Herbal Remedies for Migraine Relief

There is a big difference between a regular headache and a migraine. The symptoms of a migraine include a throbbing pain on one side of your head, seeing spots or flashing lights, temporary loss of vision, nausea, and dizziness. Migraines are no joke at all. I suffer from them and had to be put on prescription medication for migraines.

I was put on Propranolol and it seems to help quite a bit. I used to get four or five migraines every month where I would have to lie down in a dark room with no sounds at all. It was terrible. I would have to stay in that dark and quite room until the migraine was gone and sometimes I would get up, thinking it was gone, and as soon as I moved my head the pain was still there, throbbing.

There are many different prescription medications for migraine relief. Some prevent migraines and some take them away once you get one. The prescription medication I'm on prevents them but it doesn't prevent them enough because I still get a migraine every once in a while. My insurance won't cover the cost of anything better so I decided to check out some herbal remedies for migraine relief. Who knows, maybe all natural herbs will help a lot better than prescription medication.

I advice everyone who suffers from migraines to speak to their doctor before trying any herbs. Don't stop taking your prescription medication unless your doctor says it is ok.

Herbal Remedies for Migraines: Feverfew

Feverfew is an herb that can help prevent migraines. It was thought to relief fevers, hence the name. It works much like Ibuprofen and is believed to reduce chemicals that cause the blood vessels in your head to spasm.

Feverfew is a member of the daisy family and many people have grown it themselves and harvested the leaves. Feverfew is supposed to be taken on a daily basis to help prevent migraines but the dosage is not known yet. Feverfew has not been scientifically proven to work and has some side effects if too much is taken. It can cause a skin rash and a sore mouth. Speak to your doctor before trying feverfew for the prevention of migraines.

Herbal Remedies for Migraines: Peppermint

Peppermint can help relieve many ailments including a migraine. It can be used as a tea or an extract and can also be used as an essential oil in aromatherapy. If you have heartburn or similar stomach problems, do not use peppermint.

Herbal Remedies for Migraines: Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba can be good to relieve a migraine because it can improve blood flow to the brain. Because of this, it not only relieves migraines but improves mental alertness and memory as well. Ginkgo biloba can cause side effects when taken with other medications including aspirin and ibuprofen. As with other herbs, speak to your doctor before trying it.

Herbal Remedies for Migraines: Willow

Willow is a great herb to relieve migraines because it works like aspirin. It can relieve the pain and reduce inflammation. It should not be taken long term and do not take it with other migraine drugs because of the side effects.

Once again, make sure to speak with your doctor before trying any of the above mentioned herbs. Although herbs are natural, they can still cause side effects if taken with prescription or over-the-counter drugs and if too much is taken.

For more information on herbal remedies for migraine relief, visit the websites below.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Herbs for Migraine Relief

Herbal Medicine