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Some Popular Alternative Migraine Treatments

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:42:24 +0000

Alyssa Nair asked:

Anyone that suffers from frequent and persistent migraine headaches may be ready to try just about anything to get them to stop, and to keep them from every coming back. Between the pain, the nausea, and the dizziness, sufferers often find themselves willing to try just about any of the migraine treatments that are available to them. In this article we’ll list some of the most effective treatments, and some that are considered “alternative” but that seem to work for many.

Beta blockers are among the most common migraine treatments prescribed today. They work by slowing down the heartbeat and were originally designed to treat high blood pressure; the slower the heartbeat, the lower the blood pressure. Many have found that they are very effective as migraine treatments as well, as they slow the nerve impulses that may trigger migraines. If you’ve been prescribed beta blockers, be sure to follow your doctor’s order completely.

Another medicine that is usually prescribed for high blood pressure but that works as effective migraine treatments are calcium channel blockers. These cause the blood vessels to relax, which is how they affect blood pressure and relieve migraines. Like beta blockers, calcium channel blockers need to be taken exactly as prescribed.

There are other migraine treatments that are not as harsh as these and which don’t require a prescription. For example, one study in Belgium found that persons who took Vitamin B2 daily had about 30% fewer migraines than they did before. Feverfew leaf is one of the most common homeopathic migraine treatments, and is also used to treat arthritis. It seems to work as an anti-inflammatory agent and controls the release of serotonin, which is believed to contribute to migraines.

Botox injections are quickly becoming popular migraine treatments. As they paralyze the nerves, they prevent them from sparking a migraine headache. While there is still much debate over the use of Botox injections as migraine treatments, many who have tried them have reported that they do seem to work. If all other options have failed, you may speak to your doctor about them.

Acupuncture is another of those migraine treatments that is still considered alternative. This may be because it is still unclear to many doctors and scientists as to why acupuncture works the way that it does. Many experts assert that it is really nothing more than suggestive and has no real medical value. However, many who have tried it report that it does work, and since it seems to do no harm, it can be considered as an option for those who have tried everything else, or who do not want to try harsh medicines.

Of course, preventing a migraine in the first place is always one of the best migraine treatments there is. If you know that a particular set of circumstances will trigger a migraine in you, such as certain foods, bright lights, and undue stress, do what you can to avoid or reduce these. Take up a relaxing hobby such as yoga or meditation and mind your diet. After all, what’s the point of researching migraine treatments if you won’t do what you can to prevent them from happening in the first place?

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How to Deal With Migraine Headaches

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:44:37 +0000

Kathy Runyon asked:

If you have ever had a migraine headache, you never want to have another one. If you have never had a migraine, those who have would say that you pray you never do. Unlike other headaches, a migraine can be debilitating to the degree that a person can not work or perform normal tasks. Read more for some tips on how to deal with migraine headaches.

The first and foremost thing you need to do if you suffer from migraines is to determine what triggers them. This could be only one thing, but is most likely a combination of triggers. Here are a few common examples:

Caffeine, alcohol, aged cheese, and meat products containing nitrates are known culprits. Sleep deprivation can also trigger a migraine. Keep a diary of sleep habits and foods that you are eating to see if there is a correlation in what triggers your migraines. Hormone changes can also act as triggers for headaches, so women should keep careful account of their menstrual cycle to see if this triggers their migraine headaches.

So you still get migraines after you have cut back or eliminated the bad foods in your life and are getting plenty of sleep?

OK, there are a couple natural remedies you can try.

Magnesium is a natural mineral that opens constricted blood vessels, slows down inflammation of blood vessels, and helps in the interruption of neurotransmitters that can lead to your migraine. Magnesium comes in a variety of chemical formulations. The best found to work with migraines is magnesium oxide or chelated magnesium.

Riboflavin is a vitamin (B-2) that is vital in the needed function of mitochondria, which is the energy generator inside cells. There have been studies that show that high doses of riboflavin, 400 mg daily, can reduce not only the severity, but also frequency of migraines.

Feverfew is a folk remedy that has been around for over a century. In recent studies, it has been found to be effective in the in preventing migraines. Although it is not known quite how it works, it is believed to disrupt the inflammation that that triggers headaches.

Aside from natural remedies such as vitamins and herbs, the best known remedy for migraines is to sleep it off. Seclude yourself in a dark, quiet room and relax. If you have to be up and about, try to keep the light level low. Bright lights, especially bright sunlight, will aggravate any headache, and especially a migraine.

If you do find yourself needing to take a pain reliever, take it as soon as the headache starts so to minimize the duration of the pain. You may need to consult with your doctor to get a prescription to get a pain reliever that is more potent than OTC pain medicines.

Check with your doctor before beginning any natural drug therapies for migraine headaches to be sure that there are no negative drug interactions. How to deal with migraine headaches can be a pain, but there are solutions out there for you to get rid of the pain and get on with your life.

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Natural Migraine Relief Using Vitamins, Minerals, And Herbs

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:29:42 +0000

Many people in our modern society rely on pills for every ache and pain they encounter. Some say this is due to the widespread use of illegal drugs that began in the 1960′s. Whether or not that is so, it is true that pharmaceutical companies are making great amounts of money through the sale of prescription drugs. Many of those drugs are being used for migraine relief.

Natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs is, to some, a better route. These migraineurs would rather not put chemicals into their bodies unless absolutely necessary. Just as they want no chemicals added to the soil or the air around them, they want to rely on natural migraine relief.

What to Try

If you choose natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs, you will want to consider the following possibilities.

1. Vitamin B2: Also known as riboflavin, vitamin B2 is said to produce dramatic migraine relief. In a 3-month study of 55 people with migraine headaches, it was found that riboflavin can make a significant difference in the number of migraines you have and the length of each attack. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that a daily dose of about 400 mg. of vitamin B2 over a period of 2 months or more gave remarkable migraine relief. Most of those who participated in this study saw the number of their migraines decrease by about 50 percent. The total number of days they suffered migraine also went down by 50 percent. While a larger study is needed, these results are encouraging to those who want natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs alone.

2. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan): 5-HTP (a natural supplement) is not found in appreciable amounts in food. This supplement is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant, the scientific name of which is Griffonia simplicifolia. The supplement 5-HTP works, at least in part, by raising serotonin levels. Since the body uses 5-HTP to make serotonin, it is thought that providing the body with 5-HTP might raise serotonin levels. In a 6-month trial of 124 people, a daily dose of 600 mg. of 5-HTP proved just as effective as the standard migraine relief drug, methysergide. The most impressive benefits were decreases in the intensity of migraine, and decreases in how long the migraine lasted. Since earlier studies proved that methysergide was better than a placebo for migraine headaches, this scientific study gives meaningful evidence that 5-HTP is also effective. Those who are seeking natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs may want to try this supplement.

3. Magnesium: In the realm of minerals, magnesium is a promising natural for migraine relief. Magnesium occurs naturally in many of our foods: fish, nuts, seeds, soybeans, whole grains, and vegetables. The effectiveness of magnesium for migraine relief has been the subject of several studies. In one study, 81 people with migraine headaches received either a daily dose of 600 mg. of magnesium or a placebo. At the end of the 9-week study, those taking magnesium daily found they had nearly 50 percent fewer headaches. The placebo group had a reduction of just under 16 percent. Similar studies indicate that magnesium reduces not only the frequency of migraine headaches, but also the seriousness of the attacks. More studies are needed, but magnesium is thought to help prevent blood vessel spasms. You may want to try this mineral for migraine relief.

4. Butterbur: Migraine relief in children is often effected with this herb. As reported in a 2005 issue of “Headache” regarding migraine, butterbur gives migraine relief. Of several studies done, the largest involved 245 people. Over a period of 4 months, these migraineurs took either a placebo or a twice-daily 50-75 mg. dose of butterbur extract. At the end of the study, it was found that the larger dose of butterbur gave greater migraine relief than the placebo. Side effects were mild, making this an option to consider for natural migraine relief.

5. Feverfew: Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is one herb that has provided natural migraine relief for many centuries, or so people have believed. Feverfew relieves pain and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It treats migraine by inhibiting the platelets’ release of blood vessel-dilating substances. It also inhibits the production of inflammatory substances. The scientific community has run several studies to evaluate feverfew’s effectiveness in giving migraine relief. One study involving 170 people offered either a placebo or a feverfew extract for migraine relief. Those who took feverfew were found to have significantly fewer migraine headaches per month than those taking the placebo. The frequency with feverfew decreased by 1.9 migraines; with the placebo by 1.3 migraines. It is important for you to know that not every study indicates that feverfew is effective. Results are mixed.

CAUTION: Before relying on natural migraine relief using vitamins, minerals, and herbs, seek the advice of a qualified health care provider. These natural remedies are not for everyone. Feverfew, for example, may interact with blood-thinning medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs).

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