I always welcome the Christmas holidays that bring my family home, even if for only a short time as it was with Ellie and Professor and their families. Fortunately, QOTPE and Doc were able to stay much longer. They altered their initial plans which called for visiting Grandma in California because they were both exhausted from so much recent traveling, and QOTPE was not feeling up to more. Because she nearing the end of her first trimester and is still wiped out, much as I was during my pregnancies. Yep, we have another grandbaby coming and couldn’t be more thrilled.
So extended time with Doc has afforded the opportunity for more conversations about what he learns from the books and from his patients, one of whom shared what an ENT doc recommended for his migraines. Of course, migraine management has already been addressed here on the blog, along with conventional and herbal therapy suggestions. Because 1 in 7 Americans suffer from migraines, it’s a good idea to add another tool to the migraine toolbox.[1] For the afflicted for whom other remedies have failed to impress, maybe one of the following will do the trick.
Doc’s patient was advised to use riboflavin, feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), Andrographis paniculata, and coenzyme Q10 for his migraines. Personal research on the topic revealed a few variations in this particular therapy.
One study showed that a combination of CoQ10 (100 mg), feverfew (100 mg), and magnesium (112.5 mg) reduced the frequency of migraines by at least 50% in 75% of patients.[2]
Another study researched the efficacy of a combination of riboflavin, magnesium, CoQ10, and a multivitamin with trace elements. Every morning and every evening, patients were administered 800 mg riboflavin (vitamin B2), 12 mg magnesium, 300 mg CoQ10, and a multivitamin (1500 μg vitamin A, 400 mg vitamin C, 268 mg vitamin E, 10 mg thiamin, 40 mg niacin, 10 mg vitamin B6, 12 μg vitamin B12, 800 μg folic acid, 10 μg vitamin D, 20 mg pantothenic acid, 330 μg biotin, 1.6 mg iron, 10 mg zinc, 4 mg manganese, 1 mg copper, 60 μg chromium, 120 μg molybdenum, 100 μg selenium, 10 mg bioflavonoids). Patients in the test group reported a significant reduction in pain.[3]
A treatment group given 400 mg CoQ10 per day for three months reported a decrease in the frequency, severity, and duration of migraines.[4] However, some larger studies found that CoQ10 only reduced the frequency of migraines, but did not affect the severity or duration.[5] Other researchers found that combining CoQ10 (300 mg) with curcumin (80 mg) significantly reduced the frequency, duration, and severity of migraines.[6]
Yet another study showed that daily treatment, 1-2 tablets per day, of 281.25 mg magnesium, 4.8 mg vitamin B2, 20 mg coenzyme Q10, 150 mg feverfew, and 100 mg Andrographis paniculata, decreased the frequency and severity of migraines.[7]
Of course, one huge benefit of using supplements in migraine therapy is the reduced risk of side effects. Another advantage of particular interest to us is that we can acquire these vitamins and herbs without a prescription.
References:
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/docs/Clinician-Guide-Dietary-Supplements-Specifically-for-Headaches.pdf
Links to related posts:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8105190/
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5577764/
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4393401/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29298622/
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30727862/
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31241007/
[7] https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/1/67
