Alternative Methods for Migraine Relief

Severe migraine headaches are often debilitating and cause excruciating pain to people who experience them. Nausea and a high sensitivity to light are also common symptoms. There are some effective drugs available for reducing symptoms as well as preventing migraines from occurring. Some of the popular migraine relief medications do have some undesirable side affects and for some people who suffer from migraines the current drugs that are used are not effective enough. Let's take a look at some of the effective alternative treatments that are being used to provide migraine relief.

Feverfew

An herb known as feverfew has been used for centuries as a way to reduce pain from a variety of problems and it was also utilized to provide migraine relief. It was commonly used in England during the nineteen eighties to reduce migraine pain. One study showed that feverfew caused a reduction in the number of migraine attacks; however it was not a major reduction. Some studies have concluded that feverfew is not effective at reducing the pain from migraines or reducing the number of migraine attacks. There are some unwanted side effects caused by the usage of feverfew and it may interact with some drugs that you are taking.

5-HTP is a type of a compound that is naturally made in the body. The body utilizes the compound to produce serotonin which is a neurotransmitter and it also is used by the body to create melatonin. You can purchase 5-HTP as a supplement which is typically produced from the seeds of a plant that is found in Africa. Some studies have shown that the compound is effective at providing migraine relief.

Magnesium for Migraine Pain

Magnesium is found in foods such as nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables as well as whole grains and it can also be purchased in supplement form. Magnesium helps in the regulation of the body's blood sugar levels and is also utilized by the muscles as well as the nerves in order to function properly. Magnesium also assists the heart in maintaining its proper rhythm.

Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium for migraine relief and the results have been positive although some researchers have suggested that more research should be done. The severity as well as the longevity of migraines was diminished. Magnesium in high dosages can produce unwanted side effects.

Butterbur is an herb that grows in the northern area of Asia and in parts of Europe as well as in areas of North America. Several studies have shown that the herb is helpful at dealing with migraine headaches. If medications have not been effective at providing migraine relief, you might want to consult with your doctor about trying some alternative treatments for your migraine headaches.