Migraine Headaches

information on nutrients, diet, lifestyle & research on treatment

There are a number of treatment modalities such as acupuncture and massage, along with targeted nutrients that can help prevent and/or reduce the intensity of migraine headaches.

Review recommended supplements.
Review discussion of treatment options.

Migraine afflicts 28 million Americans, with females suffering more frequently (17%) than males (6%). Migraine headaches still remain largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. Less than half of individuals with migraine are diagnosed by their doctors.

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. Its general action is to mobilize the body's nervous system fight-or-flight response.

Symptoms

Early symptoms may include the "seeing" of auras, flashes of lights or vague shapes. (Also see ocular migraines.) Some lose vision temporarily to one side. Other early symptoms can include: dizziness, tingling or numbness in the fingertips or weakness to one side.

Full onset of symtoms include severe head pain, sometimes accompanied by nausea leading to vomiting, acute sensitivity to noise and light.

Symptoms can last anywhere from a few minutes or hours to days.

Nutritional Supplements for Migraine Headaches

These are the most important supplements and recommendations for migraine relief.

Shopping Tips

On a tight budget?

Here's our single most important recommendation:
Doctor's Choice: Butterbur Extra 120 caps (BUTT7) - Butterbur Extra 120 caps (BUTT7)

Essential: Butterbur Extra 120 caps (BUTT7) - Butterbur Extra 120 caps (BUTT7)

Essential: Carlsons Finest Omega-3 Fish Oil (500 ml) (FINE2) - Omega-3 500 ml Liquid - Natural Lemon Flavor (FINE2)

Essential: Magnesium (Triple) 250 mg 90 caps (MAG37) - Triple Magnesium 250 mg 90 caps (MAG37)

Essential: Vitamin B (whole food) Complex 90 tabs (BCO38) - Vitamin B Complex (whole food) Formula 90 tabs (BCO38

Helpful: CoQsol-CF (CoQ10) w/ Tocotrienols 60 gels - CoQsol-CF with Tocotrienols 60 gels

Causes of Migraines

Though the causes of not directly known, the following are triggers for many sufferers: stress, specific odors, fluorescent lights, teeth clenching, sleep deprivation, low blood sugar levels, hormonal changes, caffeine, and specific foods including chocoloate, aged cheeses, tyramine (found in wine, beer, sauerkraut and dry sausages, foods containing nitrites, monosodium glutamate and/or aspartame.

Conventional Treatment

Abortive - to stop the migraine headache at the beginning of symptoms. Abortive drugs include the triptans, which specifically target serotonin. These drugs include:

Almotriptan (Axert)
Eletriptan (Relpax)
Frovatriptan (Frova)
Naratriptan (Amerge, Naramig)
Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
Sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet)
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)

The following drugs are also used for treatment.

Acetaminophen -isometheptene-dichloralphenazone (Midrin)
Dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45 Injection, Migranal Nasal Spray)
Ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot)
Over-the-counter medications such as Advil Migraine (containing ibuprofen), Excedrin Migraine (containing aspirin, acetaminophen, caffeine), and Motrin Migraine Pain (containing ibuprofen)

The following drugs are mainly used for nausea related to migraine headaches in addition to migraine treatment:

Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

Self Help for Migraines

Alternative healing practices can help prevent and even relieve an active migraine including: acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, aromatherpy, cranial sacral, biofeedback therapy and massage. Other actions that can help include ice packs, relaxing in a warm, dark room, nutritional therapy, elimination of food allergies.

Drink plenty of water, massage acupressure points including the following: in the middle of the eyebrow (yinyao), the temples (GB1), 1/2 inch above the middle/top part of the ears (GB5 area), and in the indentation under the cranium (GB20)

Also, releasing the tight neck and shoulder (trapezius) muscles will greatly relieve the migraine symptoms.