Better Than Pain Pills For Migraines

Hey there! How're you doing? I hope your day is looking as good as it is here - bright sun and a high of 23 C.  Pour yourself a mugful of Arabica juice and take a firm grip on a virtual treat while I bring you more advice from my pal Dr. Al (Sears). This time it's about migraines. If you suffer from these, listen up, eh!

If you or a loved one suffers from migraines, you know the side effects… hallucinations, seizures, confusion, dizziness, and nausea.

Most people pop a pain pill and try to sleep in a dark room…

But did you know there are a few simple nutrients that you can take to help you get rid of migraines for good, before they even occur?

They are much safer than the over-the-counter pills. Prolonged use of those drugs can actually make the pain worse.

They can cause an “analgesic rebound effect.” This is when your body creates more pain so it can receive a larger dose of drugs. It’s like creating a painkiller addiction in your body.

The good news is that you can take just three simple nutrients and find relief from migraines right away.

CoQ10 – Researchers from the Head and Pain Unit at the University Hospital Zurich discovered in a clinical trial that 300 mg of CoQ10 daily cuts migraine frequency by half. But it’s important to take the right form of CoQ10.

The powdered form of CoQ10 is difficult to absorb. Get either the gel caps or tablets and take them with some kind of fat. CoQ10 is fat-soluble. Take it with a bit of olive oil or fish oil. Or do what I recommend to my patients: Have your CoQ10 with a meal that includes fish, dairy, eggs or meat.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) – Studies suggest mitochondrial dysfunction causes some migraines. That means that your brain’s energy factories don’t generate enough output. The resulting low energy may cause severe headaches.

High doses of riboflavin increase the energy production in the brain cells and reduce headaches. One study showed that 400 mg of riboflavin a day cut the frequency of migraines in half.

You can get riboflavin from lots of foods, but quantity becomes a problem. You’d have to eat enormous amounts of liver, nuts, dairy, eggs, seafood and greens to get to 400 mg a day.

So, while you should still eat these foods, I also recommend you supplement your diet with riboflavin. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) supplements are readily available. Look for the natural form produced from yeast.

Magnesium – One of magnesium’s main jobs is to tone the blood vessels. Scientists have linked certain types of migraines to problems with blood flow and pressure in the vessels. So if you have low magnesium levels, you could benefit from taking magnesium supplements.

Add to your daily diet things like green leafy veggies, tree nuts, yogurt, berries, halibut, avocado, bananas, and raisins. But remember that the serving portions of these foods only give you 24 to 90 mg of magnesium.

Studies have shown that a 600 mg a day reduces migraines by up to 41 percent.

Look for magnesium that is bound to citrate, malate or aspartate. Take it with vitamin B6. It will increase the amount of magnesium that accumulates in your cells.

If you know anyone who suffers from these, suggest they read my blog. Ask them to send me their email address and I'll gladly add them to my mailing list. 

See ya, eh!

Bob