Three Simple Nutrients for Migraine Relief

By Al Sears, M.D.

Did you know there are a few simple nutrients that you can take to help you get rid of migraines for good?

If you or a loved one suffers from migraines, you know that most people pop a pill and sleep the pain away in a dark room.

And many of them deal with terrible side effects like hallucinations, weight gain, ulcers, seizures, confusion, dizziness, and nausea because they don’t know there are any safer alternatives.

But 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.1

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.

My high-potency CoQ10 formula makes it convenient to take because it is eight times more absorbable than other forms. So, 50 mg of my CoQ10 formula is equal to 200 mg of regular CoQ10.

That means you can take just two of my CoQ10 formula instead of the 10 capsules of regular CoQ10 to get the therapeutic levels you need to fight migraines.

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.2

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. You can find riboflavin (vitamin B2) supplements at your local health food store.

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.3

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.4

Look for magnesium that is bound to citrate or malate. Take it with vitamin B6. It will increase the amount of magnesium that accumulates in your cells. You can find magnesium and B6 at your local health food store.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

References:

1. Sándor P. S. et al. “Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial,” Neurology February 22, 2005; 64(4): 713-5.
2. Breen, Corinne et al. “High-dose riboflavin for prophylaxis of migraine,” Canadian Family Physician October 2003;
3. Murray, Michael, Pizzorno, Joseph. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised 2nd Edition. Prima Publishing, 1998, 660 – 661.
4. Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Kohne-Volland R: Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: Results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia 1996; 16(4):257-63.