5 Natural Remedies for Migraines

By Jennie Doris, Natural Solutions

Imagine wearing a football helmet that’s too tight. Add to that upset stomach, blurred vision, and flashing lights. This is a migraine—a type of headache one memoirist described as feeling like “God just punched you in the side of the face.”

In the simplest terms, migraines are caused by the brain’s blood vessels enlarging and stimulating nerve endings. Most migraine sufferers (75 percent are women) experience more than one symptom. And the triggers are just as varied—from bright lights to stress to changes in hormones. Mary Gustafson, 30, of Chicago says that if she sneezes too many times or watches a 3D movie, she can get a migraine.

With that many triggers and symptoms, “it’s a bit of a detective game trying to find the cause,” says Brent Mathieu, ND, of Boise, Idaho. He suggests that patients first remove possible food allergies and emotional stressors. But if migraines persist, he says, they may be the result of more complicated issues: hormonal imbalances, toxins in the body, or inflammation.

1. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
This herb treats migraine pain by interrupting its main cause: inflammatory reactions in your head that aggravate nerve endings and cause the blood vessels to expand. When taken daily, feverfew can prevent migraines, according to Gene Bruno, a nutritionist in New York City, as well as “reduce their severity, duration, and frequency.” Be patient: The results can take four to six weeks. But if you stop taking it, your migraines might return.

Take: Bruno suggests 500 to 600 mg of standardized feverfew daily to treat or prevent migraines. Take two equal portions of feverfew on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.

2. Omega-3s
During a migraine, the tissue surrounding the brain becomes inflamed. That’s why Roy Upton, herbalist and executive director
of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, suggests taking omega-3 fatty acids, which lessen cells’ reaction to inflammation.

Take: 4,000 to 6,000 mg of fish oil daily with meals for best absorption. After eight to 12 weeks (if the migraines have stabilized), you can adjust the dose to 1,000 mg per day.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Margriet M.

1:49AM PDT on Aug 19, 2011

My migraines are also very triggered by changes in barometric pressure. Not good, because in this country, Belgium, it changes all the time...:(

send a green star

CollieGirl c.

4:07AM PST on Nov 30, 2010

Maria, go to a Health Store. You will find some things in grocery and drug stores, but you are best to talk to them in a health store and you will also find more pure products there. Any problems for myself and for my pets, I am at the health store.

4:01AM PST on Nov 30, 2010

I have not heard of the last 3. My migraines started when I was 17 after a car accident. I got them every week with serious vomiting. Going to a chiropractor can help get rid of them. Many triggers not mentioned here. Cheese, wine, MSG, chocolate, barometric pressure, stress, etc. Even a strong flash of sunlight in your eyes can trigger a migraine. Migraines are also inherited. Triggers vary for people and you must find out what yours are. Routine is crucial - getting up and going to bed and eating at the same time every day. Many people suffer from weekend migraines from sleeping in and missing their early morning coffee. My migraines were so severe by the time I was 25 I was passing out from them. When I disciplined myself into sticking to 'time' routines, going to the chiropractor regularly, seriously getting into vitamins and herbs, and controlling being very upset and very excited about something, it helped immensely.
One woman I know was given an old anti-depressant drug called Amitrytilline, that literally got rid of her migraines.
You need to do the work yourself to find out what works for you. Don't just depend on Doctors and drugs helping you.
You can also go to the emergency when you have a wicked migraine. They will give you a shot, which takes effect immediately. Your doctor can give you a prescription to take immediately when you feel a migraine starting, which helps, but it is extremely expensive.

Maria R.

10:33PM PST on Nov 24, 2010

where can you even find any of those things though?
whole foods? i highly doubt regular grocery stores have them.
so WHERE?

Neda E.

6:40AM PST on Nov 22, 2010

thanks

Monique D.

1:38PM PDT on Sep 10, 2010

Thanks, I have heard of feverfew but not the others

Irina N.

5:50AM PDT on Sep 7, 2010

Thanx!

Carol M.

12:42PM PDT on Sep 6, 2010

Changes in barometric pressure can be a big factor in triggering migraines. In Minnesota we get some of the most intense low pressures and they frequently trigger migraines.

iris g.

1:03AM PDT on Sep 5, 2010

I've migraines since I was about 10 years old (thats 30 years ago!!). All I can say is that you can find some relief in starting to worry less, care less about what others think or say about you, find ways to relax (sports, hobbies etc.) and if that does not work use a triptan based medicin. Women often suffer from the migraines caused by hormones, but I dare to say that stress is the main cause of it. Good luck!

Melissah C.

12:26AM PDT on Sep 3, 2010