Ever looked for natural remedies for migraine headaches? Many options are listed in this article for helpful migraine pain relief.
If you've ever had a migraine, you know that when the first symptoms strike, it's time to find relief — and fast. And when you find something that works, you stick with it.
For many, migraine relief comes in the form of an over-the-counter or prescription medication. But the relief routine was upended in January, when medication manufacturer Novartis voluntarilyrecalled certain bottles of Excedrin, due to stray and chipped pills.
Today, many in chronic pain are still without their Excedrin — the popular migraine pill has not yet made its way back on to store shelves — and looking for other options.
While there are a host of other drugs that treat and prevent migraines, there are also a number of natural options to ease the pain. In fact, a recent reiteration of the guidelines for treating migraines, developed by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society, highlighted some of the drug-free ways to reduce and prevent the pain, HuffPost's Catherine Pearson reported in April.
So what really works? Click through the slideshow below to see some of the expert-approved ways to ease migraines. Then tell us in the comments what works for you.
Feverfew
One of the oldest herbal remedies for migraines, this plant can be used in many forms, included steeped in tea or even eaten raw, according to Alexander Mauskop, M.D., a board-certified neurologist focused on headaches and the director and founder of the New York Headache Center.
That's because it contains a powerful chemical calledparthenolide, which has been linked to warding off migraines, although Mauskop says science hasn't really offered an answer yet as to how or why,
One of the first studies of the herb came out of Great Britain in the 1980s, and found that 70 percent of people who chewed a couple of feverfew leaves each day saw their symptoms improve and experienced fewer migraines, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
In supplement form — as long as it contains at least 0.2 percent parthenolides — 100 to 150 milligrams a day may do the trick, according to a HuffPost blog by Dr. Andrew Weil, because it can help "prevent the release of substances that dilate blood vessels in the head."
Butterbur
Unlike feverfew, this herb is toxic in any form but the processed supplement, says Mauskop.
However, its headache-preventing properties are equally impressive. The chemicals in butterbur are thought to relieve spasms and decrease inflammation, which can cause headaches, according to WebMD.
A small 2004 study found that patients who took 75 milligrams of butterbur twice daily had 48 percent fewer migraines, compared to a 26 percent decrease experienced by people given only a placebo.
While it's been predominantly researched as a preventive measure, there's some preliminary evidence that it can also help beat a migraine as it's happening. Taking 100 milligrams every three hours (up to 300 milligrams in 24 hours) just might do the trick, according to Psychology Today.
Magnesium
Mauskop's own research found that people with migraines and cluster headaches are often deficient in magnesium.
He demonstrated that an infusion of the mineral helped to stop the pain. Of course, an infusion isn't the most practical of treatments when you're struck by a migraine at the office, say, but supplements can also help.
One small study found daily magnesium supplements reduced migraine frequency by nearly 42 percent, compared to only about 16 percent in people given a placebo pill. Some people have trouble absorbing magnesium, says Mauskop, which can lead to the unpleasant side effect of diarrhea, but overall it's considered safe in 200 milligram daily doses, he says.
Riboflavin
This B vitamin — found naturally in foods like milk, meat, nuts and green veggies — was linked to migraine prevention in a small 1998 study, but in a very high dose, writes Weil, one that wouldneed to be prescribed by a doctor.
Riboflavin (and an enzyme that acts similarly called CoQ10) is involved in producing energy inside the cells of the body, Mauskop explains, so it's better to take in the morning to ward off migraines, in case it disrupts sleep.
Acupuncture
There have been mixed results in the research examining this ancient Chinese medicine's effect on migraines. Most recently, a study questioned whether the traditional practice offered much more than a placebo effect, perhaps due to the extra attention lavished by the acupuncturist. Proponents maintain that the needles trigger pain-reducing chemicals, Reuters reported, but all those visits could become time consuming and expensive, points out Mauskop.
A DIY altnerative might be acupressure, he says. Try pressing on the webbed space between your thumb and pointer finger. It may only be temporary, but it can offer relief.
Caffeine
"Caffeine is a double-edged sword," says Mauskop. If you're too dependent on multiple cups of coffee a day (or even frequent doses of certain headache medications formulated with caffeine) you're likely to experience rebound headaches when the jolt starts to wane. However, in small doses, a little bit can help reduce pain.
Regular Exercise
Along with meditation, Mauskrop calls staying active one of his top two most effective ways to prevent and treat migraines. Of course, many people are in too much pain in the middle of a headache to even think about heading to the gym. But a few people have told him when they feel something coming on, they can go out for a jog and avoid the migraine altogether. "It relaxes you, it releases endorphins," he says.
Last year, a small Swedish study attempted to find out just how good exercise is at preventing migraines and discovered a solid sweat session was just as effective as migraine medications at keeping the debilitating headaches at bay.
Meditation
One way to reap the stress-reducing benefits for free is a quiet meditation practice, says Mauskop, who lists meditation as one of his top two natural migraine treatments. There remains little concrete evidence that meditation in particular can ease the pain, Health.com reported, but it is certainly aproven stress reliever.
Drink More
Plenty of headaches are triggered by dehydration — so much so that Mauskop says he has patients who will quickly drink a few glasses of H2O when they feel a migraine coming on, and actually stop it in its tracks. "They know to catch it early," he says, "that definitely can help."
Not a huge water fan? There are plenty of ways to snazz up a glass or trick yourself into sipping more throughout the day here.
Cool Down — And Warm Up
Many people will feel a chill when they get a migraine, explains Mauskop, while at the same time their heads feel "hot and cloudy" he says. For some temporary relief, try reversing the feelings — cool your head with an ice pack while warming the body in the bath, he suggests. Granted, it's not very practical unless you're at home and have plenty of time, he says, but dilating the blood vessels in the body may help blood flow away from the head and reduce some of the pain, he says.
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