36 million Americans experience migraines, and 75% of migraine sufferers are women. Migraines can be caused by a wide variety of triggers including food, food additives, low blood sugar, allergies and hormonal changes. Surprisingly, medication overuse can also make migraines worse. Fortunately, there are herbal supplements that can help to prevent migraines, and the following four supplements are a great place to start.
Ginger
According to Dr. Aviva Romm, ginger has been used to treat pain and inflammation for a long time. And when it comes to migraines, it can be just as effective as the common medication, sumatriptan, in decreasing how severe the migraine is.
Feverfew
Like ginger, this herb acts like an anti-inflammatory. It can help to lower how often and how severe a migraine is. Romm warns that it should not be taken if he individual is also taking blood thinners.
Butterbur, or Petasites
With consistent use, anti-inflammatory Butterbur has been shown to significantly reduce migraine frequency. Just be sure to use the PA-free Butterbur. That’s because PAs (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) are a toxic substance that can lead to hepatoxicity, or liver damage caused by chemicals.
Magnesium
While not being an herbal supplement, magnesium is a wonderful mineral to try fr migraines that are associated with specific stages of the menstrual cycle, especially the period. After consistent use of magnesium supplements (about three months), it can help to prevent migraines and get you back to feeling normal.
