Migraine Treatments and Therapies

Click here to download our booklet on managing your migraine.

Butterbur
A member found that butterbur extract from Swanson Health Products was really effective in helping to prevent her migraines. "At least six people on MA's web forum are on it and doing well. It has cut my migraines from almost daily to ten a month".
They cost £4.12 for 60, 75mg tablets and can be purchased online at www.swansonvitamins.com.

Andrea West from Somerset explains her experience of aspartame:
"I just wanted to say that in the July 2011 newsletter, on page 12, Dr Silver advises to drink plenty of water or squash. However, most of the fruit squashes available in supermarkets now contain aspartame which I found to be the main trigger for my migraines. read more... Andrea West from Somerset explains her experience of aspartame:
"I just wanted to say that in the July 2011 newsletter, on page 12, Dr Silver advises to drink plenty of water or squash. However, most of the fruit squashes available in supermarkets now contain aspartame which I found to be the main trigger for my migraines. Even Robinson's Barley Water and Ribena (and no, not just the 'sugar-free' ones) contain it.
Most lemonades and diet yoghurts also contain aspartame. Since cutting all artificial sweeteners out of my diet my migraines have improved vastly. Incidentally, a friend told me that her small son was excluded from his playschool due to naughty behaviour - and when she checked what they were given at break time, they were given orange squash with aspartame in it. The playschool has now changed the squash and all is well!
Dr Nichola Giffin from the Royal United Hospital in Bath - a headache and migraine specialist has put me on atenelol which has had a huge difference to my life - I no longer wake up with a headache."

Averil Horton from Twickenham comments:
"36 years of migraine, then suddenly relief.... read more... Averil Horton from Twickenham comments:
36 years of migraine, then suddenly relief....
Since the age of 14 I have had one or two migraines a week, usually disabling, and had learnt to live my life around them. Although they changed over the years, nothing ever stopped them. Taking Sumatriptan helped control them and made my life more normal.
In February 2010, my doctor prescribed a new HRT treatment, 'Angeliq'. I have not had a single attack since nor have I taken a single sumatriptan; it is amazing"

Isoflavones - treatment for menstrual migraine
One of our members Beverley Brachacka from Leeds, contacted us to say:"The last three months I have been using Soya Isoflavones and have been practically migraine-free. read more... One of our members Beverley Brachacka from Leeds, contacted us to say:
"The last three months I have been using Soya Isoflavones and have been practically migraine-free. Isoflavones are plant phytoestrogens - a food supplement, mainly used for the relief of menopausal symptoms as it mimics oestrogen. I had always been advised to avoid oestrogens due to possible link with migraines, but after doing some research about menstrual migraine I decided to take a small dose around day 20 of my cycle and continue for 7 days after the start of my period.
Through online research I have found some clinical trials on Isoflavones that showed they help to reduce the incidence and / or severity of migraine. The active chemicals in the Isoflavones are Daidzein, Genistein and Glycitein.
The supplements are not too expensive (£15.99 for 120 full price, but often on half price offer for £7.98, larger quantities are available) and easy to purchase. I have been using the Holland & Barrett Soya Isoflavones 750mg.
I have been very impressed with the results so far. I may wake up feeling a bit headachey a couple of days, but I take a paracetamol and it goes away. I have been so impressed with the results that I wanted to share my findings with other menstrual migraineurs, as a day less with migraine is a day of your life back."

References: online research    clinical trials

After having undertaken Kineasology (a holistic way of detecting and correcting imbalances in your body's energy) one of our members found that she had low magnesium. Although, she had taken magnesium tablets before it was magnesium thyroxide that she needed to take, particularly as she had other members of her family  who had a thyroid dysfunction.

After Having 5 drops of magnesium thyroxide a day, her migraines were reduced to one a month.