5 Natural Remedies for Migraines (Page 2)

3. Xiao yao wan
Kelly Parcell, ND, of NatureMed Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, points to liver qi stagnation—when the liver doesn’t properly clean toxins from the body—as a possible cause of migraines. She suggests xiao yao wan (also called xiao yao san), a blend of plant roots, rhizomes, and mushrooms that is believed to help cleanse the liver.

Take: Use as directed; consult your healthcare practitioner.

4. Chasteberry
Many women suffer from menstrual-induced migraines, which is why some healthcare practitioners, including Parcell, see hormones as a possible trigger. If your progesterone level is too low in relation to estrogen, it can cause blood vessels in the brain to dilate, which is a known cause for migraines. Parcell uses the herb chasteberry (as a tea or in concentrated herbal capsules) to boost progesterone levels. “I try to affect hormone change without actually giving the hormone,” she says.

Take: Parcell suggests drinking several cups of chasteberry tea per day. David Riley, MD, Natural Solutions’ medical editor, also suggests 500 mg of chasteberry supplements every morning.

5. Butterbur root
According to the journal Neurology, the root extract from this daisy plant is one of the best herbs to prevent migraines; patients who took butterbur extract saw migraine frequency decrease by as much as 48 percent.

Take: 100 to 150 mg two to three times per day. Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, suggests looking for extracts with low levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), which are naturally occurring in the butterbur plant and can be toxic to the liver. He recommends the brand Petadolex.

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Past Member .

6:23AM PDT on Apr 25, 2013

Thanks for sharing

April 25
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Bruno M.

1:05PM PDT on Apr 9, 2013

noted thanks

April 9
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Aud N.

7:37AM PDT on Apr 8, 2013

April 8
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Olayinka D.

6:27PM PST on Mar 7, 2013

As a migraine sufferer for so many years, I think the only thing that works for me is relaxation. I have migraine headache after a terrible day at work. I always try as much as I can to take it easy, but sometimes I can't help it. I will love to try any herbal medicine that will work without complications. Recently my 10 years old boy started complaining of headaches. I immediately thought he inherit the headaches from me. I hope and pray we both find a cure to this headaches very soon..

March 7
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Maria M.

7:41AM PST on Mar 7, 2013

Thanks for the useful info.

Pat A.

7:15AM PST on Feb 27, 2013

Off to try them - migraine!!!

February 27
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LMj S.

6:07PM PST on Dec 22, 2012

Thank you for info.

December 22
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6:06PM PST on Dec 22, 2012

Cheryl A. M.

1:37AM PST on Dec 15, 2012

Natural remedies sound great.....if they work, if you can find them, if you can afford them! I think it is much cheaper, and better for our bodies, if we can find things to ELIMINATE, which can only be helpful for our bodies, because if something is causing Migraines, what else might it being doing to our bodies? In this day and age, when money and jobs are tight and sometimes hard to find, one does not always have the money for 'extras' at the Health Food Store. Just think how great you will feel inside and out, if you can discover an item that is making your Migraines worse, but to rid yourself of the problem, you would feel so much better. Stress is a common catalyst for Migraines, but stress is also hard on our Blood Pressure, our Heart and other important parts of our bodies. Why not kill two birds with one stone? I am not bashing natural remedies or supplements, but only if you can afford them and you are told by your Doctor that they will not have negative effects on your body or counteract any of the other medications you may be taking for other health issues.