Use the menu below to read more about the herbal remedy for each sickness or disease.

Menu:

Addiction
Allergies
Anxiety
BPH
Bladder Infection
Constipation
Depression
Ear Infection
Erectile Dysfunction
Impotence
Migraine
Pain
PMS
Rashes
Ringworm
Stress
Sunburn
Ulcers

Sponsors:

Herbal Remedies for Migraine

• FEVERFEW (Tanacetum parthenium) can be used on a long-term basis and is a powerful ally in preventing migraine headaches, but it does not offer releif during an acute attack. Eating one or two fresh leaves of the feverfew plant daily reduces the number and severity of migraine headaches. Researchers differ, however in their findings about the efficacy of dried feverfew taken in capsule form. The dried form may or may not be helpful in reducing migraine headaches.

Dosage: For best results, eat one or two fresh feverfew leaves daily. You may need to eat the leaves for at least four to six weeks before noticing results. Remember that feverfew helps to prevent migraines, not treat an acute headache. You can also take 25 mg of dried herb twice a day.

Caution: Fresh leaves may cause mouth ulcers with prolonged contact. Avoid feverfew while pregnant or lactating.

• GINGER (Zingiber officinale) is used to treat neurological disorders in Ayurvedic medicine. With long-term use, ginger may help prevent or abort migraine headaches. Ginger also helps reduce the nausea that often accompanies migraine headaches.

Dosage: Take 4 to 6 gm of dried powdered ginger daily. For ginger tincture, take 1.5 to 3 ml three times a day.

• GINKGO (Ginkgo biloba) reduces the effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a substance that encourages platelets to clump and stick together. As mentioned above, platelet disorders can contribute to the onset of migraine headaches. Ginkgo, by inhibiting PAF in vitro, can improve blood circulation and mitigate migraine headaches.

Dosage: Take 20 to 60 drops of ginkgo tincture, one to four times a day, or, you can take 120 to 160 mg of dried ginkgo capsules, or tablets (standardized to contain 6% terpene lactones and 24% flavone glycosides) two or three times daily.

• GOLDENSEAL (Hydrastis canadensis) may help people suffering with migraines who often have increased sensitivity to dietary amines, especially the amino acid tyramine, which causes blood vessels to constrict. Increasing dietary amines may provoke a migraine headache. Foods high in amines include red wine, chocolate, shellfish and cheese. Constipation may also contribute because bacteria in the bowels can convert the amino acid tyrosine to tyramine. Goldenseal contains high amounts of berberine, a substance that blocks the conversion of tyrosine to tyramine.

Dosage: Take I to 2 gm of dried goldenseal root per day. You can also take 1/2 teaspoon of tincture two or three times daily.

• BUTTERBUR ROOT (Petosites hybridus) can be an effective ally in preventing migraine headaches. Long-term use of butterbur root can reduce the number of migraine headaches by about half. Butterbur also reduces the intensity and duration of attacks, as well as common accompanying symptoms.

Dosage: Take 50 mg of lipophilic extract of butterbur twice a day. Because butterbur is an up-and-coming herb, you may have some trouble finding it. Try larger health food stores, or have your health food store special-order the herb.