★★★★★
The other day one of my co-workers was sitting at her desk with her head lowered, cupping her forehead in one hand and massaging her head and neck with the other. I asked her if she was all right and she said I have a migraine. So I logged in to see what Earth Clinic has posted for migraines and saw the remedy of 2 Tbsp. of ACV and 2 Tbsp. of raw honey in a glass of water.
I asked if she usually takes something for it and she said she takes Excedrin but that she did not have any with her. So I told her that my #1 resource for natural healing recommends ACV and honey in a glass of water and told her that I had both of them if she would like to try it. She looked up at me and said let's do it. I mixed it up and she drank it. About 20 or 30 minutes later another co-worker asked her how she was feeling and she said she felt a lot better! And for the rest of the day she was her usual bubbly self.
What is particularly interesting about this is that I work for a tribal government and these folks are Native Americans who, for the most part, have lost or forgotten the old ways, replacing them with medical services provided by the federal government through Indian Health Services. But many of them have witnessed my journey and have come to me for help for themselves and for their animals. They are re-discovering that Mother Nature has provided all that we need!
Thank you to all who post on this website, you are changing and saving lives! Flower's Mom
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Avoid MSG and Free Glutamates!
★★★★★
During covid lockdown I'd been cooking our food from scratch, just because I had more time and couldn't get to the supermarket. It then became apparent that I was only getting migraines after ordering Dominos pizza as a treat, like clockwork. This led me to research msg and omg what a difference! Msg is only the starting point, and I've been trying to avoid most processed food with glutamates added (or manufactured) under different names, as other posters have noted. It means no more takeaways for me, or restaurant food, but it's so so worth it. The only migraines I've had since are monthly hormonal ones and they've been mild headaches only. More recently I've been looking at whether I've got too much copper/slightly oestrogen dominant but that's another story.
I'd recommend that everyone avoids msg. Even if you don't have migraines, it's probably doing untold silent damage.
I've been vegetarian since I was a child and all those meat replacements are loaded with msg, and all the takeaways over the years must have done so much damage too. Still, onwards and upwards!
I hope this helps others out there xx
Magnesium
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
Then I took 200 mg of Nattokinase because it was throbbing in spite of all this and started in the middle of the night while I was sleeping, so to take all this again was a bit too much. After about 1 hr pain stopped. In the morning I had just a vague sensation of throbbing maybe 1-2 out of 10.
So I took 200 mg of Nattokinase more and NO PAIN. AND I DID NOT TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE LIST ABOVE.
I am so happy! I will continue to have Nattokinase 100 mg as a support for the next few days. I am an emergency physician myself and I can say this supplement is miraculous. In the way to replace Aspirin, but now with Elaine's 2011 post (nattokinase page), it saved my life. Thank you.
Breathe Into a Brown Paper Bag
★★★★★
★★★★★
I filled a gallon bag half full of ice and wrapped that in a t-shirt and sat with the ice pack on my neck. Slowly relief was coming. I kept it on for the better part of 2 hours and even tried to prop to up to my neck when I got into bed, though by the time I went to bed it had lessened significantly. Usually if I go to bed with a headache I wake up with one.
I was thrilled to wake up with no headache. My ice pack was still cold and one part of my shoulder was cold.
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
Our experience is that cayenne pepper or other herbs in capsules (when I make my own using NOW brand empty capsules) is that you begin to taste the herb in under ten minutes. Maybe even faster. (Taste, as in you taste it if you burp.)
If you are using cayenne as a rescue remedy for a heart issue (while waiting for further help) you want the cayenne to get into the blood stream as fast as possible and may not have minutes to wait while the capsule dissolves. If you have with you cayenne capsules, you could always empty them into water and drink it down. Not pleasant but, as my mother in law would say, "It beats the alternative! " Also, Herbalist Dr. Christopher recommended an entire teaspoon in the event of a heart attack/stroke. That would be 4-5 capsules.
Hope this helps!
~Mama to Many~
Cayenne
★★★★★
It goes like this...
If you are not digesting your food properly, then it will sit in your stomach and rot, in more pleasant terms, it ferments. Needless to say, fermentation is the creation of gas. This gas is then absorbed into the bloodstream and when it reaches your head it expands resulting in a migraine. Now, the fun part is that when one consumes these hot peppers the heat will expel these gasses, and in turn, relieves the migraine. With that in mind, digestive aids, probiotics or simply mindful eating may do the trick to alleviate your problems on a more permanent and effective basis. I hope this information is helpful, I have found alot of helpful information on this site for myself, and simply wanted to give a bit myself.
CoQ10
★★★★★
★★★★★
Breathe Into a Brown Paper Bag
★★★★★
Also, some cloths or clothing are good in a pinch. I know when I was little, I would instinctively put my shirt neck up over my nose and breathe that way whenever I had a migraine coming on
Magnesium
★★★★★
Cumin Seeds
★★★★★
There is the one post here on Earth Clinic about the seeds and the lady said her and her mother chew on the seeds. I take the seeds in a table spoon and just smash them w/ another table spoon then just drink water to swallow them. Eat them right off the spoon then make sure to lick the bottom of the other spoon drink at least 12 ounces of water relief is quick like the other woman said. Just a little easier and the seeds don't taste disgusting but they don't taste great either. I have been told by a friend of mine that has been taking Black Cumin for many years if you have the oil or crush the seeds and rub it on you temples and for head this also will help alot.
Soooo many uses for Black Cumin you should research it and be pleasantly surprised.
Cayenne
★★★★☆
I get migraines less often since I've modified my diet. However, I can't control exposure to odors, changes in weather, etc. :( Slight headache noticed yesterday upon waking.
The headache progressed to full blown migraine several hours later, with nausea, upset stomach, sensitivity to light and sound. I tried ACV in water, baking soda in water (for the nausea), homeopathic remedies, peppermint tea. Nothing helped.
In the wee hours of this morning I had two separate episodes of vomiting, throwing up at least three times during each episode. I also had several good bowel movements (maybe brought on by the baking soda/water mixture). I felt a little better after the bowel movements and vomiting but my stomach still felt queasy. Finally tried to sleep around 4 a.m. I couldn't get comfortable enough for a deep sleep but dozed for approximately 10.5 hours. My headache lingered and eventually came back full force behind my left eye.
So I decided to try the cayenne pepper. I mixed about 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of warm water with a little honey (not enough to really sweeten). That was a few hours ago. My headache has dulled to a 2 from "off the charts". I'm warming more water and will drink a second dose as soon as the water is warm enough.
What I would like to mention, as we Earth Clinic "regulars" already know, everything doesn't work for everyone.
And what I have found with my migraines is that the same remedies don't seem to work for me each time.
Thankfully, the cayenne worked for me this time. I hope this information is useful to someone else. Be blessed!