Migraine headaches can be debilitating and the pharmaceuticals used to address them don’t always work and can cause serious side effects. The Washington Post picked up a piece from Consumer Reports about five commonly used natural migraine supplements.
Butterbur: Used medicinally for centuries, more recent trials have found 75 mg taken twice daily can be as effective as prescription meds for reducing the frequency, intensity and duration of migraines. Some consumers experience minor gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, and all should look for products that are free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
CoQ10: Coenzyme Q10 is necessary for the body’s energy production, and it has been shown in small trials to significantly reduce the number of days with migraine at levels of 150 to 300 mg/d.
Feverfew: Another botanical used for centuries to ease headaches, it has been found in some research to reduce the frequency and common side effects (i.e., nausea, light sensitivity) of migraine, at levels of 50 to 100 mg/d.
Magnesium: While some research has found migraine suffers often have low levels of magnesium in their brain, studies using magnesium supplements to treat or prevent attacks have been inconclusive.
Riboflavin: This B vitamin is found in dairy products, leafy green vegetables and enriched grains. A small trial found 400 mg/d of riboflavin could substantially improve migraine frequency and duration.