Migraines

Most of us, if not all, have experienced the mild to excruciating effects of a migraine headache.  Migraines can be a moderate to severe headache which occurs on one side of the head at a given time. This usually lasts from hours to days and is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

Dr.Pamela Smith, in her book What You Must know About Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & More, enumerates the various triggers of migraine headache:

• Hormonal changes
• Aged cheese
• Wine
• Chocolate
• Fermented and marinated foods
• Mono-sodium Glutamate
• Stress
• Sensory stimuli such as bright lights or sun glare
• Changes in the sleep-wake cycle
• Changes in the weather, humidity
• Use of certain medications

If you suffer from migraine headaches, try to avoid potential triggers. She further suggests the following supplements to treat migraine headaches:

B-complex vitamins   50 mg twice a day
Calcium                    500 mg once or twice a day
Carnitine                  1,000 to 3,000 once a day
Coenzyme Q10         100 mg twice a day
Magnesium               600 to 800 mg once a day - Consult healthcare
                                provider if you have kidney disease
Probiotics                 20 billion units once a day
Selenium                 200 mcg once a day
Vitamin C                 500 to 1,500 mg twice a day
Vitamin E                 400 to 800 IU once a day
Zinc                         25 mg once a day

(Reference: "What You Must Know About Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & More," Square One Publishers, www.squareonepublishers.com)