Treating migraines with herbal remedies

Migraines have been treated with all sorts of medications for years. In fact, only a few prescription drugs have been designed just for migraine treatment. In many cases, doctors prescribe medications off label- that is for something than their intended purpose- to treat a patient’s migraine. These drugs include blood pressure medications, anti-seizure pills, and even antidepressants. Any patient may wonder about the safety of using these drugs off label, and for good reason. Many prescription drugs can have side effects that make suffering from a migraine seem easy. Being prescribed strange medications (which often do not have the desired effect) has made many turn to other treatments for migraine headaches.

There are a wide variety of home remedies for migraines, and many of these begin with prevention. Many times, your doctor will have asked that you keep a headache diary- keeping track of all activities leading up to the headache, as well as what seemed to help. Over time, you may be able to identify certain headache triggers and avoid them. Of course, this does not guarantee that migraines will simply disappear. While knowing your triggers may help reduce the frequency of headaches, usually more needs to be done to control the migraines.

Herbal remedies have been around for centuries, and are said to improve a wide variety of medical conditions. While few of these claims have been scientifically proven, some have shown promise. Green tea extract may have healing properties for migraines. Caffeine is a major ingredient in many painkillers, and green tea has a similar ingredient. Green tea is also considered an antioxidant, and a diet high in antioxidants (which also include foods high in Vitamin C and E) are believed to reduce migraines.

Feverfew is also a notable herbal remedy for migraines. It has been popular for headache relief for many years, and has a low risk of side effects. It is available in a powder, capsule, or tea. Butterbur is also a popular herbal remedy, and studies have shown it to be effective. It should only be taken in capsule or tablet form, as it can be poisonous in its natural state. Like feverfew, it has mild and uncommon side effects.

In addition to herbal remedies, many dietary supplements are being popularised as a way to prevent migraines. As interest in alternative treatments has grown, the medical community has made an effort to determine which of these treatments are most effective. Herbal remedies can be safer than medications, but be sure to contact your doctor before you change your migraine treatment plan.

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