5 Simple Migraine Headaches Cures"Cures" seems like a foreign word in medicine today, with the exception of cancer, where "cure" is the buzzword. Do we ever talk about a diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or obesity cure in medicine? So certainly a headache cure is not on the radar screen. The best we usually hope for is control.
For some, control may be good enough, but I much rather prefer a cure. A cure indicates that physiology has improved to the point where a condition no longer exists, so long as we maintain the improved lifestyle. Many stuck in the throes of episodes of migraines probably don't believe much in a cure. Most of the message boards on the Internet or Migraine Headache pages on Facebook look at what medication seems to be working best for headache control or what may be acting as a trigger. Not exactly a bright light at the end of those tunnels. Few neurologists give a positive outlook either.
What they do have a positive outlook on is the ability of medications to control migraines. However, the studies looking into just how effective these medications can be are even more dismal, demonstrating a disconnect between neurologists and researchers. Topamax, one of the most popular migraine medications, reduces headache frequency by an extremely dismal 1.5 less days of headaches over 3 months. And this is the best we have?
Despite these depressing scenarios, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. There are strong studies out there that support natural approaches to improve and possibly cure migraine headaches. These approaches may take some effort on the part of the migraine sufferer, but the alleviation of the headache is a very powerful payoff. Furthermore, especially women who suffer from migraines, these patients are at a much increased risk of condition like dementia, heart attack and stroke. Medications do NOT alter this disease trajectory, even if they do help with the headaches.
Lifestyle changes, on the other hand, will lower the risk of heart disease and strokes in addition to helping with the headache. These simple changes can include:
1) Exercise has been shown to lower headache frequency. This particular study found that exercise was more powerful at reducing headache frequency than was Topamax. Interestingly, as seen in the previous study, Topamax had a shockingly small impact on the number of head days (3% less days with a headache). While exercise was much more effective, it only reduced headache days by 7%. However, unlike Topamax, which has a litany of side effects, exercise will also impact risk for pretty much every chronic disease known.
2) This same study found that relaxation techniques had a hefty effect at 17% fewer headache days. This can work out to about 5 less headache days per month. THIS is powerful and has absolutely no downside.
3) There is clearly a problem with the ability of a brain cell to generate energy in those with migraines. Because of this, supplements that improve our brain's ability to generate ATP for energy will be helpful. Several studies have found benefits to the use of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in adults and children. One study found a 50% improvement in migraines in half the particpants taking 300 mg of CoQ10 per day.
4) Pine bark extracts (high in pycnogenol, or PCO) with vitamins C and E were shown in a small study to lower the number of headache days by almost half. This is again because these compounds help to protect our brain cells.
5) Riboflavin is critical for our brain cells to generate energy (for the physiology geeks, it is a component for the compounds flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN), which are major cofactors in oxidative phosphorylation). In one study, researchers found that, using 25 mg in the placebo group had almost a 50% reduction in migraines.
These are just simple, targeted changes that can easily be made to improve migraine headaches. More detail changes to increase intake of nuts, spices, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, targeted exercise programs, meditation programs, and elimination or reduction of the exposure to chemicals in our environment can take brain health to the next level.
Medication and medications does not address the systemic problem that is causing the migraine headaches in the first place. Only comprehensive lifestyle changes to lower our risk of diabetes and heart disease (two diseases strongly linked with migraine headaches) will change the health trajectories that migraines represent.
Remeber that migraines may be felt in the head, but a true headache cure has to improve the way the body works and not merely address the pain felt with the migraine.
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