Although there are numerous drugs available to treat migraines, they may not all work the same way for everybody and may also have undesirable side effects. The use of supplements or natural remedies to cure or prevent migraine attacks is growing in popularity.
It is worthwhile to spend time and money on these products if you have migraines or have family members who do. Everyone is unique, and headaches often don’t have a single treatment that works for everyone.
An increasing amount of evidence points to several dietary supplements or specific nutrients, such as vitamin B2 and melatonin, as potential migraine remedies.
This unexpectedly prevalent, painful, and difficult ailment disproportionately affects women over males. In the overall population, up to 18% of women experience migraines. Let’s now know about the most effective natural supplement for migraines.
Tips Before You Start These Natural Supplement For Migraines
- Natural supplements for migraines can be expensive, and many drug plans do not include them.
- There are countless supplement brands. It’s crucial to ensure that the right dosage is applied. The recommended dosage may differ in terms of tablets, capsules, grammes of powder, etc.
- Although supplements are frequently well taken, negative effects are still possible.
- Supplements may not always be safe during pregnancy; see your doctor about this.
- There are various types of magnesium, some of which (such as magnesium oxide) have not been shown to be effective in preventing migraines. The best options are citrate and glycinate.
- Trying to obtain these nutraceuticals solely through diet is not very beneficial because the levels needed for prevention are fairly high.
- If a vitamin helps you avoid migraines, you shouldn’t stop using it anywhere.
Natural Supplement For Migraine
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Magnesium
One important mineral, magnesium, is essential for sustaining healthy neurons and blood pressure, as well as muscle strength. Magnesium deficiency has been associated with migraines and moderates to severe migraines.
As a result, magnesium is believed to work in a variety of ways to prevent and treat migraines. It is one of the most talked about natural supplement for migraines.
One way that magnesium may benefit migraine sufferers is by reducing proinflammatory signals and preventing the overactivation of brain cell receptors.
Older studies suggest that taking magnesium supplements may be particularly helpful in alleviating premenstrual migraine headaches. This is most likely because women who get this type of migraine may also have magnesium insufficiency.
The American Migraine Foundation is another organization that supports magnesium’s viability as a migraine treatment. As a migraine prevention measure, they advise taking 400–600 mg of magnesium oxide tablets daily.
Remember that taking supplements with magnesium can result in diarrhea. Usually, this indicates that you are ingesting too much.
If you’re interested in using it to treat migraine attacks, consult your healthcare provider to determine the right dosage and form of magnesium for you.
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B2 a.k.a Riboflavin
Another natural supplement for migraines is riboflavin. We receive this supplement, a b-vitamin, through food. This vitamin can be found in foods including beans, eggs, almonds, green leafy vegetables, fatty proteins, and beans. High quantities of riboflavin, far more than you would get from a typical diet, may also be beneficial for preventing migraines.
While additional research is required as there has only been one detailed look at the usage of this vitamin, using riboflavin to see if it may assist is low risk and has the extra benefit of promoting the growth of your hair, skin, and nails.
Half of those taking B2 reported 50% fewer migraines. Be aware that the majority of riboflavin supplements you can buy online or in health food stores come in 100-mg quantities. Do keep in mind that the majority of riboflavin supplements you can buy online or at health food stores come in doses of 100 to 200 mg, so modify how many tablets you take each day.
Combining this trio of nutrients—all stated in this article—is a fantastic place to start, as the investigation has also revealed that taking riboflavin combined with magnesium and coq10 is very beneficial.
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Feverfew
Feverfew is a part of the daisy family and has long been used to cure headaches and other health issues. It is supposed to lessen the swelling of blood vessels in the skull, which is one of the characteristics of migraine headaches.
The study in 2002 in Cephalalgia, which tested three doses of the herb (2.08 mg, 6.25 mg, and 18.75 mg) administered three times a day for 12 weeks while comparing them to a placebo in 147 migraine sufferers, provides the strongest support for feverfew. According to the report, 6.24 mg of feverfew was useful in treating a small number of patients who had at least four migraines.
Some of the side effects are pregnancy spasms. It can also result in bleeding, gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, jitters, headaches, difficulties sleeping, stiff joints, fatigue, changes in menstruation, rash, racing heart, and excess weight. They can also boost the efficacy of NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin.
This natural supplement for migraines is known to be highly useful for patients.
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Q10 Coenzyme
Coenzyme Q10, often known as coQ10, is a component of metabolism, just like riboflavin. The main dietary sources of this vitamin are whole grains, oily fish like salmon, and foods like liver. According to certain research, it might aid in migraine prevention.
In one small study, people experiencing migraines received daily doses of coenzyme Q10. More than 60% of them experienced a 50% reduction in the number of migraine-related days.
CoQ10 doesn’t have many significant adverse effects, but you can feel anxiety or gastrointestinal problems. Your liver may be harmed by daily doses greater than 300 mg. Additionally, coQ10 may reduce the effectiveness of the anticoagulant warfarin if you take it.
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Butterbur
A perennial shrub called butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has long been used as a herbal remedy to stave off migraines. It is recognized as a complementary therapy that is both efficient and well-tolerated, with tummy distress and heartburn being the main side effects. However, owing to safety concerns, the use of butterbur is currently surrounded by debate.
There have been 40 liver damage incidents associated with the Petadolex formulation and other medications, and two patients needed liver transplants.
According to the 2012 recommendations, butterbur is a class A medication. Treatments are granted this ranking if at least two high-quality randomly controlled trials (RCTs) have successfully demonstrated their efficacy. The authors of the guidelines advise that:
- Patients who need migraine prophylaxis should be given level A and level B medications.
- Patients who require migraine prophylaxis “may” be given Level C therapies some thought.
What is the turnaround time for supplements?
The simple version of the lengthy, intricate response is as follows: It varies depending on a variety of variables, including how weak you are in the nutrient or mineral before you begin taking a supplement, the reason for your shortage in the first place, the quality and amount of the capsule you’re taking, and a host of other aspects that are particular to your body.
The pills that are frequently used to treat migraines won’t start working for you for two to three months. Our recommendation is to ask your doctor what sort of timeline, given your requirements and fitness, you should expect.
Conclusive Insights
For sufferers, these natural supplement for migraines may or may not be effective. The quickest and most effective method to lessen headache and migraine discomfort is frequently a secure blend of natural treatments and therapeutic solutions.
Remember that there are numerous sorts of headaches, and the particular type you have may determine how well each cure works for you. It’s better to understand your headache. For that, you can learn ways to avoid, treat, and reduce your pain. Also, you can consider collaborating with overall healthcare professionals.
You might also get rid of headaches by cutting out processed foods. Exposure to sugar substitutes, flavors, colors, and other non-natural compounds is also strictly prohibited. But some naturally occurring substances in food can also act as triggers.
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