Migraine matters

They can make life a misery but the good news is herbal remedies may help to bring relief

Around nine million of us in the UK suffer from migraines – that throbbing ache that usually settles on one side of the head and can go on for days. Changes in brain chemistry that cause blood vessels surrounding the brain to widen and then narrow are thought to be the cause of migraines. Stress, hormonal factors such as periods and the menopause, eating foods such as cheese, chocolate and alcohol are common triggers.

When it comes to herbal remedies feverfew is our favourite herb. ‘You can grow it in your garden and eat one large or two to three small leaves daily,’ says herbfacts expert and naturopath Michael Van Stratten. ‘It is best to put it in a sandwich as it is quite bitter and has been known to cause mouth ulcers,’ he adds.

Alternatively you can take feverfew as a daily supplement. You need to take it regularly as a preventative as it can take several weeks before you start to feel the benefits.

No one knows for sure how feverfew works but it’s thought that its leaves contain substances with inflammatory properties, which can help ease constriction of blood vessels in the brain - thought to be a major factor in migraines.

Another herb, which Michael thinks is worth trying for migraines, is ginkgo. It is thought to help circulation especially to the brain.

Some people also swear by the herb butterbur although there has been limited testing of this plant for safety and efficacy. However in a recent US trial 68 per cent of patients taking 75mg tablets a day of a proprietary preparation experienced a drop of at least 50 per cent in the frequency and severity of their attacks. If you do decide to try butterbur look out for brands which don’t contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids as these chemicals have been linked to liver damage.

Finally, skullcap, camomile and passionflower can all work on the underlying stress and tension that can trigger a migraine attack.

To ease the pain and strain…

• Gently massage some lavender essential oil over your temples and back of your neck.
• Drink three large glasses of cold water at the first sign of any symptoms to rehydrate your body and flush out any toxins that could be triggering the attack.
• Press firmly on the acupoint in the fleshy web of skin between your finger and thumb with the ball of your thumb or fingertips. Gradually increase the pressure over a couple of minutes.
• Sip a cup of ginger tea. To make your own, grate half an inch of ginger root into a cup and cover with boiling water.
• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and Indian head massage may also help ease symptoms.

Feverfew can be found in MigraHerb - A traditional herbal medicinal product used for the prevention of migraine headaches based on traditional use only.