin used with 5-htp that creates even more serotonin can cause a serotonin overdose and can be fatal.

4) I did more research on it and it turns out that 5-htp is a chemical by-product of L-tryptophan, which is responsible for making serotonin in our bodies. They used to sell tryptophan supplements but after many people started developing eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, an incurable muscle and blood disease, from these supplements, as they were tainted, they banned the sale of tryptophan supplements in the US. (This happened mainly due to one large manufacturer going cheap, but who's to say this won't happen again with 5-htp??)

There have already been a few cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome being caused by 5-htp supplements to date and that got me thinking: "Is taking this 5-htp to hopefully have a cheaper more 'natural' form of Imitrex worth it?" I decided it wasn't worth it.

I just want to warn those who are thinking about taking 5-htp that just because it's natural doesn't make it safer, and just because they sell it doesn't mean it's guaranteed safe. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA and only get any attention once a lot of people get sick from it. Use the information we are given to make the best decision for you. I ended up finding that Mint essential oil works really well for me and with no serious side effects. (or any at all for me)

I hope this helps someone, it would have been nice to have this all written for me when I was researching it. :)

I accidentally found oil pulling as a migraine cure about an hour ago! I have had a migraine for many hours. I was getting ready to give up and go to bed, so I brushed my teeth, then decided to oil pull before I laid down.

I had no expectation of it affecting the headache, just thought I should get it in while I had some down time. But before I could even finish the 15 minutes, my migraine was GONE!

Makes me sad that I've suffered migraines for so many years and have also known about oil pulling, but never tied them together therapeutically. Either way, I can't wait till I get another migraine so I can see if it was a fluke, but by the way I feel and how quickly it just went away, I'm inclined to think I have stumbled upon something that works great, at least for me.

I hope those of you with migraines will also give it a try! It's worth a try! Incidentally, I was using an organic, first cold pressed sunflower seed oil.

I wish you all the best : ) I'll update next time I try it...

I often get week long headaches during my menstrual cycle. This time, over the counter pain relief was not really working. After reading EC, I decided to try magnesium for relief. The magnesium did not work at all so I decided to try liquid b complex. I took one dose and nothing happened. Then, I took another dose and the headache was instantly gone. I decided to double the dose every day for the week and I felt GREAT!!! For anyone suffering from migraine type monthly headaches, please give this a try. I think the liquid supplement was able to be absorbed much faster than the pill form. Thank you EC!!!

It sounds like you might have tyramine-triggered migraines, rather than simply a gluten/casein sensitivity. Check out the list of foods that contain tyramine. Glad the 5-HTP is working. I'm looking for something to help my aunt, who suffers from migraines probably due to tyramine.

I have also found Feverfew exceptional for migraines.

I suffered from migraines before low air pressures, when going in the sun for too long and sometimes could be in bed for two or three days. Once I started taking feverfew on a regular basis the migraines left for ever. I don't need to take it these days, I sometimes get some of the migraine symptoms but not the blinding pain.

Anitha, thank you. You are the only person I have known to confirm my experience. The very first migraine I ever had was unbearable. I couldn't sleep, and was throwing up. My husband came home, and brought me an Alka Seltzer original, in a glass of water. It gave me total and complete relief. No headache, no upset stomach, and I could sleep. My migraines have lessened in severity, over time, however. So my other favorite remedies for migraine are 1) a glass of whole milk with a chocolate bar, and 2) a pinch of cayenne pepper on the tip of my tongue for 30 seconds, followed by a glass of water.

Thank you everyone for for the glowing testimonies on acv. Ive had some around for yrs and was never able to really get used to drinking it until recently I got a new job and was getting a migraine like everyday. I was taking a popular migraine over the counter pill to get rid of it and I know that it was making me sick so I thought to look on here and thier were so many positive testimonies and I wanted to get off the medicine due to the caffine in it was hurting my bladder.

The first day I did like 5 rounds of the honey with the Apple Cider Vinegar in about 8oz of water the following day like 3 rounds then 2 then none for a day or 2. Never had a migraine since. Yay!!!!

So today I took a supplement that I had an allergic reaction to, lots of sneezing and this caused my bladder to leak. My eyes were horribly itching too. So I came back here and looked up allergies and here it was again ACV the cure all. Within a half hr all the allergy symptoms were completely gone. I am very greatful for this site and wanted to contribute due to the wonderful and simple effects of the ACV. What I love best is that anyone can afford it. I have a few health books by the braggs family and they are great but I really love this site best due to the specific testimonies. Thank you Ted for everything you do to help the health challenges of so many of us. Organic mama

I woke up a few times during the night with a dull migraine. In the morning it was still there. As I had been reading about Cayenne being good for opening veins for blood flow and being good for the heart (in stopping a heart attack in its' tracks), I figured that it would be good for migraine as well. I took about 1/2 tspsn in hot water as soon as I got out of bed and the migraine vanished practically straight away. It did not return all day. Usually when I wake up with a migraine that I have had all night it stays with me all day. Anyone with heart problems should seriously research cayenne and keep some with them at all times.

I take coQ10 daily for migraines. Although I still get them the amount of them has been reduced by about 50%. Clinical trials have found coQ10 to be effective at migraine prevention. Research was released in 2004 by American Academy of Neurology. CoQ10 can be found at any health food or drugstore.

http://www.aan.com/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=185

I also use Oxygen as an abortive for cluster headaches and have found it to be helpful for migraines and hangovers. I keep an oxygen tank next to my bed. You do need a prescription from a doctor for oxygen. Oxygen is actually the recommended treatment for cluster headaches for an acute attack.

My husband read that vinegar reduced cramping in athletes - so he tried it for the leg cramps he gets from riding 40 miles on his bike. One day he suggested I try it for my frequent migraines - he thought it could affect the sodium channels that are linked to migraines. I get the kind w/ hypersensitivity to light, sound, etc., sometimes w/ naseau. Well, it's not 100%, but it works fast and helps more than other painkillers. He uses approx 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar in 2-3 TBS water. Someone should do clinical research on the sodium channel aspect as per migraines.

I had to write in since I am so amazed! Lastnight I had 2 adult beverages (light beer). I am an occasional drinker. I enjoy organic, wine, sake (Japenese wine), and light beer. I drink maybe once or twice per month. Before retiring last night after drinking the beer(was up later then usual), I drank a bottle water, some pumpkin seeds (for magnesium), and a little chocolate cake from weight watchers. I think the beer, seeds & chocolate triggered one of the worst migraines I have ever experienced. This morning I was feeling very sick with every symptom. I laid down in a quiet room and went back to sleep, awoke by a phone call and felt a tiny bit better but still had the migraine. I ate a 1/2 bagel, some sips of green tea. I got online and found this website. I went to the kitchen and whipped up 8 oz chilled water, disolved a tablespoon on organic raw honey and 2 TBS of ACV. It was a little yuk but not undoable. I downed it in 3-4 gulps. I started to get an immediate result! I went upstairs put my feet in a hot bath and placed a cool towel on the back of my neck for 5 minutes. I went back downstairs got my veggie steamer out, poured in about 2 tbs ACV and placed my face over the steamer for 5 minutes.

Conclusion, I feel 95% headache free! I am not sure if I have sinustis since I have been having seasonal allergy symptoms or if it was a combination with the alcohol and diet. I found all of above-mentioned natural remedies here on this fantastic widesite. It is my first time visiting here and I will keep it handy for sure.

I am so relieved to have found a natural remedy that so-far works amazingly!

Thank You!!!!

With a migraine, you can't take a medicine (vinegar) with something as metabolically significanty as honey and discount it as not working. I'm not saying that ACV works, but as a ten year sufferer of extreme migraines, what I do know is that sugar metabolism is intimately involved. I know that the ACV doesnt taste good, but grin, bear it, and take it on its own to evaluate its effectiveness.

Also, that goes for medicines and supplements in general. You should always start with administrations of small amounts of singular supplements and skip combinations and large amounts until you are used to what small amounts of single substances do.

DMSO and H2O2 for Migraines:

My boyfriend gets constant and debillatating migraine headaches for the past several years (about once or twice a week)... it is what first brought me to Earthclinic many months ago when I started researching. He has ever since been by guniea pig!! I think that there's a lot of it to do with nutritional defficiencies (which I am still figuring out...) but I FINALLY came up with something that works QUICK in the meantime until I figure out the root cause this treats the symptoms.

I was reading about DMSO and how it could theoretically be used to treat a stroke in an emergency, and I was thinking that headaches have similar problems of lack of oxygen to the brain... so when he came over this morning w terrible headache that had lasted all night and not been relieved by Amerge or Flova prescription migraine pills... I mixed him a cocktail of organic "Monster C" juice, about 1 cup (8 oz.) with a tiny bit (about 1/8 t. DMSO and added a few drops of food grade 35% hudrogen peroxide. We applied an icepack to his forehead and within 20 minutes the headache that had lasted for about 8 hours went away completely! So happy! Hopes this remedy helps someone else.

My mom has been suffering with migraines for over 70 years. Many times a couple times per week. Horrible pain that lasts for several hours. Had been to the doctors many times with very little relief. Since finding this site I have been giving her 8 ounces of water mixed with two tablesoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar everytime she starts to get a migraine. It has reduced the severity of the headaches by about 85%. Mom is very grateful to this site. I don't think it would be good for her to drink this everyday, so I only give it to her when she is starting to get a migraine.

I have been using Cayenne pepper to treat my Migraines. I take 2 small caps. and an over the counter pain reliever. I DO NOT take any "Migraine" Medication with Cayenne pepper. But I find that it works great. I also take cayenne pepper the day after a migrain to get rid of the remnants of it.