Migraine Headaches: Prevention and Natural Treatment

Migraine Headaches Symptoms: It is estimated that 29 million people in the U.S. suffer from Migraines. Women are three times more likely to experience them. There are many different kinds of headaches but Migraines are much more debilitating. They come on with throbbing pain usually on one side, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, sensitivity to sound and light. Some patients get more intense Migraines that cause slurred speech, forgetfulness, feeling hot and cold, and ghostly lights in their vision called auras. They can go on for hours or days. It is estimated that 50 billion dollars is lost each year due to lost productivity and medical costs. The most important factor is that it reduces your quality of life. You have lost days due to the pain and symptoms.

Keep A Headache Diary: You need to keep an diary every day noting the foods you eat, level of stress, activities, sleep patterns, menstrual cycles, hormone problems, and weather changes. In both food allergies and Migraines, you need to know what factor or factors may be at fault. If you seek a doctor, he will need the same information.

Thyroid Problems / Inadequate Sleep: Fatigue is a major trigger to migraines. When you have hypo-function of your thyroid, you are tired all the time. Since thyroid function affects every cell of your body, you are not functioning at your best. In Hypothyroidism: The unsuspected Illness by Broda Barnes, M.D. he stressed that even borderline thyroid deficiencies will increase migraine headaches. Since most doctors will not treat borderline thyroid problems, go to a holistic doctor who can give you some natural supplementation such as iodine or kelp. Getting your thyroid function balanced is very important. Hypothyroidism is also a problem in womens hormone problems which result in migraine headaches. Inadequate sleep is a trigger for Migraines as well. They go hand in hand.

Abdominal Weight Gain: Researchers know that people who have increased abdominal weight on their stomach experience more migraines than people who do not obese. Obesity makes you fatigued and sluggish. You body is not operating in a healthy way when you are obese. Abdominal weight gain is very hard on the heart as well.

PFO Heart Abnormality: Many people have a small hole in their heart and don't know it. It has been shown in research that people who have this hole sewn up, have either fewer migraines or they disappear entirely. Patients who experience auras with their migraine headaches are more likely to have the PFO heart abnormality.

Prescription Medicines, Migraine Medicines and Birth Control Pills: Often prescription medicines and migraine medications taken to stop Migraines make Migraines worse. One of the side effects listed for these drugs is headaches. That does not even make sense to me.

The Womens Health Institute of Texas has seen a great correlation to the onset of Migraines with the use of birth control pills. Even if you don't take birth control pills, there are estrogen like substances found in red meat, milk, and plastic containers. These chemicals cause hormonal imbalances including Migraines. It is well known that women have more Migraines than men because of our complicated hormonal system.

Candida: Systemic yeast infections in the gut and intestines can cause headaches including Migraines.

Mold: Many apartments and houses have serious mold problems. They can go on for years under the floors and in the walls undetected. Many people get very sick from these molds. There are companies and kits to test your house for mold. If your headaches disappear when you are not home, then mold could be responsible.

Humidity, Temperature, and Air Pressure: Research shows that when the temperature and air pressure changes, many patients suffer a migraine. Some patients are more subject to weather changes than others. This should also be noted everyday in your migraine diary.

Foods: Top three migraine causing foods are wine, chocolate, and nuts.

Aspertame and Artificial Sweeteners- No matter how safe the articles say they are, they often cause hyperactivity in children and headaches. I have a family member who cannot eat any food with Aspertame. She is prone to migraines and Aspertame will cause a Migraine every time. You need to read labels. Chewable vitamin C often contains artificial sweeteners as do thousands of other foods.

Food Additives (nitrates, sulfates, MSG): MSG is in thousands of foods and a real problem. You need to get back to organic foods. Processed foods cause problems and are not good for your health.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: Start reading labels. High fructose corn syrup is in almost everything you eat that is prepared for you. It is also linked to weight gain problems and hyperactivity in children. Corn is at the top of the allergy food lists

Tyramines: Foods with high natural levels of Tyramines include: Parmesan, Romano, and aged Cheddar Cheese; Overripe fruit such as bananas; dried fruit, raisins, figs, grapes, oranges, plums, prunes, and eggplant; soy products; beef liver and meat; processed meats, cured or pickled meats; meat by-products, and broths.

Vitamin Deficiencies: Have your doctor test your B12, Copper and Zinc levels. Often elevated copper which causes a deficiency of Zinc will cause Migraines. There is quite a lot of research on the B12 deficiency link to migraines. B12 deficiency signs are headaches, fatigue, visual disturbances, digestive problems, cracks in the mouth, and sensitivity to light. Interesting that B12 deficiencies copy many of the symptoms of Migraines. There are a number of patients who have seen their migraines decrease or disappear entirely when they corrected their vitamin deficiencies. B12 is present in many foods but lost in cooking and light.

Magnesium Deficiency: Magnesium is one of the most needed minerals. In one double blind study, patients received 600 mg of magnesium per day, had their symptoms reduced by 41.6 per cent versus the placebo with 15.8 per cent reduction. The main side effect is diarrhea if you take too much of it. Magnesium is a relaxant for muscles including the bowel. 18% of the group had some diarrhea problems. If you take your magnesium in divided dosages, it helps with the diarrhea problem.

Natural Alternatives: Go organic, if it says additives and artificial ingredients, leave it on the shelf.

Sage tea: Steep a cup of Sage tea. Make a compress and lay over your head where the pain is.

Feverfew: An herb that in England is a prescription for Migraine headaches. The quality of the product is very important. Research studies performed on Feverfew and Migraines have been inconsistent. Some studies show that it is very effective and some that it is not. This may have been caused by poor quality product, the trial study was too short, or inadequate dosage. There may have been other factors that were responsible for the Migraines not addressed. Your trial of Feverfew should last for at least 3 to 4 months. It takes that long at times to see results. Often what will happen is that your headaches will decrease in number and severity over several months. It is wise to do this under the direction of a holistic doctor because herbs including Feverfew and drugs do interact in negative ways.

Butterbur: In several studies, patients taking from 50 to 75 mg a day for 4 months had their headaches reduced. Side effects are mild with some digestive upset and burping. It is a member of the Ragweed family so if you have allergies to ragweed, this is not a good choice. Try to buy Butterbur where the pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been extracted out of the herb.

Boswella: In Ayurvedic medicine, this is one herb used for headaches including Migraines.

Tumeric and Ginger: In the UK, the National Awareness Organization has studied thousands of migraine sufferers. Their research found that Ginger relieved both the symptoms of nausea and the migraine itself in 63% of the patients. Tumeric works as a anti-inflammatory by itself and when combined with Ginger really helps some Migraine sufferers. Ginger is also anti-inflammatory.

Sinus Buster: This product has been shown on CBS and Healthline. It is a nasal spray consisting of Cayenne Pepper, Feverfew Extract, and Peppermint Oil. All these herbs have been shown to help migraine sufferers. Taking Cayenne by itself stops some Migraines. It is best to get a cool cayenne product that is easier on the tummy.

Chiropractic: Misalignment of the head and jaw can cause headaches and many other symptoms.

Seeking Help:

You need to seek out a holistic physician who will help you get to the base cause of your Migraines. He will test you for allergies, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and thyroid problems. He will look at the factors in your diet and life style that may be the causative factors for your Migraines. Research the links below for more information.

References:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/03/prweb735184.htm

http://migraines-headaches.org/

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/headachemigraine/a/Migraine.htm

www.ZeroMigraines.com

http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/eliminate-migraines