★★★★★
I have suffered from migraines since I was about 5 years old, though after puberty they had become frequent and often unbearable.
After going to a neurologist who confirmed that I have migraines and not just headaches he prescribed Imitrex, it works amazingly, though I just don't like taking medicines (especially expensive ones! ) if I don't have to.
I have tried every remedy on the earth (at least it feels so! ) for migraines and everything I tried either never worked or worked once, maybe, and never again.
Then enter mint essential oil. I use either spearmint or peppermint and rub it on where it hurts, and voila, no more pain. It can take a few applications, but so far it knocks out most headaches/ migraines for me. It's amazing, I have cut back on my Imitrex use by at least half. I have been using it undiluted, however I have read this can cause adverse effects and can make it so my skin develops a sever sensitivity to it. I will from now on try diluting it with almond or jojoba oil and hope it still works as well. Because if I had to stop using mint oil because of my bad judgement I would be kicking myself for the rest of my life. Either way, I am in love with Mint oil, it works amazingly well for me. I have also had success drinking a mint tea for headaches, but not for migraines, I think it's too weak for that.
Oh, and they types of migraines I get are typically hormonal, non-aura. Occasionally they are allergy triggered, and rarely offensive smells (like strong B.O. or perfumes) . I do not drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
This is just to maybe help those who know what triggers their migraines, maybe if it works for me, it will work for you if you have similar triggers.
★★★★★
My migraines were directly linked to not drinking enough water. I could be gettting a migraine and drink a huge glass of water and it would stop within minutes. No 'hangover' from it either.
Feverfew and Butterbur
Re your husband's migraines, I take two feverfew five days a week to fight off migraines... and often take niacin (the flushing kind) a few times weekly.
You are correct in using as a preventative...if he takes when migraine is already underway, little help.
I've been on Niacin for ... I guess thirty years, and feverfew for ten.
Never caused stomach upset for me.
Niacin and Feverfew are natural dilators and if your husband's migraines ...which you think may come from the brain injuries... are the cause of the migraines, the dilation of the capillaries staying open may well act to keep blood flowing properly.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
★★★★★
I immediately tried acupuncture on knots in my neck and shoulders, followed by chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy on these sore muscles. Usually, this helps but did not work this time. Realizing that a virus was causing my migraines, my wife suggested Grapefruit Seed Extract.
The directions on the label suggested 5-15 drops, in water, 3 times a day, to be taken with or without food. I took 5 drops, maybe a total of 7 times over a period of 5 days, whenever I felt ill.
The results were dramatic and amazing. After the first 5 drops, my migraines stopped. The sore neck went away and my general feeling of sickness began to abate. After the next three doses, over the next two days, my general feeling of sickness disappeared and my energy came back to 90% of peak. After a month of abandoning all forms of intense exercise, I was able to run for 20 minutes and cycle for 3 hours.
White Noise
★★★★★
Please do not play white noise loud, just softly works better.
Multiple Remedies
What worked for ME was chiropractic adjustments. If you have tried *everything*, then its something to consider.
Multiple Remedies
Re your migraines:
I've had them since I was about 16 years old. At that time was and continued to be under great stress. (Like most people.) My own migraine issue has caused me to be especially interested in cures.
Studied a great deal on migraines and conclude this: There is the "classic migraine" which manifests with blurred vision (the aura) and light sensitivity culminating in nausea and the headache lasting any length of time...as long as three days.
Many people have what they call migraines but in fact are not the classic form. Look for light sensitivity and narrowing vision when the migraine sets in. Then nausea.
There is a distinct and genetically driven personality type who is susceptible to CLASSIC migraines. When under great and or continued stress their body will quickly utilize and use up the B complex in their system especially niacin, B-3.
At that point there is a capillary collapse in the temporal region that especially effects the eyes. After first studying this phenomenon I realized that extra supplements of B-3 might forestall the migraines. And the niacin did work. I learned to take enough B-3 to barely be "flushed" and I'd know my system had sufficient B-3 to keep the migraines away. The B-3 was working to keep the capillaries dilated.
This worked for decades with me. But dealing with the flushing balance is a bit frustrating, requiring a needed "flush" at least once a week to make sure enough B-3 was present in my system. Then, about 15 years ago I read about the herb "feverfew." And to my delight I found that feverfew, if I take two a day, four or five times weekly will do the same as B-3.
If I run out of feverfew for a month or two, suddenly, I'm hit with a migraine.
Now that is the "classic" migraine description (aura/light sensitivity, nausea) and the theory that vitamin B-3 depletion is the (immediate) cause of the capillary collapse resulting in the attack.
There is another kind of continuous headache called cluster headaches and I have no experience on whether the same causative issues are at work there and whether using B-3 or feverfew might benefit those suffers.
There is a third kind of often occurring headache. More malevolent even than classic migraines. These might have developed after severe infection, typically to the upper regions of the body. That type of "migraine" (not Classic Migraine) might be caused by the virus migrating into the brain (viral meningitis) being the result. DMSO mixed 50/50 with Colloidal Silver and applied three times in a month would show the sufferer if the Silver might be working to kill the virus if indeed viral meningitis is the cause of that particular continuous headache. The application of the DMSO/ CS mix is topical to back of neck as a poultice using white paper towels (somewhat soaked). If this is going to work, a good indication would be that after the second application the sufferer will feel less nausea, be able to walk better without as much vertigo and will feel a surge of energy. Much more on this in other posts I've written on same subject here in EC.
Another kind of headache...neck injury and a chiropractor might be able to help. Be careful for the ones I call "neck twisters." In cases where the neck is hurt, usually the vertebrae (or muscles) will be bulging to one side of neck and pain will radiate down side of neck causing numbness often to hand on the injured side, causing neck and shoulder stiffness. Headaches will be common in this kind of condition because often the blood will be cut off from the base of the skull, and the brain will be deprived of oxygen. I said be careful for "neck twisters" which is where the Chiropractor puts you on your back and takes your head in his hands and twists, popping the vertebra. I believe this is counter productive in the long run IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC condition. Rather, look for a chiropractor who will place you FACE DOWN and using what is called the "Pierce technique" adjust against the vertebra's bulging direction. This is "mechanics" when you think about it. If you can feel the vertebra coming bulging to the left in your neck (say C-1 or C-2) it makes no sense to twist the HEAD. No, instead the Chiropractor should be using a vibration machine for adjusting "against" the bulging vertebra. Using either a drop table (the drop is about one quarter of an inch, not much but enough to get the vertebra re aligned with the spine) or a hand held mechanism the result is better than the "twist" technique for long term results. One last thing, don't overlook the condition called "military neck' which is the loss of curvature in the neck around C-2 and C-3. This comes usually from reading a great deal. In that case, the Chiropractor puts the patient face down and the adjustment is straight down with the drop table. This can bring almost instant curvature back to the neck...in just a few adjustments. X-Ray comparison is remarkable.
But you must call to different Chiropractors to ask specifically how they adjust. Look for one that uses the Pierce technique...or ask if the Doctor uses a drop table where he presses against the impaired side of neck.
Multiple Remedies
I will add a couple of more thoughts to the excellent suggestions I have already seen come through. I would seriously consider each of them. There are so many different causes of headaches. All of these ideas will help you to leave no stone unturned in your quest for a solution.
I have family members that have had migraine relief from taking feverfew daily as a preventative. I myself have been relieved of headaches from going to a good chiropractor.
Herbalist Rachel Weaver cites two common sources of headaches that seem too simple...dehydration and/or constipation. She recommends for a headache to drink a tall glass of water with a pinch of sea salt in it. Better yet, just be sure to be getting plenty of water (a pinch of sea salt is a great addition to that.) Regarding the constipation, if your system is not eliminating toxins daily, you can get all kinds of symptoms, including headaches. If this is an issue for you, do look at the constipation solutions on Earth Clinic.
Do you have chronic sinus infections? How is your diet?
Do you have dental issues? Mercury fillings or root canals? Sometimes these things are linked to headaches. (Mercury fillings from the toxicity of mercury and root canals because sometimes there is an underlying infection that cannot get out.)
Please let us know what you try and what helps. I hope you find relief soon. I am sorry you have had to deal with this for so long. I am praying for wisdom and relief for you.
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Turmeric
★★★★★
5-HTP
★★★★★
Currently I take 200 mg/day and can have a sandwich for lunch and cheesecake! (it's SO wrong, I know! ) I still try very hard to keep the gluten and casein out of my diet. Even though I can cheat and not have a migraine attack, I still can tell that my body feels wrong or icky when I have those foods. But it's SO nice to go from 10 migraines a month, down to 1, maybe 2 per month. I plan to cut back to 100mg/day because I know that there is differing opinions about how much is too much. Plus being able to eat whatever I want makes it very hard to stay gluten/casein free. I hope this post helps other people to realize that they may have food allergies/intolerances that they are unaware of yet.
★★★★★
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.
Stevia
★★★★★
Fenugreek, Thyme
★★★★★
For years I suffered from Migraines. The symptoms I experienced were nausea, light sensitivity, smell sensitivity, and sharp pain on the left temple as well as my eye. To make matters worse this lasted for 2-3 days. I then noticed that it would happen around my menstrual cycle ever month without fail. I couldn't find relief in any over the counter medications. It got to be debilitating. The only thing I could do is lay in bed in a dark quiet room with a cold towel over my head.
One night I said enough is enough, I got up and ran cold water over my head and neck, as I did this the migraine would subside but when I took my head away from the water it would come back. I then remembered being given Fenugreek & Thyme capsules a few months back and decided to give it another try, but this time instead of taking the recommended dose of 1000 mg (700 mg of which was Fenugreek and 300 mg of Thyme), I increased the dosage amount by three and I took 3000 mg.
In 20 minutes my migraine was GONE! All these years of failed over the counter medications and being miserable and all I needed was in an herb. I was able to get a good night's sleep and when I woke in the morning I felt it coming on again so I took 1500mg, but it didn't seem to stop it so I took another 1500mg 30 minutes later and again the migraine disappeared. (I haven't noticed any side effects so far but if anything comes up I will repost).
I hope this helps, and I am happy to add my experience to the community as you all have given me so many great remedies over the years!
Melanie B - of Los Angeles, CA
NSAID + Real Coke
★★★★★
Good luck and feel better!
Chiropractic
★★★★★
5-HTP
5-HTP
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Multiple Remedies
1.) Digestion - always have enzymes with you to take whenever the first sign of a migraine appears and /or after you have cooked food.
2.) Circulation - there is certainly a circulation disorder in a migraine sufferer. So improve circulation-a.) By walking at least an hour a day nonstop 6 days a week b.) Natural supplements that are known to help circulation.
3. Sugar balance - It is important to maintain sugar levels so take stevia instead of sweeteners or sugar or fructose and eat regularly.
4 Nutrients. - Very important to take nutrients that the brain needs ie: magnesium, linseeds, vit B, wheatgerm and beetroot
Other essentials for avoiding migraines:
A- Eat alot of raw food - the minimum per day a big lettuce salad with at least 2 other raw veg and seeds, and apple cider vinegar, cold pressed oil, sea salt or rock salt and cayenne pepper
B. - Completely avoid coffee, black tea, milk and soya products like miso.
C- Sleep in a very well ventilated room.
Good luck
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
