Magnesium is not just the anti stress mineral. It plays a vital role in the functioning of the nervous system and stabilizes blood vessel walls. Magnesium deficiency can be tested by the blood but since most of us are deficient, consider adding it to your regimen. A study using 600 mg of magnesium daily for 6 weeks showed a 41.6% reduction in headaches. See 2011 Articles above for more information on magnesium.
Food sensitivities are also a very common trigger. The most common are gluten, eggs, dairy, soy, corn and nuts. Sulphites from wine, food additives (msg and aspartame) and cheese (molds) are also common triggers. Eliminate the foods you suspect for two weeks then introduce one new food every three days to see which ones, if any, lead to a headache.
You can also get an IgG food sensitivity test and then depending on the results consider NAET to help eliminate the sensitivity (www.naet.com)
For hormonal imbalances, lower your estrogen and increase your progesterone. Eliminate soy products, take a B complex with at least 50 mg of B-6, calcium citrate (800-1000 mg), magnesium (400-600mg) and a good multi vitamin. A topical progesterone cream might help (it helped my adolescent son with his acne and interestingly enough he has only had 1 migraine in the year he used the progesterone cream).
Studies have shown that 400 mg daily of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) reduced the frequency and severity of migraines in 37-50% of those taking the vitamin over 3 months.
Feverfew is an herb which can interrupt inflammatory reactions in your head that irritate nerve endings which then cause blood vessels to expand. A 2005 study found that a combination of the herbs feverfew and ginger relieved migraines in 48% of the participants. Daily use can prevent migraines and reduce severity and duration. 250-300 mg of standardized feverfew in morning and evening on empty stomach for 4-6 weeks.
Other things in my tool box: accupuncture, biofeedback, 5-HTP which converts to serontonin (400-600 mg daily); GLA (an omega 6 fatty acid which is anti inflammatory). A Berlin study showed GLA reduced the severity, frequency and duration of migraines in more than 80% of the participants. Try 1300-1600 mg of GLA from borage or evening primrose oil in divided doses 2x day (don’t take with anti seizure medication).
And yes, I confess, I do have a bottle of Excedrin just in case.
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