Migraines
Natural Remedies

Natural Remedies for Migraines

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Lavender Oil

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Sonia (Los Angeles) on 08/25/2006
★★★★★

Lavender oil cures migraines and headaches. I use essential lavender oil under my nose so I can smell and breath it in. The smell clears your nasal passages and it much easier to fall asleep. I also use an ice pack over whichever side of the forehead I have the migraine. I fall asleep easily and the headache subsides.


Lemons or Limes With Salt and Pepper

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Anj (London, UK) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★

Cut a lemon or /lime into halves or slices, sprinkle about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of salt and same amount of black pepper. roast/ oven bake/direct on gas fire/ barbecue/ cover it and microwave for 40 seconds, salt and pepper side on top till bubbly juice comes out. Let it cool down but don't let it go completely cold, it should be hot. Suck with the pulp direct from the lemon slices/halves as the peel has secreted some juices that you need. Same method can be used with sour oranges or tangerines.

This recipe came from my mum who used it on all her kids as natural alternative which would not give any side effect, to cure headaches, migraines, cough and colds, flu, as well as when someone feels sick as if they want to vomit. This is a ideal alternative medicine for diabetics and ideal for everyone as you don't have to go shopping, everything you'll have in your home when you have any of these problems. All of us brothers and sisters have been using this all these years, may be it might help someone who wants to try natural alternatives which would not give them any side effects especially if they are diabetics.


Lettuce

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Giulietta (Xastiva, Spain) on 09/06/2008
★★★★★

Mostly when I am aware of a migraine starting, if I eat lettuce (the only type I haven't tried is iceberg) and move around in fresh air, it goes. Sometimes I wake up very early like 4 or 5 in the morning and if I get up, eat a lettuce, and move and dont go back to sleep I can usually keep it at bay- I might not always be 100% but I can manage the day if I also eat only raw food that day and a lettuce salad at lunch and supper. Also I have to sleep right next to a wide open window all the time. In stressful times or when travelling I find the only way to avoid migraines is to eat about 75% raw food.

Now the problem is how to get enough protein and grains and still avoid migraines- I am finding it very difficult and would appreciate advice.

Replied by Mariah
(Central, Kansas USA)
07/25/2009

I just read your inquiry about additional nutrients for your raw food. I know I'm about a year too late - but perhaps trying to add in flax seed and wheat germ would assist in those missing nutrients! I hope this helps.


Lime With Salt

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Trisha (Berkeley, California) on 07/22/2008
★★★★★

I have been suffering from Migraines all my life, honestly trying every 'cure' there is--prescription and holistic. It really comes down to a complete lifestyle change, but even then you cannot control all the chemicals in our daily environments. Anyways, last night I was at work and I started to come down with what felt like a PMS headache--one of those where you feel absolutely hopeless to fix because it is hormone related. I usually get these for about 3 days before my period and they clear up the minute I start bleeding. So last night when I told my coworkers that my head hurt, they--being Mexican--immediately offered up the remedy they grew up with: Half a lime with salt. I laughed at them thinking "Yeah right." but tried it anyways, and sure enough, after eating the whole thing and waiting a good 15 minutes, my headache was gone and I was fine the rest of the night and into this morning. It may have been a placebo effect, but it was so simple and there was no harm done. Couldn't hurt to try!

Also--use the netti pot to clear out your sinuses. Often times sinus headaches will disguise themselves as migraines. If the netti pot makes you feel better that's what you have.

Replied by Joyce
(Joelton, Tn)
07/22/2008
490 posts

Hello to all who have menstrual problems and migraines, magnesium supplements have been known to decrease the frequency of migraine HA's as well as other discomforts (cramping) if that time of the month.


Liver Detox Herbs

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Carolyn (Tx) on 06/11/2020
★★★★★

I had migraines for years. I did have some triggers, but avoiding them didnt solve. My problem was heavy metals and silver fillings. I did a heavy metal detox program with an integrative physician (expensive, but worth it). No longer have headaches. The liver is under a lot of stress to keep things cleared out, and requires support.


Magnesium

12 User Reviews
5 star (9) 
  75%
4 star (2) 
  17%
1 star (1) 
  8%

Posted by ORH (TEN MILE , TN) on 09/01/2021
★★★★★

ORH here and my tractor driver has learned that keeping her magnesium up reduces her mirages. When she has one coming on her vision starts to go, so she takes more magnesium and puts ice on her neck. That normally works. I had them in my youth and no one knew what to do. I just got in the bed and cried. ====ORH====


Magnesium
Posted by Beth (London, England) on 07/24/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Magnesium L-Threonate

I've had chronic migraine for decades, not associated with medicine overuse nor unhealthy habits. Over the years I've tried most remedies without success. Propranolol as a preventive did seem to halve the frequency for the first year or two of use, at the heavy cost of lack of mojo and brain fog. But in the third year migraine days crept back up to 11/month. I experimented with increasing the dose a little but even 10 mg more caused disabling lethargy. By this year status migraine developed. I had some initial success in breaking that with a Cefaly device. This was expensive and again the efficacy waned after a few weeks.

The stated dose for Magnesium L-Threonate is 3 capsules a day. I tried just one at first, mid morning, with an additional sprinkle of magnesium citrate (400mg) daily with breakfast and within 2 days ,not only was the headache gone but also the brain fog. First clarity I've had in 3 years. I reduced the Propranolol gradually and so far so good. I've now had 2 weeks of clarity and only one mild headache. Early days but even two weeks off is a major breakthrough.

Replied by Marie-Louise
(Zurich, Switzerland)
07/26/2020

Hello Beth,

I have also Migraines since ages. Lately I am taking Vita Biosa for an other issue. My Migraines starting to be less. You can buy the Original also in England (see comments at Amazon first). Because of Covid I red about Melatonin. But Melatonin can also help Cluster headaches and Migraines and other pain issues. Try a sustained typ before bedtime.

Regards,

Marie Louise, Zurich Switzerland


Magnesium
Posted by Guy (Toronto) on 03/17/2016
★★★★★

Magnesium supplement taken daily will prevent migraines even when chronic lifelong recurrence has been the norm. In some cases, it also dramatically increases the ability to sleep soundly where this has been a concurrent issue though improved sleep is a benefit experienced by a minority of migraine sufferers using supplementary magnesium.


Magnesium
Posted by Bethbs (London, GB) on 10/24/2014
★★★★★

I've had frequent migraines since I was a teenager and tried many remedies over the years with little success. Painkillers don't touch the pain; triptans don't work, ACV triggers one within minutes and I've tried pretty much everything else to boot. So I recently visited a specialist migraine consultant and thought I'd share the advice.

Firstly, magnesium in much larger doses than one would normally think. Even if blood levels are normal the specialist suggested that individual body chemistry may result in deficiencies at the transcellular level. She suggested any or all of:

Transdermal magnesium oil (solution of magnesium chloride and distilled water, 50:50 by volume - buy the crystals in bulk online) 10 sprays per day - may sting at first - wash off after 30 mins if uncomfortable

Ionic magnesium: 2.5 ml per day diluted in a large glass of water

Magnesium malate (better absorbed than many of the other forms taken orally). She didn't specify a dose for this but implied it can be taken up to one's tolerance level - if it results in diarrhoea, take less

Epsom salt baths. If it seems extravagant to put 1 lb of Epsom salts in the bath and then run it all out down the plughole, use a half cup in a footbath instead.

A lot of people have posted that they sleep better after using magnesium at night. I found it kept me awake so I use it earlier in the day. Everyone's different.

So far so good - 3 weeks and no migraines, despite a number of potential triggers.

In addition she recommended 400 mg/day of Vitamin B2; and 1000 IU Vitamin D3 (I would suggest not to take this dose long term - perhaps have a break in summer).

And at first sign of an acute attack to take some form of gastric protection such as 10 mg Domperidone or 20 mg Omeprazole before any painkillers.

I hope this helps.

Replied by Bethbs
(London, UK)
12/11/2014

Update 3 months later: After a good start, there's no real reduction in average number or severity of migraines, unfortunately. That's with daily doses of: 1000 IU Vit D3; 2.5 ml ionic magnesium; 10 squirts transdermal magnesium (magnesium oil); and an excellent diet. However for various reasons I've had less exercise than usual and that certainly plays a part as well. I will continue and report back

Bethbs
(London)
02/16/2016
★☆☆☆☆

Update 1 year on.

Magnesium was helpful at first but after a few months migraines became more and more frequent, at least 3 a week, untreatable - nothing touched them.

Stopped everything for while and gradually reintroduced the 400 mg B2,1000 IU D3,800 microgram Folic acid + a few strands of saffron daily but no magnesium.

Migraines are down to about 3 a month and those have been treatable. (The saffron was the recommendation of an acupuncturist but no, the 8 months of acupuncture didn't seem to help - couldn't even reduce a headache present at the time of treatment).

Everyone's different and migraines seem to follow cycles so one can never be sure what is and isn't helping, but on this regime, so far, so good. Possibly magnesium can be overdone, over time.


Magnesium
Posted by Melanie B (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 06/25/2012
★★★★★

The following month I tried this same remedy (Fenugreek & Thyme) and did not receive the same comfort as before. I have now learned the monthly headaches have been caused by a magnesium deficiency. A few days before I expect to begin menses I soak my feet in warm water with about 1-2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

I do this for a few days. Sometimes if I start to feel a headache coming on I will soak in a warm bath of Epsom Salt, 2 cups or the full container. I haven't had a headache come on for the past couple months now, and I used to suffer through 3 days of headaches prior.


Magnesium
Posted by Alison (London, England) on 04/29/2010
★★★★☆

I have been having menstrual migraines for the last 15 years - up to 10 a month recently - and had been put on all sorts of drugs. I came across a site which mentioned lack of magnesium being a cause of migraine. When I asked to be put on a trial to see if it would work for me the doctors at hospital said they had never heard of such a thing so I started taking a supplement myself. Since taking the Magnesium I am down to 2-3 migraines a month. I am now taking the ACV mixture and look forward to seeing the effects of that.


Magnesium
Posted by Carrie (Palmdale, CA) on 06/30/2009
★★★★★

magnesium cured my migraine. I took 400mg and within a half an hour it was gone!! Thanks to those who previously listed this as a cure. I will never take my prescription medication again.

Replied by Yazmin
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
05/07/2023
★★★★☆

Never had migraine before but had right side headache twice within 2 years. 3rd time this week n had been on paracetamol. I'm 48. Tried 400gm of magnesium citrate and it didn't go full blown. It's there but bearable. At least I can reduce paracetamol for now. TQ for the tip.


Magnesium
Posted by ClaudineK (Owings Mills , MD) on 11/04/2008
★★★★★

Hi all. I love this site! I've had migraine attacks since i was 15. 30 years later I continue to suffer from them. They are most often triggered by the hormonal changes I have when getting my cycle. Symptoms began yesterday, sensitivity to light and nausea started and I realized one was coming. I have been drinking ACV daily for about 2 months now and although it has improved my overall health, it didn't stop my migraine from coming back. I did take 60 mg of zinc supplements and read that magnesium also helps. I didn't have any but did have Milk Of Magnesia so took a little bit of that. To my surprise my symptoms lessened significantly. By now i would be in a full blow episode but I am doing okay! As all migraine sufferers know, the constant pain can be truly debilitating I'm so relieved this seems to have worked!

Replied by Jesse
(San Diego)
08/26/2015

My girlfriend of a year and a half has been getting migraines since she was a child (also when getting her cycle). Early on in our relationship I suggested she take an all natural approach to curing her migraines. After doing some research online we found a few herbs and vitamins known to help alleviate migraine headaches. A few of which were mentioned above. I recommend trying as many ways (without bad side effects) as you can. Migraines are not fully understood yet, and each person has different migraine triggers; so you never know which remedy will work best for you!

Replied by Dave
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
08/27/2015

Hello Jesse;

Migraines....

My own thoughts on migraines, and I read this years ago... is that some genetic types use us their B vitamins more rapidly than other folks. Especially, under pressure situations. This is very problematic in the area of the eyes as vitamin B3 is a dialator and if it is used up then there is a collapse of the capillaries...this producing a migraine.

This is the cause ... so my reading told me... for a CLASSIC migraine; the aura...blurred vision and nausea. So I have taken nutrients that are dialators....such as B3 and Feverfew, an herb.

As long as I take a few tablets of B3 daily and get that famous flush I do not have migraine problems. Feverfew also has the same dialating effect.


Magnesium
Posted by Darla (Los Angeles) on 04/27/2006
★★★★★

I had been suffering from daily severe headaches, usually on the left side of the head, and migraine symptoms, migraine headaches, most severe pain I have ever experienced. I was given many pain meds from doctor from naxopen (ibruprofen type pain killer) to tylenol w/ codeine # 3 and # 4, I was beginning to experience what is called a "rebound headache" from over use of pain meds (both prescribed and OTC), I read somewhere that magnesium helps relieve/prevent migraines. I began taking magnesium w/calcium supplements as well, and in less than 2 weeks, I began to feel much better. I am now headache-free/migraine-free about 90% of the time. I really recommend it to anyone who suffers from daily migraines/headaches, it has really improved my quality of life, hope it helps you too.


Magnesium
Posted by Marcia (Seminole, FL) on 11/25/2005
★★★★★

I have been a long time sufferer of migraines and last summer I started taking magnesium supplements. I have not had a migraine since July!



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