Bernie Noe, ND

Naturopathic Physician

Take the Natural Route to Better Health

Preventing Migraine Headaches Naturally

Migraine headaches, which are caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the head, affect 18-30% of women and 6-20% of men.  They differ from the more common tension headache in that the pain is usually throbbing rather than constant, and is frequently associated with visual disturbances or nausea and vomiting.  The pain is typically also much more severe, with pain medications such as Tylenol or Advil offering little or no relief.  Fortunately, there are several natural therapies which can be very effective in resolving migraine headaches.

First and foremost, it is important to take a look at food allergies and sensitivities.  Food allergies occur when the immune system reacts to foods in the same way it would to a foreign bacteria, and are a very common cause of migraine headaches.  Food sensitivities occur when something in the food triggers a biochemical change which leads to the dilation of blood vessels.  This is also a very common cause of migraines.

Food allergies occur most commonly to dairy, wheat, citrus, soy, peanuts, corn, and eggs.  The list of potentially allergic foods, however, includes pretty much everything a person eats.  The more frequently a food is eaten, the more likely it is to be a food allergen.  The best way to determine if food allergies are a problem is either by a blood test or by following a food allergy elimination/challenge diet.  In this diet potentially allergic foods are eliminated for a period of about two weeks and then are challenged one at a time to see if they provoke a migraine headache.  While inexpensive and accurate, this can be a painful process to go through.  For that reason, many people prefer the blood test.

Food sensitivities occur most commonly to chocolate, nuts, MSG, caffeine, alcohol, Nutrasweet, and tyramine containing foods such as wine and cheese.  Nightshade family vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers and nitrate containing foods such as cured meats and bacon can also cause difficulty.  The best way to determine if any of these foods are problematic is to follow the elimination/challenge diet described previously.

Some people with migraine headaches also suffer from hypoglycemia, a condition in which the blood sugar drops precipitously a couple hours after eating.  Correcting this condition through diet is very important to the successful treatment of migraine headaches.

In addition to the dietary treatments discussed above, there are a number of supplements that can be very effective in the treatment of migraine headaches.  Feverfew, an herbal medication, is one of the best.  It has been used for centuries to relieve migraines, fever, and arthritis.  It has been studied extensively in recent times,  and was found to help 70% of 270 migraine sufferers in a 1983 survey.  For feverfew to be effective, however, it must be taken on a regular basis for four to eight weeks.  It works by preventing migraines, not by relieving the pain of a migraine headache already underway.

Other treatments include magnesium, vitamin B6 and 5-hydroxy tryptophan, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin.  These last two supplements can be especially helpful to women who have migraine headaches which are associated with their menstrual cycle.

The most effective approach to the treatment of migraines generally includes a combination of the above mentioned therapies, and can take several months to be completely effective.  Many people who do not have severe migraines, however, are able to prevent headaches by making dietary changes alone.  For assistance in working with the above therapies, see a naturopathic physician.