Migraine Remedies and Symptoms

More than 29 million people in the US suffer from migraines, twenty percent experience an aura before the pain begins. Prescription migraine remedies include the use of ergotamine with caffeine, rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), frovatriptan (Frova), almotriptan (Axert), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). Natural migraine remedies include feverfew, Butterbur, magnesium and 5-HTP.

Migraines generally last from four to seventy two hours and include the following symptoms :

• Throbbing or pulsating severe pain on one side of the head


• Sensitivity or sound and/or light


• Nausea, may be accompanied by vomiting


• Pain increases with physical activity
  

Auras may include light flashes, blind spots in vision, tingling in one leg or arm.

For a diagnosis of migraine the following conditions must be met :

The headache must have at least two of the following

• pain on one side of the head


• pulsating or throbbing


• moderate to severe pain


• pain worse on physical activity or causes the patient to avoid their usual physical activity

While the headache is occurring at least one of the following must be present :

• Nausea with or without vomiting


• Photophobia (sensitivity to light) or phonophobia (sensitivity to sound)
  

Other symptoms in addition to these may accompany the migraine including loss of appetite, numbness, weakness and fatigue. After an attack there may be neck pain, sleepiness and mental dullness.

Migraine Triggers

Migraines can be triggered by a wide range of factors and vary considerably from person to person. If you suffer from migraines if would be a good idea to keep a diary to try to identify your own triggers. Some of the triggering factors include :

• Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or perfumes


• Allergic reactions


• Changes in sleep patterns


• Physical or emotional stress


• Skipping meals


• Smoking or exposure to smoke


• Menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, hormone fluctuations during the menopause transition


• Alcohol


• Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami)


• Tension headaches


• aspartame


• Other foods such as nuts, peanut butter,chocolate, avocado, banana, onions, citrus, dairy products, and pickled or fermented foods.
  

Some studies however have found no correlation between some of the foods popularly supposed to induce migraines including chocolate, cheese, histamine, tyramine, nitrates, or nitrites. Some studies suggest that dehydration, alcohol and caffeine withdrawal and missing, meals were important triggers.

Migraine Remedies

Migraine should be diagnosed by a doctor who will advise on the best course of treatment, there are however some things you can try to help with the pain.

An ice pack on the side of the head that is affected can reduce the pain

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) has a long tradition of being used for the treatment of headaches. Results of clinical studies are mixed about its effectiveness. I have personally used feverfew and found it to be effective.

Cut our aspertame from your diet. I can personally testify that after having suffered with migraines for over twenty years I stopped using any products containing aspertame (for a different reason). In over five years since I stopped using aspertame I have had NO migraines.

Other natural migraine remedies will be explored in future articles.

Natural Migraine Remedies

There are some migraine remedies that you can try at home, however if you suffer from migraines you should always consult a medical practitioner for diagnosis and treatment. Many natural remedies have a long history of use in the relief of migraines. Some natural remedies for migraine are detailed below.

Feverfew - Tanacetum parthenium

Feverfew is a natural migraine cure that has been used for many years for the relief of arthritis, fever and pain. It has increased in popularity since the 1980's as an alternative to drug treatment. Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of feverfew in reducing the frequency and the pain associated with migraine. One study of 170 sufferers showed a significant decrease in the frequency of migraines from 1.9 migraines a month to 1.3. However other studies have not shown this effect and others have mixed results. If you suffer from migraines it is worth trying feverfew and seeing if it helps to reduce the frequency of your attacks.

Feverfew does have some side effects including abdominal problems such as gas, nausea, vomiting and pain. Also people who are allergic to ragweed, yarrow or chamomile should not take feverfew. If you have a bleeding disorder or take any blood thinning medicines such as warfarin or aspirin you should consult a medical practitioner before you take feverfew. The safety of using feverfew if you are pregnant or nursing has not been established.


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5-HTP - 5-Hydroxytryptophan

5-HTP is produced from tryptophan, an amino acid, in the body and is used in the production of melatonin and serotonin. research has indicated that 5-HTP is a migraine remedy that can reduce the severity of attacks although only a limited number of studies have been done to date.

5-HTP can be purchased as a supplement and is made from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia which is native to parts of Africa.

Magnesium

Some studies have shown that magnesium may have use as a migraine remedy. Magnesium is needed for many biochemical processes in the body including regulation of blood sugar levels and blood pressure, heart rhythm and for normal muscle and nerve function. Magnesium is a mineral found naturally in foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains and in nutritional supplements.

Some studies have shown that magnesium supplements may help to reduce the frequency of migraines. In one study of sufferers taking 600mg a day the frequency was reduced by 41.6%. Some people in the study suffered some digestive irritation and diarrhoea. Not all studies have shown as high a decrease as this however so more studies are needed before it is proved conclusively that magnesium will decrease the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

Some side effects of high dosage of magnesium include loss of appetite, nausea, low blood pressure and irregular heart beat. Some medications that can be affected by magnesium include some antibiotics, treatments for osteoporosis, diuretics, muscle relaxants and high blood pressure medications. Always consult a medical practitioner before taking a magnesium supplement.

Butterbur - Petasites hybridus

Butterbur is a herb found in Asia, Europe and North America and has been used as a migraine remedy for many years. The herb has also been used to allergies, asthma and stomach cramps for many years. Some studies have shown that butterbur is effective in treating migraines. In one study involving 245 migraine sufferers 50 or 75 mgs of butterbur extract were taken twice a day for four months. Results show that taking 75mgs a day was effective in reducing the severity and frequency of migraines.

Side effects of butterbur include indigestion, nausea, headache, constipation and diarrhoea. The safety of butterbur for the use of pregnant or nursing women and for children has not been determines. You should not take butterbur is you have liver or kidney disease. Butterbur is a member of the ragweed family so if you are allergic to ragweed, daisy, chrysanthemum or marigold you should not take butterbur. The raw herb contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids so should not be used as these are toxic and may cause cancer of the liver or kidneys. These should be extracted from the butterbur before use.


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Natural Migraine Cures

Natural migraine cures are sought out by many people who do not like to take drugs which have side effects and only offer temporary relief. Among the natural migraine cures that have been tried herbal supplements, nutritional therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment biofeedback. People may vary in their response to these cures as everyone is different and the factors contribution to migraine headaches vary from person to person. some of the most successful natural migraine cures are detailed below. You should always consult your doctor before undertaking any of these cures.

Chiropractic adjustment

Chiropractic adjustment can align neck bones that may be pressing on nerves causing irritation that can lead to migraine attacks. They can also help to relieve muscle tension in this area. Studies have shown that as many as 80% of sufferers gained relief with this method.

Neck exercises

Next exercises can be used to relieve the tension in the muscles of the neck which can lead to reduced blood flow to the brain. This oxygen deprivation can then trigger a migraine attack.

Controlling Blood Sugar with Diet

Migraines can be related to low blood sugar. This can be caused by eating too many foods containing refined sugar which, although initially raising blood sugar, causes a subsequent drop when insulin is released to deal with a high concentration of sugar in the blood. The very low level of blood sugar thing causes many natural chemicals to be released into the blood which can trigger a migraine attack. It is preferable to keep the blood sugar level without these highs and lows. To do this follow the guidelines below:

• Avoid refined foods that contain sugar including honey and other syrups


• Avoid alcohol


• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and avoid dried fruits


• Eat regularly. Small meals eaten regularly a much better than one or two very large meals daily


• Always eat protein when you eat complex carbohydrates (starches)
  

Avoid Foods That Trigger Your Migraine

there are many different foods that have been shown to trigger migraines, but you will need to find out for yourself your own migraine triggers. One way to do this is to keep a diary of your food intake so you can correlate it with attacks. There are blood tests available and can be used to find foods that you are reacting to. Some foods contain amines have been shown to cause migraines, as amines constrict blood vessels leading to the attack. Amines are found in foods such as chocolate, potatoes, pineapples, tomatoes, cheese, wine, beer, yeast extracts and many more.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

some migraine sufferers have low levels of magnesium in their cells. Supplements of magnesium in the form of magnesium citrate have been used with success.
Chromium has also been shown below and people with poor blood sugar control. Low blood sugar can lead to migraine attack. Supplements of chromium may help blood sugar control.
Vitamin B3 can be used to prevent migraine as it is a vasodilator and opens up the blood vessels which are constricted during a migraine attack.
Omega 3 oils may help people suffering from migraine attacks as some trials have shown good results with migraine sufferers taking high doses.

Herbal Cures for Migraine

Feverfew has been shown to help prevent migraine attacks is taken for a few months. It is an anti-inflammatory and is thought to prevent constriction of the blood vessels in the head.
Butterbur has also been found to prevent migraine attacks is taken for at least four weeks. It is thought to work by relaxing blood vessels and preventing the formation of histamine.

Conclusion

Natural migraine cures can really help the frequency and severity of migraine attacks but always consult your doctor before you use any of the above migraine relief treatments.