Migraine A severe headache characterized by throbbing pain and sensitivity to light and sound, it is estimated to affect 10% of people worldwide. The frequency of migraines varies from person to person. Some people get migraines once or twice a year. Some people experience it more than 15 times a month. If you’re dealing with migraines, it can be helpful to seek the help of a professional who can offer suggestions on managing your symptoms. This includes identifying triggers, trying different medications, and incorporating lifestyle management techniques such as regular exercise.
Although supplements probably do not replace a migraine treatment plan for most people, there is some evidence that they are effective in reducing the frequency and duration of severe headaches. Generally, these supplements are meant to be taken in recommended amounts daily for prevention rather than treatment. Also, your doctor should let you know about possible interactions with other medicines you are taking.
And don’t expect miracles to happen overnight. “All of these supplements…take time to take effect,” says registered pharmacist and researcher Katie Jantz. Check.com, analyzes nutrition and supplement research. In general, it usually takes about 1 to 3 months to evaluate whether a supplement is working. (To assess its impact over time, it’s helpful to keep a daily migraine diary, advises Janz.)
Here are five supplements commonly taken to relieve migraines and what current science knows about their effectiveness.
Positive effect: butterbur
butterbur is an herb that was briefly recommended by the American Academy of Neurology because it appeared to reduce the frequency of migraines. However, they later withdrew their recommendation due to concerns about liver toxicity. It has since been determined that the main cause of liver toxicity is due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in supplements, and additional steps can be taken to remove them. Look for products labeled “PA Free.”
Although, Research on butterbur is limited“They all had similar results,” Janz said, indicating that they do have a positive effect on migraine sufferers.
Reduces the frequency and duration of migraines: Coenzyme CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10 A naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for performing many important functions related to food metabolism. It is also available as an over-the-counter supplement.in Recent meta-analysisCombining six studies involving a total of 371 patient registries, researchers found that CoQ10 reduced both migraine frequency and duration, with an average of 1.5 fewer migraines per month.
“The downside to CoQ10 is that it has to be administered two or three times a day, and it’s difficult to remember,” Janz says. Pros: Most people experience minimal side effects. Disadvantages: Requires frequent dosing, which can increase costs.
Reduce migraine frequency: Magnesium
Magnesium is commonly used to reduce the frequency of migraines. It is inexpensive to buy, safe to take, and has a reasonable amount of evidence supporting its effectiveness, which has been recognized by the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology. B rating. “Just over half of the studies show an effect, and the rest don’t, so it’s hard to speculate what’s going on,” Janz says.
If you want to try magnesium for migraines, there are different types and the body absorbs them at different rates, which can affect their effectiveness. More common forms include magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate. It’s generally helpful to start with what’s affordable and accessible, and switch to another format if the first one doesn’t work.
Moderate effect on migraine frequency: riboflavin
riboflavinIt is one of the B vitamins and plays an important role in the body’s energy production.There are also some limited evidence suggest that there may be a small effect in reducing Number of migraine headaches per month. “The effects are pretty minimal,” Janz says, but the benefits are that they are cheap, readily available and generally well tolerated.
Mixed studies, risk of side effects: Feverfew
Feverfew is an herb touted for migraine relief. Research suggests it may ‘enhance treatment efficacy’ for migraines. But “the research is really mixed,” says Jantz. One of his big concerns is that there are many different ways to prepare feverfew, which vary from company to company, and any method can affect its effectiveness. This supplement also carries an increased risk of side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and irritation. As such, Jantz rarely recommends it for migraines.
