HERBAL REMEDIES FOR MIGRAINE – A severe headache is what people mean when they talk about having a migraine. It is possible that this is caused by the constriction or dilatation of blood vessels in the brain, in addition to the asymmetrical neuronal activity that is mostly found in the meninges.
The stimulation of the trigeminal nerve is thought to be the cause of migraines. This nerve is responsible for the release of a chemical that causes inflammation as well as the transmission of information to pain receptors in the meninges.
Migraine headaches are debilitating conditions that are accompanied by an excruciating headache. Typically, only one side of the affected person’s head is affected by the headache.
Migraine sufferers are more likely to experience problems with their vision, digestion, and liver.
Migraine headaches are frequently brought on by high levels of mental pressure and stress. Patients who suffer from migraine headaches typically exhibit characteristics such as elegance, firmness, and discipline.
Migraine headaches can come on suddenly for several reasons, including overworked muscles in the head and neck as well as ongoing tension.
The blood flow is reduced as a result of these tight muscles’ ability to restrict the arteries. These contracted muscles cause the walls of the blood vessels to suddenly expand and become more expansive as the person suddenly relaxes. Every time the heartbeat, blood poured through the veins, which caused a tremendous amount of pressure and discomfort.
Migraine headaches are most common in women, likely as a result of the natural variations in estrogen levels that occur throughout their lifetime. Migraines are a common complaint among women, and this is the primary explanation for why they tend to occur around the time of menstruation when estrogen levels are at their lowest.
Migraines are a common occurrence for pregnant women,
particularly in the early stages of pregnancy. There is a possibility that the headache is due to fluctuations in hormone levels; however, it is also possible that the headache is due to an excessive amount of strain. Migraine headaches typically strike people between the ages of 20 and 30, when they are in their prime.
On the other hand, children can also suffer from migraines,
however, their symptoms are manifested differently. A child with migraine may endure recurrent stomach pain, vomiting, dizziness, colic, or severe motion sickness. These symptoms will gradually go, leaving only the underlying issue, which is severe headaches. Nearly every person who suffers from migraines will, without fail, have some symptoms before getting one of these headaches.
Migraine symptoms include
- Eyes turn red, and the patient experiences burning eyes.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Patient desires to be all alone and feels at ease in a silent and dark room.
- Excruciating pain in one-half of the head.
- Melancholy and irritability
- Weakness in one or both of your arms or legs
- Photophobia
Migraine headaches can be brought on by several factors, including
- tension,
- stress,
- and acidity in the body.
Digestive issues, such as constipation, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and low blood sugar are also risk factors. Low blood pressure; general bodily weakness; women’s menstrual cycle; nutritional deficiency; regular overwork; insufficient sleep and rest; insufficient sleep and rest; inappropriate sleep and work
Supplements
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).
Your body makes serotonin from the amino acid 5-HTP. Serotonin is a very important brain chemical. Researchers think that migraines may be caused by the way serotonin works in blood vessels, and some of the drugs used to treat migraines work by changing how serotonin works.
Several studies show that 5-HTP may be as good at reducing the severity and number of migraine attacks as some prescription drugs. Not all studies agree, though.
One study found that 5-HTP wasn’t as good as the drug Inderal,
which is a beta-blocker. To be sure that 5-HTP helps treat migraines, more research needs to be done. If you have a history of mental illness, take an antidepressant, or take supplements like St. John’s wort or SAMe, you shouldn’t take 5-HTP unless your doctor tells you to. Do not take 5-HTP without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.
Magnesium.
People who get migraines tend to have less magnesium in their bodies than people who don’t get migraines. Several studies suggest that magnesium may help people with low magnesium levels have fewer migraines. In one study, people who took magnesium cut their attacks by 41.6%, while those who took a placebo cut their attacks by 15.8%. Some studies have also shown that magnesium might help women whose periods cause migraines. Low blood pressure and diarrhea can be side effects of magnesium. Magnesium can affect how some medicines work, like heart medicines, diuretics (water pills), some antibiotics, and muscle relaxers.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
A few studies show that riboflavin may make migraines less frequent and last less long. In one study, the number of attacks dropped by more than 50% in people who took riboflavin. Riboflavin has been shown to work in some studies, but not all. We need to do more research.
Riboflavin can interact with some medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants, anticholinergic drugs, which are used to treat a wide range of conditions, phenobarbital, which is used to treat seizures, and probenecid, which is used to treat gout.
Initial research suggests that these supplements may also help prevent migraines, but we need to do more research to be sure:
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).
CoQ10 can interact with a number of drugs, such as blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin), some cancer drugs, and high blood pressure drugs.
Melatonin.
Melatonin can affect how other medicines work, so talk to your doctor before you take it.
Herbs
Herbal medicines have been used for a long time to strengthen the body and treat illness.
Herbs, on the other hand, can cause side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. Because of these things, you should be careful when taking herbs and should do so under the supervision of a health care professional.
Butterbur
A few studies show that taking butterbur regularly for up to 4 months may help reduce both the number and length of migraine attacks. More research needs to be done to find out if butterbur works to stop migraines. In the studies, a standardized extract was used, which cut down on the amount of substances in the herb that could hurt the liver. Ask your doctor about a safe extract and dose of butterbur if you want to try it for your migraines. Butterbur shouldn’t be taken by women who are pregnant or who are nursing their babies. If you are allergic to ragweed, you might also be allergic to butterbur. Butterbur might not work well with some medications. Talk to your doctor about the medicines you’re taking and find out if they can be taken with butterbur.
Feverfew.
Feverfew has been used for a long time to treat headaches, and several well-designed studies have found that it may help prevent and treat migraines. In a study of people with migraines, those who took feverfew capsules every day for 4 months had a big drop in the number of attacks and a lot less nausea and vomiting than those who got a placebo.
Some studies, on the other hand, have mixed results. Feverfew can make you more likely to bleed, so you shouldn’t take it with medicines that thin your blood, like warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix). There are a number of medicines that feverfew might interact with. Talk to your doctor about it. Feverfew shouldn’t be taken by women who are pregnant or who are nursing their babies. If you have ragweed allergies, you may also have feverfew allergies. There isn’t much research on how safe it is to use feverfew for a long time, so work with a doctor who knows what they’re doing.
Even though there are no scientific studies that prove they work, these herbs are sometimes recommended to treat migraines and other types of headaches. People who take blood-thinning drugs or have bleeding disorders shouldn’t take these herbs, and you should talk to your doctor about any other drugs you may be taking:
Kava
is a herb that can be particularly helpful for migraines. Because of its properties, one might have a very calm sedative effect, which is beneficial in achieving a profound level of relaxation. Because of these effects, migraine headaches are alleviated, and sleep quality is improved without impairing attention. Take one dose of 180 milligrams per day for a total of just three days. Kava is an extremely potent herb, and consuming it in high quantities can have a night. Therefore, be sure you don’t take more than the advised amount.
Dong quai.
Before taking dong quai, you should talk to your doctor because it might interact with some medicines or cause problems for people with some types of cancer.
Ginger.
Migraine is thought to be a disorder of the nervous system, and there isn’t much proof that vascular problems are involved. Recent discoveries about how migraines cause and make people feel pain have helped a lot with making new medicines for migraines.
Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine say that ginger can help with neurological problems. Ginger may be able to stop and prevent migraine headaches without causing any side effects, according to a theory.
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba, has been used in Chinese medicine for a very long time. The plant has been used for a long time to treat migraine headaches, dementia, asthma, bronchitis, eye problems like glaucoma, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), leg pain caused by narrowing of the arteries (intermittent claudication), and other health problems.
Willow bark.
Willow bark, which comes from the bark of several types of willow trees, has been used to treat pain for hundreds of years. The part of the medicine made from willow bark that does the healing is called salicin.
Some people use willow bark instead of aspirin, especially if they have headaches/migraine or back pain that doesn’t go away. Some products that help people lose weight also contain willow bark.
Willow bark shouldn’t be taken by people who are allergic to aspirin.
Acupuncture
Researchers have looked at acupuncture as a way to treat migraine headaches for more than 20 years. Researchers agree that acupuncture seems safe and may help some people, even though not all studies have shown that it works. A study that came out in 2003 suggests that acupuncture works as well as the drug Imitrex when migraines first start to happen. But as long as the symptoms last, the medicine works better than acupuncture.
Acupuncturists use needles to treat patients, but they may also suggest changes to the way you live, such as specific breathing techniques, qi gong exercises, or changes to your diet.
Chiropractic
Several clinical trials show that spinal manipulation therapy may help treat migraine headaches. In one study of people with migraines, 22% of those who went to a chiropractor said that the number of attacks went down by more than 90%. Also, 49% said that the severity of each migraine went down a lot.
In another study, people with migraine headaches were randomly given spinal manipulation, a daily medication (Elavil), or both. Spinal manipulation helped reduce migraines just as well as Elavil and had fewer side effects. Combining treatments didn’t help at all.
Also, researchers looked at 9 studies that looked at how chiropractic care helped people with tension or migraine headaches and found that it worked just as well as drugs at preventing these headaches. To know for sure if chiropractic care can stop migraines, more research needs to be done.
More to read: Why are 80 percent of us magnesium deficient?
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