Migraines
Natural Remedies

Natural Remedies for Migraines

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Cayenne
Posted by Christie (Houston, TX) on 03/20/2009
★★★★★

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.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Miriam (Racine, USA) on 10/05/2008
★★★★★

I just though I would let your readers know that I just started the ACV remedy daily regiment to prevent migraines as I am weaning off my daily meds (that were causing hearing loss after 5 years on them!!). So far so good! I will say that w/o the honey, I couldn't pallette the taste, so I mixed it with La Croix (but any brand UNSWEETENED) Lime water. It is carbonated and tastes slightly sweet even though it has no artificial sweetners (a must for any migraine folks). For some reason it really cuts the "yuck" factor considerably!

Just a tip! Saved me and now I am working the cure!


CoQ10
Posted by CD (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 08/12/2008
★★★★★

COQ10 & Riboflavin for Migraine:

I was really happy to see this site! I didn't see anything about these 2 supplements. My son has been suffering with migraines now for a year and 1/2 and we have seen a host of specialists. His neurologist ran a blood test to test for these 2 nutient levels because he said they actually help prevent migraines. My sons levels were extremely low. I just wanted to post this as a great migraine preventative. We have definitly seen an improvement.

Coconut Oil
Posted by Sandy (Bangalore, India) on 11/29/2007
★★★★★

Dear Earthclinic, Thank you for putting up such a fabulously informative site. I am a daily visitor. After reading some virtues of coconut oil on your site, I decided to drink it daily for weight loss. Well, I began to notice that if I had a couple of teaspoons coconut oil in the morning with my breakfast, then I didnt get acidity the entire day. Also, I didnt get migraines that day. I am quite susceptible to migraines close to my periods. So during those days, I have a couple of teaspoonfuls twice/thrice a day, and dont get migraines that day. In fact, I now carry a small bottle of coconut oil in my purse, and drink some of it if I start feeling a migraine coming on, or if I start feeling nauseous(sign of acidity)--after drinking the oil I burp (because of acid base neutalization and subsequent gas release, I guess), and my acidity/migraine goes off.If I am home, I may drink the coconut oil with some cold milk--helps immensely. If I am out, I drink the coconut oil by itself, and just drink some water on top of it to take the oil taste off my mouth. Ever since I started taking coconut oil (thanks to earthclinic), I have been free of migraines and acidity nausea. My facial skin had open pores previously--the pores have closed now (!!) since drinking coconut oil and skin looks moisturized. Thanks again.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ginnie (Jeffersonville, Indiana) on 08/04/2007
★★★★★

I was having problems with acid reflux, migraines, and yeast infections. For over a year now I have been taking 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar right before bed and I have not had problems since. The doctor was going to put me on medicine for my acid reflux, and since I started taking the acv, the medication is not needed.


Gunpowder Tea
Posted by Kim (Marlborough, MA) on 11/14/2006
★★★★★

Cider Vinegar did NOT cure my migraine. Did not even touch it. Several years ago I used to use this Chinese tea called 'Gunpowder'. After having a migraine, going to ER and they helped a little bit, and continuing the migraine for 11 days straight, I went to an Asian store and bought some Gunpowder tea. My migraine went away within 20 minutes. I think it might be a good idea for someone to post this information about Chinese Gunpowder tea. I also use it for any pain and it get's rid of the pain within 20 minutes, colds, same thing. Thank you very much.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Uma (Gibraltar, Spain) on 11/12/2006
★★★★★

I take ACV 2TBS in 8oz water taking sips all through the day. I was bloated all month and had water retention 10 days before my period. I was miserable i tried everything , diet change , pills homeopathic, and my husband is a physician and he gave all kind of medicines but still everything just could not solve my problem. i was annoyed all the time because i do not know what my exact size was and i was restless all the time , never comfortable, in sitting or lying down. Then looking for cure on internet in homeopathy somebody mentioned earth clinic, and i went to the site, and from that day my life changed. After reading about ACV I got up and mix one TS in one glass of water and without thinking i drank it . After 10 minutes my head suddenly clear and then my migraine was gone which I have been having for the last 10 years every week and i do not know how many pandols i have taken for that.----Well for the last 2 months, I am bloat free, water retention free, migraine free, and i am feeling comfortable for the first time in last 10 years. I have lost 10 pounds and I know my exact size now. Plus I had very bad dandruff and hair acne and twice a week I have been washing my hair with ACV and after two months I am free of dandruff and acne. There was no change initially except my migraine was gone but suddenly after one month before my periods i started noticing changes. No bloatedness and water retention and i had lost weight. I am thankful to all of u, whoever started this site. This has truly helped me. My doctor husband cannot believe it.

Just try it. Even if u don't see results initially it will show some benefits, later. I am hooked for life and i am giving it to my teenager son and daughter.


Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Karen (Union, KY) on 11/09/2006
★★★★★

This is the first time I've tried this for my monthly migraine, which I have had for several years. Nothing I tried seem to prevent this from happening, I could only medicate after it started. This is the first time I haven't had one after using the Molasses. I took a couple of spoonfuls in the morning and took it to work and used a couple of times during the day. I use an organic unsulphered brand. So glad I have found this, no more migraine this month. I really can't believe this, still waiting to see if one comes on.


Coffee + Lemon Juice
Posted by Vanessa (Lisbon, Portugal) on 11/06/2006
★★★★★

I started suffering from migraines a few years ago and I had tried almost all natural cures I found in books, sites (I tried almost all cures listed in this site) etc.. I was desperate the migraines were getting worst there were days I could not even got up from bed. While visiting my grandma I mentioned the migraines and she told me to try coffee with a few drops of lemon. Since I don't like coffee and had tried almost everything I thought it wasn't something as simple as a cup of coffee that would make me feel better. One day I was so desperate that I remind that and thought I had nothing to lose trying it. I drank a cup of coffee with 5/6 drops of lemon and it was like a miracle the migraine was gone in 15 minutes. I hope this could help people who, like me, suffers from bad migraines and their bodies don't react well to other cures.


Ketogenic Diet
Posted by Art (California) on 03/08/2023 2979 posts

Denise,

The vitamin D and ALA are noted for helping with migraines in some people :

https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-020-01090-w#:~:text=According to the current findings, probably through attenuating CGRP levels.

Here is a relevant quote :

' According to the current findings, vitamin D supplementation in episodic migraineurs, particularly in those with migraine with aura, may potentially improve migraine headache characteristics and disability probably through attenuating CGRP levels. '

https://www.mdedge.com/migraine-icymi/article/251102/headache-migraine/therapeutic-alpha-lipoic-acid-supplementation-may

Art


Celery Juice
Posted by Naturalhealth (New York, New York ) on 07/11/2018
★★★★★

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.


Mind Over Migraine Remedy
Posted by Susan (Upstate Ny) on 05/13/2018
★★★★★

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.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Barbara (Aiken, South Carolina) on 03/30/2017 23 posts

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.


Botox
Posted by Timh (Ky) on 04/14/2016 2041 posts

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.


Magnesium
Posted by Guy (Toronto) on 03/17/2016
★★★★★

Magnesium supplement taken daily will prevent migraines even when chronic lifelong recurrence has been the norm. In some cases, it also dramatically increases the ability to sleep soundly where this has been a concurrent issue though improved sleep is a benefit experienced by a minority of migraine sufferers using supplementary magnesium.


Trigger Point Massage
Posted by Jon (Miami) on 09/12/2015
★★★★★

My friend had a migraine so bad that he threw up. I was pretty concerned for him, and knew that migraines often start at the base of the skull, where the neck muscles attach. So I had him rest his head completely on just my thumb and index finger, and after a minute, his pain was gone.

There are massage devices that you can buy on Amazon that do this, or perhaps try putting two tennis balls in a sock so they don't roll away. Hope everyone feels better!


5-HTP
Posted by Melissa (Phoenix, Az) on 09/16/2014
★☆☆☆☆

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. :)

B Complex
Posted by Tiffany (Northern California) on 02/24/2014
★★★★★

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!!!



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