Magnesium Migraines
Magnesium Migraines
Remember, always consult your doctor before you begin taking any vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplement for your condition, especially if you are currently taking any other medications or have other medical conditions. Even “natural” supplements can have dangerous side effects, especially when mixed with other medications.
Magnesium, the Most Important Migraine Mineral
Did you know that as many as 50% of all migraine sufferers may have a magnesium deficiency? Magnesium deficiency has been linked to many neurological conditions and chronic health problems including migraines and cluster headaches. Today’s magnesium deficiency is likely due to depleted soils, eating an unbalanced diet, consuming junk and processed foods which remove magnesium from the body, and being under constant physical or emotional stress.
Magnesium is the ideal natural migraine supplement to start with as it is inexpensive, easily available, and has the least risk of side effects.
Magnesium can:
- Reduce neuron excitability which can lead to headaches.
- Relax blood vessels reducing the inflammation responsible for causing migraines.
- Block calcium.
- Promote serotonin release and uptake.
- Help muscles relax.
- Reduce high blood pressure and possibly prevent heart attacks.
How Can You Tell If You Have a Magnesium Deficiency?
In general it is difficult to determine simply from symptoms if one is deficient in magnesium. However, if you experience regular migraines, exhaustion, and muscle stiffness or cramps – there is a strong possibility that you could have a magnesium deficiency.
Ideally, it is best to consume foods rich in magnesium like: green vegetables (think spinach, artichokes, etc,) beans (black beans, navy beans, white beans, soy) fish (Halibut,) peas, nuts(almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, and pine nuts,) seeds (pumpkin seeds, and whole grains (buckwheat, corn meal, oat bran, barley, brown rice.) Also, be sure to avoid foods which unnecessarily drain magnesium from the body such as alcohol (in fact it is believed that the “hangover headache” than many people experience could be due to magnesium deficiency.)
Once one is in a state of deficiency, taking magnesium supplements could be very helpful. When shopping for supplements be sure to look for pills which are sold in capsules of 200mg or larger, otherwise you may find that you end up taking way too many pills.
This is a crucial secret to making sure your magnesium supplement works to treat your migraine-
Do NOT take at the same time as calcium. That’s right a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement won’t work. Calcium and magnesium work to balance each other out. In this particular instance you do not want calcium intake to reduce how much magnesium your body retains.
Like other preventative medications, magnesium can take a couple months before you see full benefit. On the other hand, many people will also notice effects within a day or so. Reactions appear to vary somewhat from person to person.
Note: Keep in mind that in high amounts magnesium can act as a laxative. Start slowly and build up over time. Too much top fast can have unintentional consequences.
Note: Magnesium is not recommended for people who have kidney failure or myasthenia gravis.
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