Posted on Feb 13, 2009

Certain herbs and minerals have also shown promise in warding off migraines: Magnesium: Researchers have found fairly strong correlations between magnesium deficiency and the onset of migraines, and some studies have found suggest that regularly taking magnesium supplements may be beneficial for migraine sufferers. Oral magnesium (600 mg per day of trimagnesium dicitrate) was found to reduce the number of migraines by as much as 40% after several weeks. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements, but as magnesium is cheap and relatively safe, it's often recommended. Several herbal supplements have been purported to reduce migraine frequency, but extracts of the feverfew and butterbur plants, as well as kudzu root seem particularly promising based on clinical studies. These supplements should not be taken by women who are pregnant. Feverfew Peppermint (mentha piperita) Passionflower (Passiflora alata) Ginko (ginko biloba) Cayenne (capsaicin) Willow (salix . . .) Meadowsweet, valerian (excellent if you can't sleep), skullcap, chamomile (also common for relaxation). petasites hybridus root At least one clinical study strongly suggests that daily 100 mg supplements of coenzyme Q10 may be as effective as prescription medications in reducing migraine frequency. Fairly high doses of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) also seem to be effective for some patients.