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NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS HELPFUL IN PREVENTING AND TREATING MIGRAINE 
HEADACHES

When it comes to treating migraine headaches, an ounce of prevention 
may be
worth a pound of cure. Some experts believe that the mineral magnesium 
is
one of the keys to migraine prevention.

Alexander Mauskop, M.D., director of the New York Headache Center and
associate professor of clinical neurology at State University of New 
York
(SUNY), has long studied the association between migraines and 
magnesium.

According to Mauskop, "Magnesium is a mineral that you can't live 
without,
because it plays many roles in the human body." One of these roles, he
explained, is the regulation of serotonin levels, a brain chemical 
known to
be involved in the onset of migraine headaches.

In the brain, fluctuating magnesium levels can send blood vessels into
spasm, stretching delicate nerve endings and generating pain in the 
process.
In addition to pain, migraine sufferers also may experience nausea and
vomiting, visuals changes, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Mauskop became interested in the link between magnesium and migraines in
1992, when he and a colleague began measuring ionized magnesium levels 
in
migraine sufferers. Incredibly, approximately half of the headache 
patients
they tested had low levels of magnesium in their blood.

Since Mauskop's initial research, several additional studies have 
confirmed
that many migraine sufferers have low magnesium levels. "When I began
treating my migraine patients with magnesium," he said, "some of them 
got
dramatic relief."

Mauskop, the author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About 
Migraines,"
explained, "When we tested magnesium levels in headache patients, we 
were
measuring the ionized form of the mineral. This is a much more sensitive
indicator of deficiency than the serum magnesium that is commonly 
tested in
doctors' offices and hospitals."

The blood test for ionized magnesium is not widely available. "Really, 
it
isn't necessary to test magnesium levels in everyone with migraine
headaches, because magnesium deficiency is so common," Mauskop noted. 
"Even
without the test, a person with migraines can at least try magnesium to 
see
if it works, because it is very safe, and has very few side effects."

Magnesium supplements are generally well tolerated by healthy 
individuals,
with the most common side effect being diarrhea. For people with kidney
disease, however, magnesium can be unsafe, and should not be taken 
without a
doctor's supervision.

For migraine prevention, Mauskop advises his patients to take 400 
milligrams
(mg) of magnesium a day. If this doesn't work, he recommends increasing 
the
dose to 600 or 800 mg, as long as the higher doses are tolerated.

Many foods are rich in magnesium, including dark green vegetables, whole
grains, beans, bananas and seafood. "For a person with a magnesium
deficiency, eating a well-balanced diet usually isn't enough," Mauskop 
said.
"Most people will need to take a supplement to correct the deficiency."

In addition to magnesium, vitamin B-2 and an herb known as feverfew have
been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of 
migraines. An
over-the-counter preparation, called MigreLief, combines all three of 
the
ingredients.

Curt Hendrix, a chemist and creator of the MigreLief formula, has been
involved in drug research for more than 15 years. He said, "Each one of
these ingredients may help some migraine sufferers, but not others. 
Instead
of guessing which one will be most effective, it makes sense to try all
three at the same time."

Vitamin B-2, or riboflavin, works by increasing the energy production of
structures called mitochondria, which serve as microscopic power plants 
for
cells in the body and brain. Research has demonstrated that 
mitochondria in
the brains of migraine sufferers produce significantly less energy than
mitochondria in the brains of people without the condition.

"At a dose of 400 milligrams a day, riboflavin is very effective in the
prevention of migraine headaches," Hendrix said.

For migraine sufferers who don't get relief after taking magnesium or
riboflavin, the herb feverfew may help. Also known as bachelor's 
button, the
plant has been used in the treatment of headaches for hundreds of years.

In clinical trials, migraine sufferers who took feverfew capsules 
regularly
experienced a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine 
attacks. In
addition, study volunteers who took the herb had less pain, nausea and
vomiting associated with their migraines.

"There is an inflammatory component to migraines," said Hendrix, 
"Feverfew
helps because it has anti-inflammatory properties, similar to aspirin."

Taking magnesium, riboflavin, and feverfew on a regular basis won't
necessarily cure migraine headaches, but they can reduce their 
frequency and
intensity. For migraine sufferers in search of relief, these 
supplements may
be well worth trying.




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