A migraine is a highly painful headache that is often also accompanied by nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. Although the cause of migraines is unclear, there may be a genetic link as you are more likely to suffer from them if someone in your family does. You can help reduce migraine frequency by avoiding things that you know trigger them such as alcohol, noise, bright lights and smoking. However, if you frequently suffer from migraines, your doctor may prescribe medicines to help prevent them from happening. Some herbs may also help to prevent a migraine, although evidence that they work is limited.
Examples and Required Dose
The University of Maryland Medical Center cites a number of herbs that may aid migraine prevention, including butterbur and feverfew. Butterbur may reduce the number of migraine attacks you experience and may also shorten their duration. Feverfew may also reduce migraine frequency and alleviate symptoms if you get one. UMMC suggest taking 50mg to 75 mg of a standardized extract of butterbur twice daily, or 50mg to 80 mg per day of feverfew. However, these dosages are only meant to be a guideline. The required dose may vary according to your general health and age. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the right dose for you.
Effectiveness
The results of a clinical study by H.C. Diener published in the November 2005 issue of "Cephalgia" show that feverfew reduced migraine frequency from by 1.9 attacks per month, while a placebo treatment reduced the number of attacks by 1.3 per month. However, an analysis of clinical data by M.H. Pittler and E Ernst published in the 2004 "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" concluded that there is insufficient evidence from randomised, double-blind trials to suggest an effect of feverfew over and above placebo for preventing migraine. A parallel-group, randomized trial by R.B. Lipton et al. published in the December 2004 issue of "Neurology" found that butterbur was a more effective preventive therapy for migraine than a placebo treatment.
Side Effects
Butterbur may cause side effects including stomach upset, diarrhea and fatigue. Make sure that you buy a butterbur supplement that states that pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been removed. These chemicals, which are sometimes found in butterbur, can cause liver and blood vessel damage, RxList notes. Feverfew is unlikely to cause serious side effects, says the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, but it may cause nausea and bloating. It may also cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Considerations
Do not use butterbur if you pregnant or breastfeeding or have a liver disease. This herb may interact with a number of drugs including carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and rifabutin. Check with your doctor that it is safe for you to use butterbur. Do not take feverfew if you are pregnant as it may increase the likelihood of miscarriage or premature delivery, states NCCAM.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Migraine
- PubMed.gov: Efficacy and safety of 6.25 mg t.i.d. Feverfew CO2-Extract (MIG-99) in Migraine Prevention--a Randomized, Double-Blind, multicentre, Placebo-Controlled Study; HC Diener et al.; 2005
- PubMed.gov: Feverfew for Preventing Migraine; M.H. Pittler and E Ernst; 2004
- PubMed.gov: Petasites Hybridus Root (Butterbur) is an Effective Preventive Treatment for Migraine; R.B. Lipton et al.; 2004
- RxList: Butterbur
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Feverfew
