Herbs for Migraine

Most people look to over-the-counter drugs or prescription medication to get rid of their migraines. However, sometimes medication just don't help. That is the downside about migraine medications. You just don't know what will work or won't work for you. There is no one drug that cures all migraines. Therefore, herbs to relieve migraine symptoms have become an option for many migraineurs. Some are tired of trying one migraine medication after another because it's only spelled disappointment. Plus they've had to suffer the terrible side effects of the medications. Some just rather stay away from drugs as much as they can. Here are some herbs that have had some success in getting rid of migraine.

Feverfew

Feverfew is also known as Bachelors Button. It's botanical name is Tanacetum partheneum. Taking Feverfew to relieve migraine symptoms is an old folks remedy that is gaining in popularity. It is best used as a preventive treatment by taking a controlled amount daily. A substance found in Feverfew known as parthenolide is said to be the one that helps get rid of migraines. It works by inhibiting the release of substances that dilate blood vessels. It is the dilation of blood vessels that contributes to the pounding pain of migraineurs. We also know that a decrease in serotonin levels in the brain can cause migraines. Parthenolide actually works in conjunction with other active ingredients in Feverfew to regulate the serotonin levels.
Feverfew can be found in natural food stores as a freeze-dried capsule or tablet form. There is also Feverfew tea and tincture that can be quite bitter. Another option is to chew the leaves. You can get the plant from nurseries and is easy to cultivate. However, as just mentioned, it is bitter and you may not be able to stand nibbling three leaves a day. Anecdotal evidence points to Feverfew in extracted forms not being as effective.
You may experience certain side effects with Feverfew such as skin rash, sore mouth, lip swelling and loss of taste. Below are several precautionary measures:

• It is traditionally believed that Feverfew can stimulate menstrual flow and induce abortion. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are not advised to consume this herb.

• Consult with your doctor before taking Feverfew. There are certain drugs that should not be combined with it such as aspirin and other NSAIDs.

• Do not take this if you have a bleeding disorder, taking blood clotting medications or blood thinning drugs.

• If you are allergic or sensitive to ragweed or chrysanthemums, stay away as it can cause reactions.

Before you can adequately determine whether Feverfew is effective in preventing your migraines, you should take it regularly for at least a few weeks.

Ginger

Ginger has anti-nausea and anti-vomiting properties. It's success with treating migraine can be found in a frequently cited case study that was published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. It's about a women who substituted her conventional anti-migraine drugs with ginger. Her direction was to drink 500mg to 600mg of ginger powder mixed with water, four times a day, for four days, beginning at the onset of a migraine aura,. She saw an improvement in her condition within 30 minutes. Her continued use of fresh ginger in her diet resulted in fewer number of migraine attacks over a year.

The most wonderful thing about using ginger to treat your migraines is that it doesn't have any side effects or contraindications. Therefore it is safe for pregnant women and children. In using ginger to treat your migraine, you can choose to consume ginger powder, ginger root tea (steeped or boiled) or eat it fresh.

Butterbur

Butterbur is the more common name for Petasites hybridus. It has gone through about 3 clinical trials, one of them testing Butterbur's effects on children and adolescents with severe migraine. Each has been in favor of Butterbur successfully reducing migraine attacks. This is good news because so far, there are hardly any medication safe enough for children with migraine. This herb should be taken as a preventive treatment. Use it for several months before deciding if it works for you. Most commonly observed side effect reported in the trials was burping. Butterbur's active substances, petasin and isopetasin, inhibits the production of a substance that dilates blood vessels. It is this anti-inflammatory effect that helps prevent migraines. However, Butterbur plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that may be toxic to your liver. Therefore, you should avoid making "home-brewed" butterbur extract. Commercial products would have filtered out this toxic chemical during the manufacturing process. You may find Butterbur pills at pharmacies, natural food stores and even online. The clinical trials mentioned here used the Petodolex brand of butterbur extract. Alexander Mauskop, M.D., director of the New York Headache Center in New York City, suggests taking 75 mg twice daily with food.