The truth about chronic conditions like regular migraines is that there is very rarely a single universal treatment. Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong, and that “something” could be different for you than your fellow migraine sufferers.
This is why approaching your health holistically is so powerful – if you can view your body as a series of interlocking systems that all work together and affect one another, you can try different treatments and lifestyle changes to find the exact right balance for you.
The Power Of Antioxidants For Migraine Reduction
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is often described as a vitamin, or a vitamin-like substance. CoQ10 is involved in the creation of the important substance in the body known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP serves as the cell’s major energy source and drives a number of biological processes including muscle contraction and the production of protein. CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant.
Some food sources, such as meat and fish, contain CoQ10 but the amounts in food are naturally less than can be obtained from supplements. Primary dietary sources of CoQ10 include oily fish (such as salmon and tuna), organ meats (such as liver), and whole grains. Most individuals obtain sufficient amounts of CoQ10 through a balanced diet, but supplementation may be useful for individuals with particular health conditions.Use for migraine
Thirty-two patients diagnosed as having migraine with or without aura were treated with CoQ10 at a dose of 150 mg per day in a controlled experiment (10). No adverse events were associated with CoQ10 therapy in any of the trial participants. As a result of the treatment, 61.3% of the patients treated had a greater than 50% reduction in number of days with migraine headache. Only two participants showed no improvement with CoQ10 therapy in their migraine headache intensity compared with baseline (ie when the trial started).
The reduction in migraine frequency after 1 month of treatment was 13% and this improved to 55% by the end of 3 months of therapy. From this open-label (called “open” as participants were aware of whether they were taking CoQ10 or not) investigation, CoQ10 appears to be a good migraine preventive.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is found in small amounts in many foods. It is needed for converting food to energy, and like CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant by mopping up the damaging free radicals.
Lean meats, eggs, legumes, nuts, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, and milk provide riboflavin in the diet. Breads and cereals are often fortified with riboflavin.Use for migraine
In the only study involving riboflavin alone, Schoenen and others studied 55 migraine patients and reported that 59% of the participants who took 400 mg/day riboflavin for 3 months experienced at least 50% reduction in migraine attacks compared with 15% for placebo (13). Statistically significant reductions in both migraine frequency and number of headache days were reported. Adverse events reported from studies investigating riboflavin have been limited to diarrhoea and polyuria (passing of large volumes of urine), both occurring in extremely low numbers.
– via www.migrainetrust.org
CoQ 10 and Riboflavin are just a few of the supplements you can use to lessen the frequency and severity of your migraines.
The goal of these herbs and minerals is to address the causes or triggers of your migraine attacks. If you can treat the underlying cause (many migraines, for example, are triggered by times of intense physical or emotional stress) then your body can reach a healthier place of balance and your migraine frequency and intensity will ease up.
Herbs To Prevent Migraines
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) 50-75 mg twice daily.
The only complementary treatment where research has shown that it works predictably. The higher dosage of 75 mg twice daily has proved to be more effective.
How butterbur works is not known with certainty, but may be related to its effect on muscle tone and blood flow in cerebral blood vessels.
To avoid side effects, choose a butterbur product that has been purified and labeled as PA-free.
Avoid butterbur for children, pregnant or nursing women or people with kidney, heart or liver disease.
Magnesium 400 mg daily
It reduces migraine symptoms 50% for about 50% of migraineurs. Must try for at least 3 months to know its effectiveness.
Melatonin 3 mg at bedtime
Melatonin has a chemical structure close to indomethacin. There are many possible positive effects that it might have on the brain. In one small study, 78% of migraineurs taking 3 mg of melatonin had at least 50% reduction in headaches of which 25% had complete resolution of headaches.
Have you tried any herbs or minerals to help with your migraine pain?