A basilar migraine headache is a rare form of migraine that is accompanied by a visual disturbance known as an aura. People who suffer from basilar migraine also experience double vision, confusion and slurred speech and might even lose consciousness during a migraine attack. If you regularly suffer from basilar migraines, your doctor might prescribe medicines to help prevent them, such as calcium-channel blockers or beta blockers. Herbs might also help to prevent migraines, although studies to evaluate their effects on basilar migraines, specifically, are lacking. Get medical advice before using herbs to prevent migraines.
Examples and Potential Benefits
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that feverfew and butterbur are sometimes used to help prevent migraine headaches. Both might help to reduce migraine frequency, while butterbur might also help to reduce migraine severity. The leaves and the roots of butterbur contain compounds known as petasins, which according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center, likely confer this herb's therapeutic effects. Butterbur is a common daisy. Although its leaves have been used to treat a variety of ailments including rheumatic pain, it is primarily used to prevent migraines.
Administration
Butterbur and feverfew may be taken as a tea or liquid tincture or in capsules or tablets. Some people opt to chew fresh feverfew leaves, although this may cause mouth sores. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that 50 mg to 75 mg of a standardized extract of butterbur taken twice daily has been used to prevent migraine headaches. Alternatively, you may prefer to take 50 mg to 80 mg of butterbur daily.
Effectiveness
Studies examining the effect of feverfew and butterbur on basilar migraines are lacking. However, the results of a clinical trial published in the December 2004 issue of "Neurology" show that 75 mg of butterbur taken twice daily is an effective and well-tolerated prophylactic migraine treatment. Research findings published in the November 2005 issue of "Cephalgia" show that taking 6.25 mg of feverfew three times daily helps to reduce migraine frequency.
Safety Considerations
Mississippi Baptist Health Systems states that feverfew is likely nontoxic, but adds that it might inhibit blood clotting and therefore should not be used alongside anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. Avoid butterbur if you are allergic to related plants such as ragweed and marigolds. Ensure you select a butterbur supplement that states that chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been removed, as they may cause liver damage. Don't use either of these herbs if you are pregnant or if you have liver or kidney disease.
References
- National Headache Foundation: Basilar-Type Migraine
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Migraine Headache
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Butterbur
- "Neurology"; Petasites Hybridus Root (Butterbur) Is an Effective Preventive Treatment for Migraine; R.B. Lipton, et al.; December 2004
- "Cephalgia"; 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; H.C. Diener, et al.; November 2005
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