How These Supplements Can Help With Migraines
Migraines are severe, often debilitating headaches that can be hard to predict and manage. Most migraine sufferers will manage migraine pain with over-the-counter or prescription NSAIDs or other pain medications. Many of these pain medications can have terrible side effects with long-term use and with overuse can cause an increase in migraine frequency. Medication overuse headache is now a top cause of global disability. It is difficult to diagnose migraine because of the variability of attack features between people and even within the same person. Likewise, the number of headaches per month or day, the medications taken and the ‘aura’ features all play into the diagnosis. This is a medical quagmire. Obviously the treatments, diagnosis and overall approach to migraines has been failing as the disability and pain has only increased over time on a global scale.
Did you know that there are supplements that can help manage the symptoms associated with migraines that may be safer? While no supplement ‘treats’ migraines, it is important to control your foundational cellular health with regard to the brain. Migraines have a few known cellular issues that lead to the problem. Inflammation of the neural tissues, stress and muscular strain and neurovascular diminishment are all thought to contribute.
Migraines are a leading cause of disability worldwide; this is according to the ongoing GLobal Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study. This is especially true for those under 50-years-old. Most that suffer from migraines also suffer from so-called ‘comorbid’ conditions such as neck pain, anxiety, depression and insomnia.
It is extremely important to understand that most current science agrees that overuse of medications leads to migraines and headaches. In fact, medication-overuse headache is one of the top causes for disability globally.
So, Juice or Supplements?
Our CoQ10 Plus gummies are formulated with CoQ10, tart cherry extract, and chaga mushroom.
CoQ10 is believed to be able to assist in reducing the frequency and duration of migraines. Studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness. While these studies were small, results are promising.
Tart cherries are highly antioxidative and anti-inflammatory and can be a safer alternative to over-the-counter pain medications like NSAIDs. Tart cherries work in a similar way to NSAIDs by interacting with COX2 enzymes to inhibit their expression. Increased COX2 expression is thought to be linked to an increase in the possibility of a migraine attack. While tart cherry extract offers pain relief, there are no known adverse events such as one sees with NSAIDs.
Chaga mushrooms are rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Riboflavin provides energy to the cells. A study from 2015 found that riboflavin supplementation could reduce the duration and frequency of migraines for some. The beta glucans of the adaptogenic mushrooms are alse known to be supportive of neural tissue.
So, Juice or Supplements?
Our Joint Health Multi can assist the body in more than just joint health! It can also help manage inflammation related to other conditions like migraines. Our Joint Health Multi is formulated with turmeric, ginger, piperine, and PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide). PEA is known to reduce inflammation of the nerves and this helps with neuroinflammation and inflammatory neuropathic pain. Migraine are thought to be due to a type of neuroinflammation.
Turmeric and its active compounds curcuminoids are highly antioxidative and anti-inflammatory. Studies have looked at the effectiveness of curcumin in managing migraines. Results are very promising; however, not many studies have specifically looked into the subject so more research would need to take place to fully understand the mechanics that curcumin has on migraine management.
Ginger is another great supplement for those with migraines. It has long been a common remedy for nausea and pain.
While piperine’s (black pepper extract) main purpose in this multi is to help with the bioavailability of turmeric, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used as a headache remedy in traditional medicines – like Chinese and Indian medicine – for centuries.
PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is a natural anti-inflammatory compound the human body produces to regulate pain and inflammation responses throughout the body. It can be derived from a variety of food sources like peanuts, soy, egg yolks, and more. Supplementation of PEA can help your body reduce excessive inflammation responses. While PEA is not a common supplement recommended for migraines, it is believed that there is strong evidence that it could potentially assist in managing migraines.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.
She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.
At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:
- Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
- Recover vibrantly from orthopedic related surgeries
- Fill the gaps in our daily diets
- Manage pain associated with inflammation