Natural Remedies for Migraines

Butterbur

Posted by Ani (ontario, canada) on 07/14/2007
★★★★★

I was reading your migrane section today because i just got over my first real migrane and wanted to educate myself on home remedies in case i ever get another one. In any case I ready the butterbur cure and remember a customer of mine telling me that she had suffered from weekly migranes until her doctor told her about Butterbur. She said it relieved her migranes significantly and she now leads a normal mostly migrane free life. Thought i'd pass it on."

Francoise from Los Angeles, CA sent us this remedy for migraines which she found on the internet. Like us, you've probably never heard of this product!

Here it is: "Don't like the thought of taking strong prescription medications for migraine headaches? Consider trying butterbur (Petasites hybridus). This herb is native to Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia, and has been used for centuries as an effective remedy for headaches, back pain and asthma. Recent studies suggest migraine sufferers may benefit from butterbur's actions - reducing inflammation and spasms in blood-vessel walls - without experiencing the side effects associated with prescription medications (except some burping). A study published in Neurology, Dec. 28, 2004, reported that after four months, people taking 75 mg of butterbur daily for migraines had 48 percent fewer migraine attacks per month - similar to the effects of prescription migraine drugs. Be very careful about the butterbur you purchase - only use butterbur extracts that are guaranteed to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The adult dosage ranges from 50-100 mg twice daily, and should be taken with meals.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda and Sea Salt

Posted by PD (USA) on 05/01/2007
★★★★★

I wrote you the above message earlier, I am giving you an update, I wound up in a 4 day hospital stay do to my throat problem, I could not do my usual ACV & Baking Soda & iodine, wnet in the hospital on Wednesday night, Friday morning woke up with a terrible migrane, I have come to the conclusion, if I put one drop of Iodine on my hand every night and do my Baking Soda in the morning on an empty stomach, I do not get a migraine, or acid reflux, I think the iodine is keeping me from getting the migraines, and I know the backing soda is keeping me from the acid reflux problem.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Chris (Colorado) on 12/23/2006
★★★★★

Well, it was that time of the month and I had the mother of all headaches. I tried apple cider vinegar in apple juice and it got a little better. 2 hours later I gave up and took a tablespoon of molasses (don't particularly like that stuff). 10 minutes later my headache was completely gone!

Gunpowder Tea

Posted by Lanet (Durham, NC) on 10/21/2008
★★★★★

Hello, after reading this post about 4mths ago I told my friend about the gunpowder tea. He just decided to try it out last week. He noticed a big difference in his migraine headaches and he is very pleased with the product. He normally takes imitrex and it seems as if some of the side affects are just as bad as the illness. Thanks for the information.

Gunpowder Tea

Posted by Soph (New York, NY) on 11/05/2010
★★★★★

I suffer from menstrual migraines once a month. The city here has a cool tea shop so I bought some GunPowder Tea. This tea it truly works and I feel fortunate to have found the remedy for my migraines.

Coffee + Lemon Juice

Posted by Vanessa (Lisbon, Portugal) on 11/06/2006
★★★★★

I started suffering from migraines a few years ago and I had tried almost all natural cures I found in books, sites (I tried almost all cures listed in this site) etc.. I was desperate the migraines were getting worst there were days I could not even got up from bed. While visiting my grandma I mentioned the migraines and she told me to try coffee with a few drops of lemon. Since I don't like coffee and had tried almost everything I thought it wasn't something as simple as a cup of coffee that would make me feel better. One day I was so desperate that I remind that and thought I had nothing to lose trying it. I drank a cup of coffee with 5/6 drops of lemon and it was like a miracle the migraine was gone in 15 minutes. I hope this could help people who, like me, suffers from bad migraines and their bodies don't react well to other cures.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sarah (Madison, IN) on 07/08/2006
★★★★★

I have suffered with Migraine headaches for years. I have taken Imitrex, which always cures them, plus I take an anti-seizure medicine to help prevent them. This weekend, I had a terrible Migraine in which the Imitrex didn't help. After becoming very tired of taking pills that were not helping, I came to the Internet and found this website. I drank 2 TBS. of apple cider vinegar with 8oz. of water and within 10 minutes, the headache I had suffered with for 2 days is totally gone!!! Unbelievable!! Thank you so much for posting this natural remedy.

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!

Icelandic Vodka

Posted by Jesse (Wilmington, Delaware)
★★★★★

one shot of elduris icelandic vodka.not a joke,really works,i suffer from severe migraines and 1 shot cures them within 20 minutes, just very difficult to find.

Migraines and Alzheimer's Disease Link

Posted by Art (California) on 07/19/2023 2326 posts
★★★★★

A friend who I have known for roughly 30 years always has had migraine headaches for as long as I have known her. About two years ago, she started showing symptoms of early onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD), which is advancing very rapidly.

I was wondering if migraines might be a forewarning of future AD, and according to the following article, it definitely is with people who regularly have migraine headaches being three times more likely for men and 6 times more likely for women to get AD than non-migraine people :

https://www.migrainedisorders.org/migraine-and-alzheimers-disease/#:~:text=The study found that a, 9.9% of cognitively intact participants.&text=They also found that people, dementia than people without dementia.

Here are two very relevant quotes from this interesting article :

' A 2001 study examining the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease found that men and women with a history of migraine were three times more likely to develop AD.5 Looking at women alone, the study found that they were almost 6 times more likely to develop AD.5 '

' Another study was conducted to determine if migraine was a risk factor for dementia subtypes; Alzheimer's and vascular. The study found that a history of migraine was noted in 23.5% of participants with AD compared to 9.9% of cognitively intact participants.6 They also found that people with a history of migraine were three times more likely to have dementia than people without dementia.6 Similar to the previous study, they found that people with AD were four times more likely to have a history of migraine disease.6 Interestingly, when looking at the subtypes of dementia, they found no correlation with a history of migraine and vascular dementia.6 '

I tried to convince my friends to try alternative means of improving her situation, but my other friend, her husband, will not try any alternatives even though she is declining very rapidly. She is now so bad in just two years that she could not remember to take helpful supplements without someone giving them to her.

If you have migraines regularly, you are at increased risk for AD, especially if you are a woman. It may be worth taking steps early on to improve your chances against getting AD.

Art

Ketogenic Diet

Posted by Denise E (Crescent City, CA) on 03/08/2023
★★★★☆

I'm a little nervous to write this review but I am going to as this seems to be a lasting effect I am having on daily migraine pain. Please understand I had full-blown migraines all my life, I'm 70 now. I had first the aura for about 30 minutes, then my left arm would go numb for just about 5 minutes only, and then excruciating pain in one temple or the other. I actually was taken to emergency a few times over the years. I finally found out about Immitrex which stopped the actual pain about 7 years ago. Sometimes very mild migraine, sometimes not.

In the last few years, maybe only 1 bad migraine a year but what was a game changer to start with was a ketogenic diet, basically very low carbs, no sugar at all, just carbs I get in things like brocolli, spinach, yogurt, nuts. All I can eat to on Keto.

Then I began a supplement regime just 7 days ago recommended by Art in California but I never mentioned the nagging migraine pain every day of my life in the last few years. It's because I could pop a couple of tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen to end them within 30 minutes. I was just so focused on issues I that were way more nagging and no fix so far.

At this point, because I am still on the same foods that seemed to keep me with mild migraine, but started the supplements for other issues I'll list below, I think I've found I do not need aspirin as there are no more pains in my temple, usually left one. I'm thinking something I've added in is blocking the pain. I just don't know and want to stick with the 5 supps so I can let Art know if they are working for my other issues. Of course letting him know if my lack of head-pain keeps on.

Just hoping we can figure out what I'm taking that might be helping, I'm also knocking on wood here because if anyone here has experienced what they've called classic migraine and even hemoplegic (I also get aphasia with the bad ones) they will know the pain. I also usually had bad nausea during the pain part of a full-blow migraine.

Here are the supps I'm taking according to dose on the bottles:

Magnesium citrate 1000mg in 2 doses https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/magnesium.html

ALA 600mg in 2 doses https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/ala.html

Lutein 40mg 1 a day https://www.earthclinic.com/mobile/cures/eyes-vision/lutein/)

Vitamin D-3 1 a day https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/art-solbrig-protocol-for-memory-loss.html

Citicoline 250 1 a day https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/art-solbrig-protocol-for-memory-loss.html#ar_192059

I want to do more of Art's Protocol on memory loss but I am starting out slowly, for one thing, I can't afford everything at once, and also, I need to watch closely for side-effects. Seems if there are any, I seems to get them. I have my MD appointment on Friday 3/9/2023. My doc will probably order more labs since he'll be told my new supplements etc. I get regular labs for cholesterol and HbA1c for my type 2 diabetes, no meds, just food and supps.

Sorry this is so long, and I just put 3 stars because I am new at a review, only 7 days but sort of profound how I'm no longer having to take aspirin every day which is dangerous for many reasons. Denise

PS I also should add I've been doing a tsp of turmeric a day, heaping tsp collagen powder, tsp of nutritional yeast, tsp of flaxseed, tsp of chia seed, which I still had the headache and I didn't do any of those except turmeric for inflammation.

If you'd like a good site to hear about Keto, here's a link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8153354/

Ketogenic Diet

Posted by Denise E (Crescent City, CA) on 03/09/2023

Thank you Art, so much! I do see the Lutein and ALA were started on the 27th of Feb., D-3 and Citicoline on the 1st. I'm going to read the info you've sent on the D-3, and sticking with everything else as well on the supps.

No weird dreams last 2 nights so maybe my body is adjusting. I'm so hopeful but will continue to let you know how it's going.

There are so many things these different supps I'm taking can help that I haven't even thought of. Like I mentioned, I just attack the things that are the worst for me and my quality of life. I'm sure I mentioned that somewhere but I don't remember, LOL!

Potassium Citrate Powder

Posted by Denise (Us) on 11/25/2018 50 posts

I'm going to try Ted's remedies after reading the causes he talks about in the link I will attach below. I had one of the worst migraines (hemoplegic) last evening about 6pm. Hadn't had one in months. I had eaten a bag of seaweed chips that were very salty, and I added a lot of salt to my home-made soup which was already cooked in broth. So I will at least give Ted's recommend a shot. I feel I was helped a lot by the Epsom Salt, mixed with Magnesium Chloride Flakes but after reading Ted's info, I won't use the Magnesium Chloride if I have a migraine. I guess the chloride can cause a migraine so I think I got lucky it didn't make it worse. Here is Ted's link and I'll try to get back here if I get this migraine completely cleared up. It usually takes 2-3 days to completely pass: https://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/migraines.html

Nettle

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 10/12/2017
★★★★★

My family seems to have a predisposition to migraine headaches. My husband has never had a traditional migraine but does get the aura. Several of our children have experienced the same thing, Others have experienced full blown migraines on a regular basis, including myself.

My daughter had regular migraines and several other health problems. After taking nettle leaf and kefir almost daily for a year, her health was drastically improved. Since that time her migraines are much less frequent. (She took one capsule of nettle a couple of times a day for about a year.)

I don't think nettle will cure a headache (but I suppose I wouldn't put it past nettle! ) But for a long term blood purifying solution, I think nettle should be considered!

5-HTP

Posted by Evelyn (Rhode Island) on 10/06/2016
★☆☆☆☆

I tried 5-HTP and I can't really say it worked for migraines. I did find that it caused a bit of sexual dysfunction (and this is a noted side effect). Since it didn't really seem to work, I stopped it.

Botox

Posted by Lana (United States) on 04/10/2016
0 out of 5 stars

Hi, About 10 months ago, I underwent Botox injections around my head and neck to help prevent debilitating migraines. However, I suffered a very bad reaction: drooping eyebrows, eyelids, overall face swelling, loosing a lot of hair, but worst of all I started having burning pains in my neck and shoulders, spreading over time to all of upper back, severe sweating spells, fainting feels feeling, and shortness of breath multiple times throughout the day. This continued for several month. Migraines came back with vengeance.

The burning sensation and drooping finally subsided, but shortness of breath have become my major problem, as well as foggy head, difficulty focusing, and constant heaviness in my head. This past month, difficulty breathing has become almost unbearable. I may be wrong, but I feel like poisonous botulinum substance is still in my system. Can you advise on how I can get rid of it?

Will taking Borax solution internally help?

Sincerely,

lana

L-Tyrosine

Posted by Bev (Nashville, Tn) on 08/13/2023
★★★★☆

Cristina, just in case, you may want to consult your dentist on your migraine. Since you report that you have them many mornings, you may be grinding your teeth in the night. A fitted mouth guard may stop that and thus the associated headache. It is worth mentioning to your dentist. Just another possibility that would eliminate other pharma. I am a grinder and probably need a new guard as well as some applied stretching of my upper palate.

L-Tryptophan

Posted by Tiff (Phila, Pa) on 12/22/2015
★★★★★

This post is for anyone suffering from head pain. I have had headaches for as long as I can remember. It was difficult to tell if they were sinus, migraine or allergies. One side of my face would typically be very painful with the nostril closed up. Supplements and allergy medicines worked temporarily. Removing eggs and dairy products worked as well, but the headaches would always return. After reading EC over several days, I came across a post on 5htp and learned that SAM-e, 5htp and tryptophan may all support serotonin in the brain. Well, using kinesiology, I tested for tryptophan. My head was still hurting after mega doses of pharmaceuticals but I ran to the health food store to obtain tryptophan. This is day 3 and head pain is 90% gone. Actually, the pain went away after the first day. This is a miracle and I hope it lasts! I take 3 capsules (575 mcg) in the morning with food and follow up with one or two capsules in the afternoon. I never suspected low serotonin as a culprit for headaches because I'm always happy and upbeat and ready for a laugh. If apple cider vinegar, vitamins, magnesium, allergy meds, environmental toxic removal, mercury filling removal, net pots, and chiropractor adjustments don't work for you then it may be something else. Please try this remedy!!! I will repost updates in a few months to make sure the remedy is still working.

Feverfew

Posted by Flo (Auckland) on 11/30/2015
★★★★★

My migraine headaches started after having my wisdom teeth removed...I immediately became allergic to pollens, too much sun or wind.

I reacted badly to noise and light while having a migraine, also got zig zags in front of my eyes. And felt drained of energy.

After many years of suffering I started taking the herb feverfew. I took one capsule every day, and while taking them never got another migraine. Once over menopause the migraine lessened and now I only need to take antihistamine from time to time.

MSM

Posted by Paula (New York) on 09/26/2015
★★★★★

Been taking 2,000 mg of MSM (pill format) for several months now. I take it in the evening because when I started it caused unpleasant gas. (That side effect eventually wore off but took time.) What I've really noticed is that my migraines have disappeared! I used to get at least 5 - 10 days a month of headaches which would progress to migraines and optical migraines. Since taking MSM I now experience 1 day of headache a month on the first day my cycle starts. There might be other benefits of taking MSM as time goes on but was really surprised that after years of living off pain relievers, I don't need them anymore.

Cayenne

Posted by Fenix (Vancouver, Bc) on 12/23/2017

I'm curious how immediate is "immediate" with cayenne capsules? I'd imagine that having to digest and break down the capsule barrier would slow it down considerably compared to taking cayenne directly, but is it not much of a difference or a very noticeable delay? This may seem like a silly question, as if I'd never taken a capsule before in my life! However I don't generally tend to observe the exact timing required for capsules to take effect, nor do I have experience with taking cayenne capsules myself, so have no idea if different herbs or supplements tend to have different variables involved... such as if cayenne is so "hot and active" that it can "eat through" a capsule faster than, say, another herb, when in the warm, internal environment of the body (I realize I could be over-thinking this and grasping at straws that have no real, logical basis as I ponder the possibilities with this issue).

I ask about the speed of ingestion/absorption into the bloodstream for a very different reason actually, as I'm a bit concerned that I may possibly be a candidate for heart issues, or possibly even stroke. And though I don't believe I'm in serious danger, it's been at the back of my mind to keep an emergency dose of cayenne on hand with me at all times (or whenever possible) and tell those who're close to me about its ability to stop a heart attack or stroke in its tracks. I make jewellery, so I've been considering making a pendant to wear on a necklace... along the lines of a slim stainless steel, waterproof, pill container that I can pour cayenne pepper sauce into, as it seems the easiest to administer in the event of an emergency, whether I have the capability to self-administer it myself, or whether it be someone else helping me (if anything should ever happen then hopefully I won't be alone! ). I've also considered using a glass vial type of pendant, but they tend to hold less liquid while the stainless steel seems more durable and functional, with a larger capacity.

However seeing your comment makes me wonder if cayenne in capsule form might be more practical for this purpose, since keeping liquid in a vial and periodically having to replace it to keep it fresh seems like messy, fussy business for something that's only meant to be an insurance measure of sorts. Capsule-form seems rather handy, but if it doesn't act fast enough to stop any attack in progress then it'd defeat the purpose. Any feedback or advice on this matter would be great (including if this seems like a ridiculous idea... though I'm not sure I'd be easily deterred as I see no harm in wearing a pendant that could potentially safe my life or someone else's... especially since I wear chunky jewelry anyways and can even make it look nice! )

Cayenne

Posted by Fenix (Vancouver, Bc) on 12/31/2017

Mama, thank you for your insight!

5-HTP

Posted by Timh (KY) on 09/18/2014 2048 posts

Thanks for the post Melissa. Two items that need clarifying. One, like most all supplements or drugs there is a dose dependent factor which must always be considered. Generaly speaking, natural supplements are much, much more safer at even large doses than their counterpart pharmaceutical drugs at small doses. Way too many folks have left this world as a consequence of overdose of drugs.

Second, supplements are regulated by the FDA by the same standards as foodstuffs. Hospitals report any problems w/ bad food or supplements from sick patients the same as drug interaction or overdoses, and these reports are monitored for public safety. Also many or most supplement manufacturers are standardized and inspected by oversight companies like GMP which is overseen by the FDA as well as WHO. So yes, nutritional supplements ARE regulated for safety.