Migraines are intense, painful and recurrent headaches that affect many people. Migraines produce painful throbbing in the head, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting; sensitivity to light, noise and movement; dizziness; vertigo; and fatigue. Several vitamin and herbal supplements can help prevent migraine headaches. Most may reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.
5-Hydroxytryptophan
The amino acid supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, treats and prevents migraine headaches by affecting serotonin. Medical researchers believe that abnormal serotonin function in blood vessels may cause migraines, and several studies suggested that taking 5-HTP can be nearly as effective as some prescription medications for treating migraines, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Although not all studies found that 5-HTP was as effective as prescribed medications, 5-HTP may reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. Some research suggests that 5-HTP "may work when taken at a dosage of 400mg to 600mg daily," but lower doses of 5-HTP may not be effective in preventing migraines, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
Magnesium
Magnesium may also prevent migraines, including those triggered by hormonal changes during menstrual cycles in women. A 12-week double-blind trial that studied people with recurrent migraines found that the test subjects who took 600mg magnesium daily experienced a 41.6 percent reduction in the frequency of migraine headaches, the UPMC says. Because people who suffer from chronic migraines typically have lower magnesium levels, the UMMC recommends taking 200mg to 600mg magnesium per day to prevent migraine headaches.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, or riboflavin, may prevent migraines or reduce the frequency and duration of them, according to several medical studies. One study found that taking 400mg of vitamin B12 each day can decrease migraine attacks by more than 50 percent, the UMMC says.
Butterbur
The herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) may help to reduce the frequency and duration of migraine attacks. Taking 50mg to 75mg of a standardized butterbur extract twice daily can prevent migraines, according to several studies cited by the UMMC. Butterbur extract prevented migraine headaches in double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies, but the 75mg dose of butterbur twice each day revealed significantly better results in reducing the intensity and frequency of migraines than the 50mg dosage, the UPMC says.
Feverfew
Although as a whole the studies of using feverfew extracts or whole herbs to prevent migraines have yielded mixed results, feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) remains one of the most widely used herbs for headaches. Some studies have found that taking feverfew can help to prevent and treat migraines. The UMMC cited a study of migraine sufferers who took feverfew capsules daily for four months and experienced a substantial reduction in migraine symptoms, as well as the number of attacks. A 16-week double-blind study of people with migraines found that the use of a feverfew liquid extract provided "a significant decrease in headache frequency as compared to the effect of the placebo treatment," the UPMC says. Other studies that tested taking the whole feverfew leaf found that the test subjects experienced a 24 percent reduction in the number of migraine headaches, with an improvement in nausea and vomiting experienced during migraine attacks. The UMMC recommends taking 50mg to 80mg feverfew extract daily to prevent migraine headaches.
