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 Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/18/2011
★★★★★
I had a migraine coming on yesterday.. It was getting a bad enough to need something for it... I could feel the pulsating vein in the side of my head. I decided to try cayenne pepper to see if I could stop it.
Last time I drank the cayenne mixed with hot water and I did feel a bit sick afterward so I decided to try something different.
I grabbed a pinch of cayenne and put it directly under my tongue and left it there. I thought I felt pretty quick relief as the pulsating vein seemed to be less noticeable, but the pain was still there. I added a pinch of cayenne a few more times under my tongue, swallowing the excess cayenne along the way. Doesn't taste too good but better than a whole cup of hot cayenne tea. It is a bit painful and you do salivate a lot. I also put a pinch of cayenne directly on the tip of my tongue and left it there.
Well I can say it got slowly better and then vanished (within 1/2 an hour to an hour). Normally it would just get worse until I take about 3 panadol.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sam (Toronto, On) on 06/13/2011
Do not take it with Honey. Take ACV alone.
Alka Seltzer
Posted by Anitha (Dublin, Oh, Usa) on 06/11/2011
★★★★★
I have been a regular reader of this site and find the remedies very helpful. Thought I would add my remedy I stumbled upon by accident for migraine. Alka Seltzer, when taken before a full-blown migraine if you are someone that gets nausea during migraine helps relieve it. I have been suffereing from migraine for many years now and getting hold of ACV, baking soda etc is not always convenient. Trying to see if AC Gold without aspirin would have the same effect.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by C (Philadelphia, Pa) on 06/01/2011
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.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Ck (Erie, Pa) on 05/01/2011
★★★★★
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!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Organic Mama (Minneola, Fl) on 04/15/2011
★★★★★
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
Supplements
Posted by Kat (Lax, Ca) on 04/02/2011
★★★★★
Once I hit my early fourties I notices I started having migraines every month, some would last for over three days! Anyhow, I noticed it was right around the time of my cycle. I've seen all the specialist and tried some things. I really wanted something easy and natural, that I can take when I'm traveling. A Naturopathic medicine doctor , she suggested BUTTERBUR extract. I take a few when I feel the slight pressure in my head, and I know it is an early sign of migraine coming on. Anyhow, BUTTERBUR extract apparently increases circulation in the brain. This has been truly amazing! No more migraines! Hopefully, BUTTERBUR extract will help other be cured of migraines.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dorothea (Waynesville, Nc) on 03/22/2011
★★★★★
ACV definitely helps with my migraines, which start in the back of my neck and creep through my head into the forehead. Nothing helped anymore unless I'd take something so strong that it could be dealt on the street. Not my cup of thea though and I drive a school bus! I tried the 2-3 tbsp. ACV in about 8 oz of water with a little honey. It really tastes good, like tart apple juice. Anyway about 20 minutes later my migraine/headache was considerably better and I could think straight again and the fatigue that usually comes with this headache was gone. I drink the concoction now everyday at least once and more whenever needed.
Thanks to all who recommended it!
Chiropractic
Posted by Heather (Archdale, North Carolina) on 01/25/2011
★★★★★
Migraines began with cycle but progressed into 14-day long periods of pain, nausea and light sensitivity. They do run in my family. Tried ACV, magnesium, riboflavin and elimination of caffeine to no avail. My chiropractor did a nerve study and I began an aggressive series of 48 visits starting at 3 times per week. I am 99% better! I might have 1 migraine every 3 months now, which is still usually cyclic and they are not at their previous intensity.
NSAID + Real Coke
Posted by Migraineur (Vallejo, Ca) on 01/25/2011
★★★★★
I am 49 and have been having migraines for 23 yrs. I recently spoke to a neurologist who told me to take a large dose NSAID I.E. Ibuprophen, relafen, etc. And drink a real Coca Cola (Coke) not a knock off or Pepsi. I prefer Mexican Coke because it has real sugar in it not high fructose corn syrup. It really works! The doc explained that the carbonation speeds the NSAID into the system and the caffeine in the Coke helps, too. He did not advise diet Coke because it has been known to trigger migraines.
Good luck and feel better!
5-HTP
Posted by Claus (Osaka) on 12/24/2010
★★★★★
I have had migraine problems for over 15 years. After I took 5-HTP once a day, not even 1 migraine. Of course there are many causes for migraines. But this might help someone.
Cayenne
Posted by Dee (Melbourne, Australia) on 12/24/2010
★★★★★
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.
Oats
Posted by Zee (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) on 12/20/2010
★★★★★
I too suffer red from menstrual migraine a week before and after my period for the past 20 years. One day I had a sudden urge to eat oats. So I started taking it every morning for breakfast for 2 weeks. When my menstrual cycle came, the migraine was completely gone. I also make sure that I have enough sleep cos lack of sleep would also trigger the migraine.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mia (Lyons, Ny) on 11/10/2010
★★★★☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I have occassionally have migraines. They usually are accompanied by the usual light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, etc. Yesterday I began to have an aura (preceeds the migraine) with vision disturbances, light sensitivity, and nausea. I tried the apple cider vinegar remedy and I felt better within about half an hour. I probably would have felt better much sooner but the apple cider vinegar itself makes my stomach feel not so good. Once the apple cider vinegar stomach upset was gone all my other symptoms were gone with it and no headache occured.
Gunpowder Tea
Posted by Soph (New York, NY) on 11/05/2010
★★★★★
I suffer from menstrual migraines once a month. The city here has a cool tea shop so I bought some GunPowder Tea. This tea it truly works and I feel fortunate to have found the remedy for my migraines.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Giulietta (Gandia, Spain) on 11/04/2010
My latest findings about migraines:And I am much much better. There are lots of underlying problems which lead to migraines so if you resolve them (or go towards resolving them)then the migraines will be less strong and fewer or you might be able to avoid them altogether. There are 4 main problems
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
Paper Bag Technique
Posted by Betty - Re/max Palm Springs Ca (Palm Springs , California) on 10/17/2010
I have had terrible migraines weekly for over 40 years I now take 1 CoQ10 and 2 feverfew every morning I have had only three migraines in the past year. Hope this helps my son and daughter in law live in Sykesville.
Remedies to Prevent Migraines
Posted by Giulietta (Gandia, Spain) on 09/29/2010
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)
CoQ10
Posted by Rachael (Naples, Fl, Usa) on 09/29/2010
★★★★☆
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.
Icelandic Vodka
Posted by Jewel (Newcastle Upon Tyne, Uk) on 09/27/2010
★★★★★
I have to agree with the vodka trick. After many years of being a migraine sufferer my doctor told me of this trick that her grandmother used to use. I looked at her in shock, this was a doctor who was at the end of medical remedies for me and said to just try it. It has to be good vodka, and not cheap nasty stuff mixed with chemicals. Next time I had the flashing lights and the sick feeling I had a neat double vodka, (I hate neat vodka) Disgusting. Within 5 minutes the flashing zig zags subsided and the pain was to a minimum, at least something I could cope with until I got home from work ( I am a teacher) then I could go to bed to sleep as migraine makes me extremely tired. So give it a try. I always have a tiny bottle of vodka in my bag "just in case".
Niacin
Posted by Tom (Regina, Sk) on 09/18/2010
★★★★★
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.
