natural migraine treatment

Read and learn more about natural migraine treatment. For more, visit the Migraine Headache website MyBrainPain.com

Q: Natural Treatment For Migraine Headaches?
Is there any way to treat acne without medicine.

A: HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT(s) FOR SINUSITIS / HEADACHES / MIGRAINES :-

SINUSITIS :-

Right sided frontal sinusitis; discharge thick, yellowish; worse by cold,damp and exertion Penicillinum 30 or 200, 6 hourly

Sinusitis after mastoid operation Helka lava 3X or 6X, 4 hourly

In acute or chronic sinusitis; catarrh with stringy discharge Kali Bich 30 4 hourly

Tearing pain in head; from root of nose, extending to forehead with nausea; dryness of mucous passages Natrum Mur 30, 4 hourly

Pain begins at the back of head and settles over the eyes; worse under a fan Silicea 1M, weekly (6 Doses)

Chronic cold with loss of smell and yellow green phlegm; better in cool, open air Pulsatilla 30 or 200 4 hourly

Intercurrent remedy Bacillinum 200 or 1M fortnightly (3 Doses)

Complaints worse early morning; aversion to take bath Sulphur 200 weekly (3 Doses)

HEADACHE :-

With constant nausea; clean tongue Ipecac 30, 3 hourly

With severe throbbing and rush of blood towards head Belladonna 30, 3 hourly

Due to over eating; stomach disorders; tongue thickly whitish coated; worse bathing specially after river bathing Antim Crud 30 or 200 4 hourly(3 Doses)

Due to exposure to dry, cold wind; sudden with anxiety Aconite Nap.30 or 200, 1/2 hourly (3 Doses)

With watering of eyes and sensitiveness to bright light Euphrasia 30, 3 hourly

Headache; better by bending backwards; due to nerve injury Hypericum 30, 3 hourly

Headache with humming in ears; due to nervous weakness Kali Phos.6X or 30, 3 hourly

Hammering headache; worse during menstrual cycle going in sun; school girls head ache, Natrum Mur.30Xor 200, 4 hourly

Headache starts from nape of neck and shift over to the head; patient desires to lie down quietly; better passing urine Gelsemium 30 or 200, 3 hourly

Violent headache due to working under gas light; sunstroke Glonoine 6 or 30, 2 hourly

Bursting headache; worse by stooping and movements; excessive thirst and constipation Bryonia 30 or 200, 3 hourly (6 Doses)

Nervous headache; after grief, disappointment; worse inhaling smoke Ignatia 200 or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Headache; due to sinusitis, pressure and pain at the root of nose Kali Bich 30, 4 hourly

Due to eating rich fatty food, loss of thirst, better in open cold air Pulsatilla 30, 4 hourly

Due to eye strain; disturbances of accomodation of eye sight Ruta Grav 30, 4 hourly

After taking alcoholic drinks; sedentary habits; chilly patient Nux Vomica 30, 4 hourly

Sun haedcahe; aggravation from sun rise to sunset; from cardiac origin Kalmia Lat.30 or 200, 6 hourly

Of school children; crushing headache, pressure on top of head Acid Phos 30, 4 hourly

Headache localised; at the nape of neck; worse by walking and noise Pneumococcin 200, 10 min (3 Doses)

Frontal headache; neuralgic pain above and behind the right eye; heaviness of head. Better by rest, lying down and eating Penicillinum 30 or 200, 10 min (3 Doses)

Headache worse early morning; empty gone sensation at 10 -11 A.M. Sulphur 200 or 1M, weekly (3 Doses)

MIGRAINES :-

From mental work; cold, uncovering head, pressure, sitting upright or sun-stroke Glonoinum 30, 3 hourly

For nervous, gastric, bilious individuals. Migraine due to mental over exertion in teachers and students. Right sided, specially Sunday migraine, blurred vision, hemiopia; blindness; often burning pain in entire gastro-intestinal tract with violent acid vomiting at the height of attack; worse hot weather; spring and fall; better after vomiting or sufficient night sleep Iris Ver.200 or above, 10 min (3 Doses)

For irritable hypochondriacs of bad temper; cholerics, neuropathics; from abuse of alcohol, coffee, spices, tobacco, vexation and worry, mental over exertion, business worries, sexual excesses, sedentary habits, cold dry air and winds Nux Vomica 30 or 200, 4 hourly

For pronounced vasomotor individuals (irritable and full of fear) during pre-climacteric and menopausal stage.Tired expression, head congestion, circumscribed red cheeks; pain above right eye, throbbing, stitching, rhythmic pain, often in every 8 days, early morning, beginning in nape, extending upwards, locating in the region of eye, rising and falling with the sun; sensation of heavy congestion Sanguinaria C 200, 10 min (3 Doses)

For weak, fat and irritable patient; often apathetic, changing moods, strange changes of character (egocenteric), memory weak, due to disturbance during climacteric period, results of tobacco abuse. Person with shallow complexion, yellow saddle across the nose; pain located on left temple; throbbing, stitching pains Sepia 200, 10 min (3 Doses)

For neuropathic persons, full of fear caused by noises, change of weather or worms; with face pale, located above left eye; specially left pupil (ciliary neuralgia); sharp, shooting, tearing, stitching, periodical pain from occiput to left eye; slowly rising in intensity with sun. Bile vomiting at the h

Q: New migraine treatment?
Have anyone heard of this new natural migraine treatment “Migrowin”?. It’s a herbal supplment but i’m not sure if it works or not? have anybidy tried it? do u think it’s good or just another scam?

check this website for information: www.gurujiherbal.com

A: Have your heart checked first:

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html

Q: What is the best natural treatment for migraines?
I get the worst migraines ever. My doctor says they are “abnormal” because of the pain level, how/why they happen, and where the pain is located. He has given me many different types of medicine over the years but none of them have helped. I have done MRI’s and CAT scans nothing. Over the counter medicines don’t work. I have tried tea, cold wet wash clothe over my eyes, deep breathing in a dark room, nothing I have done works. Now I am looking for natural treatments that people have used and that have worked.
I am a girl and my doctor and I have discovered that my period has nothing to do with my migraines, for any of you wondering.
I would also like something that I can use asap. I usually only have 1-2 days a month without a migraine. I have a migraine right now, so if anyone can think of anything I can use right now please say so.

A: There are many triggers for migranes from chocolate to sodium nitrate (in ham, bacon etc) to caffeine. The artifical sugar aspartame (also listed as E951 or phenylalanine) has migrane as a symptom. This sugar is in over 6000 food and drink products. Starting a food diary would be very beneficial to see what you are not eating or drinking around the time when you have no symptoms.

Studies have shown the following supplements can help relieve or cure migranes. See the links for more information:

Magnesium: 500 to 600 mg per day
Riboflavin: 400 mg per day
Vitamin B12: 1000mcg per day
Fish oil or flaxseed oil (both contain omega 3): 1000 to 2000mg
125 mg capsule of powdered feverfew leaves a day
Coenzyme Q10: 100 to 200mg a day

http://www.joybauer.com/migraines/migraines-and-supplements.aspx
http://www.acu-cell.com/dis-hea.html
http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/magnesium-migraines.html
http://www.mothernature.com/library/bookshelf/books/23/97.cfm

http://www.headacheexpert.co.uk/preventing-migraines-with-vitamins.html

Q: Natural treatment for migraines???
No drugs no nothing please.
Do you know anything that can be done natural that helps??
Any directions?
Thank you!

A: I get migraines every now and then. I usualy have to take excedrine migrain at the first sign im getting one, but there have been times when I didnt have any medicine to take. If thats the case I usualy sit in the shower with all the lights off just letting the water run on my head, I usualy lean my forehead up against the cold side of the tub to apply kind of a cold pressure, I usualy stay in the shower till the water runs cold. Then I get a cold rag and go lay in the bed making sure it is very dark and quiet, I put the rack over my eyes and forhead and then put my arm across my head so it gives some pressure (some reason cold pressure relieves some pain) then I just lay there till I fall asleep. Sometime it works some times it doesnt. But just incase that isnt helpful enough here is some reaserch about some natural remedies for migrains

) Feverfew
The herb feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for headache, migraine, arthritis, pain, and fever in Europe. It became especially popular in England in the 1980s as an alternative to conventional drugs for migraines.

Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of feverfew for the prevention and treatment of migraines. For example, one study examined the use of a feverfew extract or a placebo in 170 people with migraines. There was a significant decrease in migraine frequency with feverfew, which decreased by 1.9 migraines per month, compared to the placebo, which decreased by 1.3 migraines per month.

Not all studies have shown that feverfew is effective, however. A critical review of five studies on feverfew and migraines, involving a total of 343 people, concluded that results were mixed and did not convincingly establish that feverfew was effective for preventing migraine.

Side effects of feverfew may include abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and nervousness. People with allergies to chamomile, ragweed, or yarrow should not take feverfew. Feverfew may increase bleeding time, so it should not be taken by people with bleeding disorders or two to three weeks before or after surgery. The safety of feverfew in pregnant or nursing women or children has not been established.

Feverfew may interact with “blood-thinning” medications, such as aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). People taking these medications should consult a healthcare practitioner before taking feverfew.

2) 5-HTP
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a compound produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. It is used in the body to make the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin.

5-HTP is also available in supplement form. It is made from the seeds of an African plant, called Griffonia simplicifolia. Since supplements that affect levels of serotonin are used for migraines, 5-HTP has been explored as an alternative.

Some research indicates that 5-HTP may prevent migraines and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, however large randomized controlled trials are needed. In one study, 124 people were given 5-HTP (600 mg/day) or the drug methysergide. After six months, 5-HTP was found to be as effective as methysergide in reducing the severity and duration of migraines.

Another study looked at 5-HTP or the drug propranolol for 4 months. Both treatments resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of migraines. However, the propranolol group fared better, with a reduction in the duration of episodes and the number of analgesics used for the treatment of episodes. For more information on 5-HTP, read the 5-HTP Fact Sheet.

3) Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral found naturally in foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains and in nutritional supplements.

Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions. It helps regulate blood sugar levels and is needed for normal muscle and nerve function, heart rhythm, immune function, blood pressure, and for bone health.

Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of magnesium for migraine and have had promising results. In one study, oral magnesium (600 mg per day) or a placebo were given to 81 people with migraines. After nine weeks, the frequency of migraines was reduced by 41.6 percent in the group taking magnesium, compared to 15.8 percent in the group taking the placebo. The only reported side effects were diarrhea in 18.6 percent of people and digestive irritation in 4.7 percent.

Other studies have found that magnesium reduces the severity and frequency of migraine. Not all studies have confirmed it, however, so more studies are needed.

High doses of magnesium may cause diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, irregular heart rate, and confusion. It can interact with certain medications, such as those for osteoporosis, high blood pressure (calcium channel blockers), as well as some antibiotics, muscle relaxants, and diuretics.

4) Butterbur
The herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a shrub-like plant that grows in northern Asia, Europe, and parts of North America. Extracts made from the herb have been used to treat migraines, stomach cramps, coughs, allergies, and asthma.

Several studies suggest that butterbur helps to prevent migraines. The largest study involved 245 people with migraine took either butterbur extract (50 or 75 milligrams twice a day) or a placebo. After four months of treatment, butterbur, 75 milligrams twice a day but not 50 milligrams twice a day, was more effective than placebo for migraines.Side effects were mild and included mild digestive complaints, predominantly burping.

Side effects of butterbur may include indigestion, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrha, or constipation. Pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with kidney or liver disease should not take butterbur.

Butterbur is in the ragweed plant family, so people who are allergic to ragweed, marigold, daisy, or chrysanthemum should not use butterbur.

The raw herb as well as teas, extracts, and capsules made from the raw herb should not be used because they contain substances called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can be toxic to the liver and kidneys and may cause cancer.

It is possible to remove the pyrrolizidine alkaloids from butterbur products. For example, in Germany, there is a safety limit to the level of pyrrolizidine alkaloids allowed in butterbur products. The daily recommended dose cannot exceed one microgram per day.
Other Natural Remedies
Acupuncture

Biofeedback

Chiropractic

Co Q10

Fish Oil

Magnets

Massage Therapy

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

But you can always do what my doctor told me… make a migrain log, write down what you were doing before you had one, like what you ate what you smelled and so on. Find your migrain triggers and try to avoid them. Some common triggers are chocolate, caffine, lack of sleep, and not eating. mine are usualy triggered by certain smells like the clean linen and cinnamon air fresheners… so find your trigger and eliminate it… that would be the best natural remedy lol… good luck!

Q: What is the best treatment for migraines?
I get chronic migraines and I don’t have insurance to see a doctor. If gone through many over the counter pain meds and I usually develop a tolerance to them after a little while. Are there any other, perhaps natural, treatments?

A: I find that ice packs are a BIG help. You can get ice packs at Walgreens, but the best ones I’ve found are at your local massage therapy supply store (betcha didn’t even know there was such a thing!) Their packs are cheap ($3-10), come in a variety of sizes/shapes and are amazingly sturdy. Remember to put the ice pack in a pillow case and never use it for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Also important is where you apply the ice- more specifically right at the middle of the back of your skull. A nurse taught me this trick and it is SO helpful. Since you have hair there, you don’t need to use the pillowcase; just apply directly. Use another pack at the base of your skull and a smaller one across your eyes or temples.

And I understand about the health insurance issue, but I wanted to add that Imitrex changed my life. There are 9 pills for about $135, but I cut them in half, and they work just fine, so that saves on the cost. I know that’s so expensive, but as a quality-of-life issue, it’s worth saving up for. (And yes, you will need to get a prescription for them.) Best of luck to you.

Q: Does anyone know what Chinese Herb is used for the treatment of Migraine headaches?
Trying to switch to natural remedies and I’m just curious what an herb doctor would normally prescribe

A: Chinese herbal medicine uses several herbs at once to treat a specific condition.

Take a look at some examples here. These are Chinese patent formulas made specifically for headaches. Each one has several herbs that synergistically work together for headache relief.

http://www.holisticchineseherbs.com/headachesmigraines.html

Q: Alternative Migraine Treatments?
I wanted to know if anyone has tried any of the many “natural” migraine treatments available on the internet & if they worked for you. (If they did, please tell me how to find them.) I’m also open to any “alternative” home treatments ideas.

Thanks so much! (Mine just started 4 days ago, have been under tremendous stress, can’t think of any diet/med changes I’ve made…I just can’t take this–they come on every night. I already have a RX for Maxalt.)

A: Magnesium helps in some cases.

Q: Please help, any natural ways to help prevent, cure, and treat migraines?
My mother has suffered migraines for as long as I’ve known her and we have tried everything doctors have told us. None have worked its just medication after medication, recently she tried going to a homeopathic doctor who did acupuncture and much more. The benefits weren’t worth the cost, now we are searching for natural treatments, any help is appreciated.

A: There are a number of causes of migraine headaches. First, you must figure out what is causing your mother’s headaches. They can be caused by food senstivities, stress, hormone imbalances, dehydration, heat waves, and more.

Some of the more common foods that can trigger migraines are chocolate, yellow cheese, food colorings and preservatives and other food additives, and allergenic foods such as wheat, nuts, corn, soy, and yeast. This is not a list of all allergenic foods; it is just a few of the more common ones.

There are herbs and herbal tinctures that can help to prevent/treat migraines. Feverfew is one ingredient in herbal tinctures to treat migraines, as it has been proven effective for both prevention and treatment, but there are other ingredients in there as well. You must see a licensed naturopathic physician to have this type of medicine prescribed. A naturopathic physician [NOT a homeopath] will also help your mother to find out what is causing her migraines and then adjust her diet and lifestyle so as to help her not to get them anymore.

Q: what are some natural treatments for migraines?
i have tried feverfew, magnesium, msm, acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy, progest, and some other things i can’t remember. i have so many triggers its ridiculous : flourescent lighs, oats, dairy, too much time in the sun, too much physical exertion, occaisionally wheat, insomnia, stress, and more that i can’t remember because i am currently wide awake at 6 in the morning without any sleep behind it.
overactive mind. most nights i sleep like a baby and can stay asleep for 12-14 hours. other times i can’t stop thinking even if i don’t have important things going on in my life. my brain just won’t stop going. and i take melatonin an hour before i go to bed.
i have been to an amazing acupuncturist. she had been an anesthesiologist in china for 25 years and has been practicing acupuncture for a long time. i noticed a slight difference after going regularly for a few months but im still getting too many migraines

A: Migraine treatment is cause-related. If you get headaches when you are stressed, it may be due to tight muscles in your neck and the back of your head. If this is the cause, mobilization of the neck, along with stretching and strengthening exercises, have been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of migraines.

Massage and other forms of soft-tissue treatment can sometimes be helpful. Scientists are also investigating other therapies, such as laser therapy, to prevent and treat this disorder. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, can be used for an occasional headache, but not for long-term headache management.

More serious causes of headache require aggressive treatment, and your Doctor of Chiropractic can assist you in finding a medical headache specialist. The majority of patients with headache recover completely after treatment. Unfortunately, the recurrence rate is relatively high, particularly with migraine headaches.

Here are some tips to help prevent headaches:

Avoid slouching
Avoid reading with your neck bent forward
Keep your computer monitor at eye level
Take frequent breaks from reading and working on the computer.
Try a low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate diet. A recent study demonstrated that such a diet can dramatically lower the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches

I hope this helps!

Q: Have hormonal issues – what is best pill/treatment to make you feel totally normal without side effects?
Have had hormonal issues & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (post glandular fever) for years. Found Yasmin to be the best pill but do feel a little flat (& fat) on it. Have tried extended periods of natural prog cream, other pills as well as naturopaths, chinese herbs, endocrinologists, etc. without much success.

My symptoms (mainly pre-menstrually):-

* Bloating
* Sever PMS – Irritable, depressed, hungry like crazy
* Weight gain
* Migraine (at some point during, before or after period)
* Sugar swings/cravings
* Generally unwell (annoys me when people say PMS is not an illness!)
* Poor circulation
* Aches & pains all over
* Feel old although am young
* Very dry skin, hair

I know this is the million dollar question and I wonder if we can ever truly feel like we deserve to. It’s so unfair that some women suffer and others don’t. This has been passed down the generations of women in my family and am quite concerned about my own daughter who is fast approaching pre-puberty.

A: I would talk to your doctor. Most medications have side effects, but I would talk to your doctor for the best suggestions.

Q: Why are people so down on the Natural Remedies book just because the author(Kevin Trudeau) was a felon?
Yeah, so he was a felon.. so what? The stuff in his books arent things he made up. In fact, if you pick up one of his books he sites the sources (which are real doctors from all over the world) who believe these treatments. In america we have all been brainwashed to believe that only the “medical” doctors can help us with all their drugs.. but thats crap. I have been seeing an herbal medicine doctor for 11 years. For 16 years I suffered from migraines. He gave me a little bottle of some herb (it was 11 years ago, I dont remember what) and I haven’t had one since. I read thru trudeaus book and havent found anything I couldn’t find research to back up. People who are in denial that natural cures work have been brainwashed by society. They may take longer to work, but that’s because they actually work, they don’t mask the symptom. Think about it, you take asprin for a headache..why? Is an asprin deficiency causing it? You mask the symptom, but never cure the cause.
From what I gathered what the book said was that viruses could be cured. And before anyone says it, it also says that the sun doesn’t cause skin cancer. And this has been proven over and over. All the crap we put in our bodies causes skin cancer. Thats why people who live in warm climates, out in the sun, in other countries don’t get it nearly as often. They don’t stop at McDonalds every day. They eat healthy and that keeps their bodies healthy, which keeps their skin cells healthy.

A: I agree North Americans in general are eating horribly, not exercising enough, overweight, and using too many unneeded Rx meds. However, no one needs a book to tell us that.

Fact is, while this book may work for people who have “benign” (non life-threatening) conditions like headaches, rashes, or are otherwise healthy, there is nothing here that can cure all the diseases he claims he can.

Most people with serious diseses KNOW they may or will die without treatment, so why would they take the risk? I know if I had breast cancer I would rather have the tumour removed as opposed to taking an unproven herb for months in hopes that it *may* have any effect.

In fact, people with serious diseases DID die prior to modern medicine. Surgery, antibiotics, medication, and vaccines have saved many lives. Perhaps your own parents were spared from polio due to modern medicine. Perhaps antibiotics have saved you from a deadly infection.

I think the people who are REALLY brainwashed are the people who don’t see ANY of the good in Western Medicine and think that a $150/vial unproven natural “remedy” or $20 book will cure all of society’s diseases.

P.S. That guy has NO understanding about health, medicine, or science.

Viruses constantly mutate and spread like wild fire. If we could even cure 1 strain, 500 new mutations would reproduce themselves within the hour.

Second, people who live in “hot climates” near the equator get tons of sun exposure, yes, BUT THEY TEND TO HAVE MUCH DARKER SKIN!!!! Although people with dark skin can get skin cancer, the risk is much higher in the light skinned. I’m sure the cases of skin cancer in white people in that same area are quite high, it’s just that they make up a small portion of the population.

We all need to live healthy and take care of ourselves. There is a time and place for natural preventative medicine. But someone unqualified like Trudeau should not be falsely claiming he has conqured complex diseases in his propaganda book.

Because he is uneducated and probably KNOWS he is wrong or misguided, he is out to scam the public. His target audience isn’t healthy people, it’s the desperately sick and dying people looking for a miracle.

Q: Migraines..?
Are there any natural treatments for migraines? Herbs or vitamins? I have at least 2 a week and am on Imitrex, but it doesnt seem to be working for me..

A: – Have a bath or shower.
— Lie down to rest in a dark room.
— Avoid bright or flashing light.
— Put something cold on the back of your neck, such as
a cold, wet cloth; or alternate hot and cold cloths
where the pain is.
— Put a cold compress on your forehead and your feet in a
container of warm water.
— Have a drink of water or natural juice, especially tomato juice.
— Have some food, or a nutritious drink, if you
haven’t eaten for a while.
— Massage your own face, head, neck and shoulders, or get someone
else to do those and your back. Relax your muscles.
— Press on two pressure points at the back of the neck. These
points are about two inches apart, just below the base of
the skull. Press for a minute or two. This releases
endorphins that help against pain.
— Massage or press on the fleshy area between thumb and
forefinger.
— Gently lean the head to left or right to stretch the neck muscles.
Massage and relax any tense muscles.
— Avoid sources of stress. Cancel activities so there’s less
to worry about.
— Avoid exercise during a headache if it makes throbbing pain
in the head and neck worse. On
the other hand, generally exercise improves health, and
it may help you relax during a headache.
— Take some niacin (a form of vitamin B3). Taking enough
niacin to cause a flush (blood rushing to the skin) can
provide relief from headache pain, but this much niacin
can also have side effects (flush, nausea, heartburn,
liver damage, etc.) Niacinamide doesn’t have such bad
side effects, but isn’t as much use against migraines, either.
Smaller, safer amounts of niacin are also helpful.
Niacin can trigger a migraine, though.
— Take some vitamin C, vitamin B6, choline, tryptophan and niacin
and/or magnesium.

Also, maybe get your eyes tested?

Q: Acupuncture for migraine headache?
I am thinking about trying acupuncture to see if it will help with my migraines…I cant take prescription meds…they make me even sicker…I have tried ALOT of herbs, oils, nasal rinses, you name it….I try to avoid the “triggers”…I have researched til Im “blue in the face”…..the ONLY thing I have found that works is botox….I had 1 treatment…it did reduce number of headaches dramatically and severity…but not really what I want to do longterm….atleast acupuncture would be natural. Thanks for any info.

A: How would this work? Would you feel an attack coming on then rush off for an impromptu session, whatever time of the day or night?

As botox is a bacterium, then it’s natural, certainly more natural than multiple needles being stuck in you. If you’re susceptible to the placebo effect then a single session of acupuncture can’t really hurt, BUT don’t get scammed into repeat sessions or a ‘course’ of treatment. Either the placebo effect works on you or it doesn’t.

The only other things I could suggest (assuming you’ve seen as many medical professionals as possible, i.e. real doctors and not some hokey ‘naturopath’) are: carbon monoxide leaks in your home; a thorough food diary, not just the stereotypical ‘triggers’; stress in your life (especially if botox has worked previously); allergies to indoor air pollutants such as air fresheners, incense, gas cookers, mould, etc.

Q: What are some holistic treatments for migraines?
My girlfriend nearly died from an aneurysm when she was only 8 years old. Since then she has been getting migraines periodically which she says run in her family.

Before she met me, she was on the pill, which seemed to prevent her migraines. When she got off the pill, she got the migraines back.
Now she is back on the pill with me, but I am worried about how safe it is for her to keep taking the pill with her medical history.

I know for women over 35 (she is 30) the pill can bring an added risk of heart attack and stroke. She can’t stay on the pill forever just to prevent migraines.

Since her time in the hospitals, she has been exposed to so many medicines that her body built up an immunity to almost all over the counter medicines and the only thing that works for her worst migraines is some pretty heavy duty prescription meds which have their own side effects and dangers.

Is there any way to head-off or lessen a migraine via natural medicine?
A bit more info….

She drinks diet soda—I’m trying to ween her off the stuff. She does like veggies and some fruits, but I’m trying to get her to eat more of them. I also want to get her to join me in a regular exercise regimen.

A: Maybe she should try to eat better, by that I mean to follow her diet closely. Does she know already what triggers her migraine?
My sister had migraine for years, it affected her a lot in her studies and life overall but after changing her eating habits (now with more fruits and vegetables) we have seen lots of improvement.
I wish you both lots of courage.

Q: Why is Midrin the only thing that has ever worked for my severe cramps?
I discovered this when I used to have really bad migraines. It didn’t work as well for the migraines as some of the more modern treatments such as Frova and Relpax. It totally alleviated my cramps.

And is there anything similar or natural that could achieve the same effect?

A: muscle relaxers are best
but resting with your feet up can help