​MIGRAINES - More than a headache for 1 in 10 Australians

Migraines are the most common type of headache, affecting about 2 million Australians. 

The symptoms are severe headache, often accompanies by flashes of light, blind spots, nausea and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The exact cause is unknown, but we know that the following triggers may contribute to a migraine: bright lights, loud noises, certain smells, stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes in women, certain foods such as red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, bacon, hot dogs, chocolate and many more.

Treatment options for migraine include paracetamol, inflammatories, anti-nausea drugs such as metoclopramide and the 'trip tan' class of drugs. 

Prevention strategies now include a blend of herbs and vitamins that ahve been developed by a Sydney neurologist to be used alongside lifestyle measures, such as avoidance of triggers and stress. This product is called Migraine Care and includes the following ingredients. 

Feverfew

A clinical trial of 170 regular migraine sufferers showed that the herb feverfew reduced the number of I migraines by 40%. Researchers found that it reduced the tendency of the blood vessels to open excessively and also reduced the production of inflammatory chemicals in the brain. 

Magnesium

Taking regular magnesium reduces the number of days with migraines and the use of medicines to treat the symptoms. 

Homocysteine lowering vitamins

A high level of homocysteine in the blood makes a person more prone to cell injury and inflammation. It is thought to be one the contributing factors to migraines and is reduced by a combination of B vitamins, especially in people with a variation in the MTHFR gene.

Vitamin B2 and Co Enzyme Q10

These nutrients have been shown to reduce the frequency of migraines, possibly due to their effect on impaired oxygen metabolism that is seen in the brains of migraine sufferers