7 Natural Remedies To Treat Migraine

7 Natural Remedies To Treat Migraine

Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a known cure for migraine. There are anecdotal remedies, but nothing proven by science. That being said, I have come across many cases where people have been able to control the painful effects of migraine quickly. Like most remedies, one size does not fit all. But, these are worth trying, and they are not expensive.
Please comment if any of the remedies work for you..
Pages 1-3 are from the Migraine Trust and are science-based. Page 4 contains a popular anecdotal remedy
.

Feverfew

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a herb that is available as an off-the-shelf remedy. Its yellow-green leaves and yellow flowers resemble those of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), with which it is sometimes confused.

The herb feverfew has had a long history of use in traditional and folk medicine. Recently it has become a popular prophylactic treatment for migraine headaches and its extracts have been claimed to relieve menstrual pain, asthma, dermatitis, and arthritis. Traditionally, the herb has been used as an antipyretic (fever reducer), from which its common name is derived.

Human safety data

If you have any health problems that may be treated with feverfew, consult your doctor before use. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence or liver disease. Liquid preparations of this product may contain sugar and/or alcohol, and feverfew is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this product is not recommended, and feverfew is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Potential side effects

Most adverse effects of treatment with feverfew are mild, although some patients have experienced an increased heart rate. Feverfew possibly may interact with anticoagulants. A small percentage of people may experience mild stomach upset from feverfew, although this is rare. Chewing fresh feverfew leaves may lead to minor mouth ulcerations occasionally, an effect not observed with capsule users.

Interaction with other drugs

It is advised to avoid the use of feverfew when taking anticoagulant drugs. Feverfew is contraindicated to those allergic to other members of the family Compositae (Asteraceae) such as chamomile, ragweed, or yarrow.

Use for migraine

Seventeen migraine patients who already used feverfew daily as migraine prophylaxis enrolled in a controlled trial in which 8 patients continued to receive feverfew while 9 stopped taking their feverfew and received placebo treatment instead (i.e. untreated patients) (8). Those who received placebo had a significant increase in the frequency and severity of headache (an average of 3.13 headaches every 6 months when taking placebo vs. only 1.69 headaches every 6 months when taking feverfew), nausea, and vomiting, whereas there was no change in the group receiving feverfew. In a larger study of 72 patients, feverfew was associated with a 24% reduction in the mean number and severity of attacks although the duration of the individual attacks was unaltered.