Causes of Migraines Category

Multiple studies have demonstrated that high dose riboflavin can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines in both adults and children.

WHAT IS RIBOFLAVIN?

Riboflavin also known as Vitamin B-2, is an essential nutrient required for life. One of the most important uses of riboflavin is that it helps in the production of energy in the body.  The vitamin is water soluble, which means the body cannot store it, but it is vital for red blood cell production and growth.

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins all interact with riboflavin when releasing energy for our bodies to use. Riboflavin also acts as an antioxidant which can prevent premature aging and chronic illness.

NATURAL FOOD SOURCES OF RIBOFLAVIN
It’s naturally found in organ meats such as liver and kidney and in many vegetables, legumes, nuts and leafy greens like spinach. Some of the richest sources include calf liver, torula yeast and brewer’s yeast, while almonds, wheat germ and mushrooms, milk, cheddar cheese and eggs are also good sources.

 RIBOFLAVIN BENEFITS

- Riboflavin is involved in energy production in every cell.

- Riboflavin helps convert carbohydrates to sugar which acts as fuel to carry out bodily functions.  It is also critical to the breakdown of fats and proteins into energy your body can use. The enzymes involved in energy production do not function optimally without adequate riboflavin in the diet, which may lead to fatigue.

- Riboflavin is an excellent antioxidant which protects your body from free radical damage and aids in slowing the process of aging and many chronic diseases.

- Riboflavin is essential for the formation and proper functioning of fresh red blood cells. It interacts with iron which is used to synthesize hemoglobin (a major component of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.) Keeping hemoglobin levels high, helps your body to get the oxygen-rich blood necessary to perform the daily functions of life.

- Riboflavin is essential for the growth of healthy body tissue, including skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue. (One of the most common signs of riboflavin or vitamin B-2 deficiency is scaly, dry skin, cracked lips and lesions around the mouth.)

- Riboflavin ensures proper growth and healthy reproductive organs

- Riboflavin helps to maintain a healthy immune system by enhancing the natural immunity by strengthening the antibody reserves and by reinforcing the defense system against infections.

- Riboflavin protects the nervous system: Vitamin B2 can help in treating various nervous system conditions such as multiple sclerosis, anxiety and epilepsy.

- Riboflavin helps to prevents acne. It helps improve the mucus secretion of skin and might clean up the skin pustules.

- Riboflavin (B-2) also plays a major role in the functioning of the other B complex vitamins like vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Therefore, lack of riboflavin in the body can hinder the activity of other vitamins.

- Riboflavin is used in iron therapy for the treatment of sickle cell and iron deficiency anemia.

- Riboflavin may lower the risk of cataract in people.

- Riboflavin helps in the repair of tissue, healing and infection

- Riboflavin assists in regulating thyroid activity.

- Riboflavin helps prevent conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, acne, and migraines.

RIBOFLAVIN  &  MIGRAINE PREVENTION

Riboflavin/B-2 metabolites such as Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide or “FAD” are co-factors in the Krebs Cycle that produces energy. This coenzyme is an important component of the electron-transport chain.   This is crucial because a deficiency of mitrochondrial energy reserves has been observed in migraine sufferers and many people exhibiting poor cerebrovascular tone.  Furthermore, migraineurs experience significant mitochondrial energy deficiencies prior to a migraine.  Replenishing them with high dose ribolavin helps to avoid migraines.

Note: “Flavin” refers to any of a group of yellow nitrogen-containing pigments, as riboflavin, that function as coenzymes. Because the vitamin riboflavin is water soluble and not stored in the body, excess riboflavin not utilized by cells in the body is safely eliminated through the urine causing it to turn yellow.

MigreLief provides 400mg of Riboflavin, which is significantly higher than most multi-vitamins or B-complex products.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that high dose riboflavin can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines in both adults and children.  While women suffer migraine attacks three times more than men, both men and women equally benefit from riboflavin treatment.

The Journal of Headache & Pain reported on  the results of a study; Riboflavin Prophylaxis in Pediatric and Adolescent Migraine,  ”… In conclusion, riboflavin seems to be a well-tolerated, effective, and low-cost prophylactic treatment in children and adolescents suffering from migraine.”

(J Headache Pain. 2009 Oct;10(5):361-5. Epub 2009 Aug 1. – Riboflavin prophylaxis in pediatric and adolescent migraine – Condò M, Posar A, Arbizzani A, Parmeggiani A, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.)

COMBINATION OF  NUTRITIONAL THERAPIES
Riboflavin – Magnesium – Fevefew

Nutritional deficiencies, inflammation and vasospasms can independantly and togehter contribute to migraines occurring.  While riboflavin can be effective at reducing migraine attacks, combining riboflavin with magnesium and feverfew provides three mechanisms of action, each working independently and together in a triple therapy approach to battling migraine disorder.  All 3 are listed in the “American Academy of Neurology’s Evidence Based Guidelines For Migraine Prevention
(Superior Efficacy of Puracol Feverfew™)  (Magnesium Helps with Much More than Migraines

In fact, a 2003 study in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association noted that using riboflavin in combination with feverfew and magnesium, helps to maintain normal cerebrovascular function aiding the blood to flow more properly in the brain. When the blood is flowing the way it should, it can prevent sudden spasms and decrease inflammation, resulting in the prevention of migraines.

MigreLief – Triple Therapy with Puracol

Making a difference in the lives of migraine sufferers worldwide since 1996, MigreLief  Triple Therapy with Puracol™ comes in 3 formulas to meet everyone’s needs;  Original, Childrens (age 2-11) and +M (menstrual/hormonal migraines.)  Visit MigreLief.com for more information.

 To all MigreLief customers,
WebMD is conducting a short survey on the use of Riboflavin (B-2)  As you know, MigreLief contains a high dose, 400 mg of Riboflavin.  Please take the survey and be sure to choose MigreLief as the product brand from the drop down list. Feel free to leave a public comment or review about your experience with MigreLief as well.

Thank you,

The MigreLief Team at Akeso Health Sciences.

Medication Overuse Headache- (MOH) - A big dilemma.

The following comment is from Stephen Silberstein, M.D.,  director of the Jefferson Headache Center and professor of neurology, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia

“One of the greatest bugaboos we see every day in headache centers is patients with chronic daily or near-daily headache, who are overusing medication. It is our most common problem. These patients have often not responded to treatment and in an attempt to treat themselves, actually make the problem worse. This is not addiction or an attempt to get ‘high’; rather, it is motivated by the patient’s desire to relieve pain and dysfunction. Migraine preventive therapy is grossly underused.”

Do you find yourself taking more and more medications to try to keep your migraines/headaches under control? Do you find that one or two days after taking your medications that your headaches return?  Do you use more than three triptan drugs a week?  Are you taking OTC drugs 15 days or more out of every month?

If your answer to any of the above questions is “YES”, then you may very well be suffering from Medication-Over-Use-Headaches.  The drugs you are taking are actually causing you to experience more headaches, even if they temporarily help the headache at hand.

Triptans, ergot drugs, opiates (morphine, codeine, meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (Oxycontin) (Butorphanol) and OTC pain pills can all cause medication over-use headaches (MOH). If people use 3 or more triptans a week they will probably get rebounds, the same for opiates and if they are using Excedrin or other OTC pain pills 12-15 days a month or more, they will definitely get rebound headaches as well.

TIME TO DETOX

Research has shown that withdrawing (detoxing) from these drugs can in many cases reduce the total number of headaches you experience as well as the intensity of those headaches.  Withdrawal is not easy and the symptoms of withdrawal can be challenging, but the results are definitely worth it for most sufferers.

For triptans, the detox period during which there may be withdrawal symptoms, like continuing headaches, nausea, vomiting, and disrupted sleep will last about 4-5 days on average. 

The symptoms may last up to 8-10 days for withdrawing from opiates, ergots or OTC drugs.

The literature and research states that it is important to start taking a preventive treatment product prior to or at the same time you start the detox program. (see www.MIGRELIEF.COM) We recommend starting MigreLief one week before withdrawing from the drug that is being over-used.

There seems to be little difference in the ultimate results and success whether people withdraw “cold turkey” or gradually.

Keep a rescue pain medication available that is different from the medication that has been over-used, for emergency situations, only!

So if you are withdrawing from triptans or opiates, keep ibuprofen or Excedrine Migraine available, BUT JUST FOR EMERGENCIES WHERE THE PAIN CAN NO LONGER BE TOLERATED.  USE THE RESCUE MEDICATION VERY SPARINGLY; YOU DON’T WANT TO SWITCH FROM OVER-USING ONE DRUG FOR A NEW ONE. (THAT WILL GET YOU NO WHERE!).

If withdrawing from OTC medications, keep a triptan or opiate drug available for an emergency rescue situation only. 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY VERY WELL HYDRATED. DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE.

At the end of 5-10 days, depending upon what medication you are withdrawing from, you should find that your rebound headaches have significantly diminished or disappeared.

Your use of the offending medication should be either eliminated or substantially reduced.  Be sure to keep taking MigreLief daily because preventive products are very important to the success of this program.  Continue to take  MigreLief to maintain the benefits you have achieved.  

45% OF SUFFERERS WHO GO THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE MAY RELAPSE.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE USE OF THE PREVENTIVE AND KEEP THE USE OF RESCUE MEDICATIONS TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM TO PREVENT RELAPSE.

To the Best of Health,

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

The brain of migraineurs likes consistency. Many factors change with the seasons and influence migraines.   Changes in sleep patterns, light, air-pressure, temperature, humidity, and fragrances, can all increase the the frequency and tendency of migraines.

Beware of hotter days. A team of researchers at Harvard found that an increase in temperatures occurred 24 hours before increases in admissions to emergency rooms for treatment of migraines.   There is not much a patient can do to control the weather or avoid warm temperatures or changes in barometric pressure, therefore it is important to be vigilant about managing other triggers such as sleep and diet.  Avoid well known food triggers, and drastic changes in your sleep pattern if you can.  It  is also very important to stay well hydrated and to avoid strenuous outdoor activities or exercise during times of the day when it’s excessively warm or humid.

Spring is allergy season, and for many people sinus or allergy headaches can lead to migraines.

Tips to avoid “Spring” migraines:

1.  To avoid airborne allergens in your home, clean or change A/C filters
2.  If you are allergy prone, make sure your allergy meds are handy.
3.  With higher temperature, dehydration occurs even if we don’t feel dehydrated. Dehydration is a big cause of migraines. Drink lots of water

4. Stick with a sleep schedule, try to got to bed at the same time as much as possible and determine what number of hours is best for you. Both too little and too much sleep can increase migraine risk.

5. Light (photophobia) is a major contributor to migraine risk. Purchase a polarized, high grade pair of sunglasses and wear a hat with a brim to keep out even more light.

6. Be careful of new fragrances that you introduce not only in perfumes but moisturizers as well.

Follow these tips, use your Migrelief and enjoy the fun and beauty of Spring.

To the Best of Health,

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

Related Article – “The Anti-Migraine Diet”

Peter Rabbit’s mother was on to something when she put him to bed with a cup of wild chamomile tea after he had been into Mr. McGregor’s garden. People in the modern world often think of chamomile as a sleep or digestive aid. But wild chamomile is another name for the herb Feverfew. A tea of feverfew would not only have relaxed the hapless rabbit, but would also have routed his headache, calmed his upset tummy, put his mind at ease and soothed his jangled nerves after his terrifying turn in the garden.

The herb Feverfew (Tanacetum Parthenium) has been recorded as a medicinal remedy for millennia.  One can find references to the Latin “febrefugia” from which Feverfew gets its name in Old Saxon records. Hildegard of Bingen, a great 12th century abbess and healer made mention of it in her herbal tomes. Febrefugia literally means “Fever flies,” and has always been used as a fever reducer among other purposes. In even more ancient times, the Greeks used feverfew to treat melancholy which was characterized as much by debilitating headaches as it was by long-term depression.

Feverfew has also been considered a remedy for nausea, vomiting, digestion, itching, vertigo, arthritis, general and muscular pain relief, asthma, and even tinnitus.  One of the greatest boons in the modern era is the discovery of feverfew as an aid for migraine headaches

FEVERFEW & MIGRAINES
Commonly recommended for its ability to support cerebrovascular tone, Feverfew is rich in compounds known as sesquiterpene lactones.  One of the more important of these compounds is parthenolide, which represents 85% of the sesquiterpene lactone content in feverfew. Some scientific studies indicate that while parthenolide may be important there may very well be other phytochemicals in Feverfew that are as of yet unidentified and play a role in its effectiveness.

WHOLE LEAF VS. FEVERFEW EXTRACT
MigreLief’s Puracol Feverfew contains high levels of parthenolides and other active components, which other feverfew products can not guarantee.

Some studies of extracts of feverfew containing parthenolides yielded no significant benefits. This led researchers to believe that certain of the unidentified phytochemicals may have been left behind during the extraction process.

The ideal solution would be a combination of an extract containing high amounts of stable parthenolides.plus a non extracted/whole leaf source of feverfew containing all of the naturally occurring phytochemicals.   Thus Puracol Feverfew, AKESO HEALTH SCIENCE’S proprietary whole leaf and  extract plant source for feverfew with high levels of naturally occurring phytochemicals and parthenolides was developed.

INHIBITING BLOOD PLATELET AGGREGATION
(Clumping together of platelets in the blood – Part of the sequence of events leading to the formation of a clot)

Over aggregating of platelets in the blood appear just before a migraine forcing a release of serotonin. Serotonin causes the blood vessel to dilate.  Scientific studies have found parthenolide inhibits platelet aggregation and the release of serotonin from platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules, thus keeping the blood vessel normal resulting in less painful, less frequent or cessation of migraines.

Feverfew has also been shown to inhibit pro-inflammatory prostaglandin synthesis and the release of arachadonic acid. Each of these phenomena is associated with migraines. European studies have shown the benefits of feverfew on long-term cerebrovasular tone in multiple human studies.

ACTIVATING DYSFUNCTIONAL BRAIN PROCESSES
Though the exact cause of migraines is not known, certain triggers like tyramine in aged cheeses, chocolate, scents/perfumes, bright lights, changes in weather/temperature/humidity/altitude, over-use of headache medications, stress, hormonal fluctuations and many more, can activate certain processes that increase the risk of migraines occurring.

The dysfunctional processes that these triggers can activate are:

*  Excessive platelet aggregation which can result in changes in blood vessels associated with migraines.

*  Decrease in the cellular energy reserves in the brain that are common to migraine sufferers.

WHEN MIGRAINE SUFFERERS GET THESE 3 FACTORS UNDER CONTROL – THE RESULTS ARE LIFE CHANGING

Magnesium:  Research studies show that almost half of all migraine sufferers have low blood levels of Magnesium, which is critical in controlling vasospasms (the contraction and dilation of blood vessels in the brain which occurs during migraines).

Riboflavin
Migraine sufferers also suffer mitochondrial energy deficiencies, which Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) can improve when given in high dosages.  More Info-

Daily Dose/2 MigreLief tablets provide:

Puracol Feverfew(Extract & Whole Leaf) – 100 mg.
Magnesium (Citrate/Oxide 1:1) – 360mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 400 mg

(All 3 ingredients are listed in the American Academy of Neurology’s Guidelines for Migraine Prevention.)

LOOK FORWARD TO A WONDERFUL SPRING!

If you or a loved one are still struggling with debilitating Migraines, start your 90 day MigreLief regimen today.  By mid-spring if you are not completely thrilled with your results, we will refund 100% of your purchase price per our satisfaction guarantee.  We are that confident MigreLief will work for you as it has for countless sufferers worldwide.

• MigreLief may be combined with all other migraine medications
• No harmful side-effects
• Safe for men, women and children over age 2.

 
Listen for MigreLief on the Radio

Pain experience is individual.  Everyone experiences pain differently, due to so many varying factors. Your current state of health, including whether or not other diseases are present, childhood experiences, mood, environment, and previous experiences of pain are all factors in how you experience pain now.

Pain is only good as a warning. According to the Institute of Medicine’s recently released study, “While pain sometimes can serve as a warning sign that protects individuals from further harm, chronic pain is harmful and impairs productivity and quality of life,” as you well know. In the same study (Relieving Pain in America, 2011), 85% of migraine sufferers had at least one significant medical condition (besides the headaches), and 15% of sufferers also reported major depression.

Pain hurts in more ways than one. Pain can produce psychological and cognitive effects — anxiety, depression, and anger. Anxiety occurs because of fear of the recurring pain, depression from the feeling of not being able to escape the pain, and anger at having to deal with the pain in the first place. If allowed to persist, acute pain can become chronic pain which makes physical changes in your body. Pain can become a disease in its own right, and ultimately, it can result in a dysfunction in your central nervous system (CNS).

Are you progressing toward CNS dysfunction? If you suffer from frequent migraines, you may recognize the beginnings of such dysfunction in the form of shadow pain, more frequent headaches, or more triggers from sources which were previously quite benign for you. You may feel as though you live in a frustrating and increasingly hostile world from which you desire to retreat. Your work, and thus your livelihood, may be impacted or threatened by frequent absences. The ball rolls on, continuing to take its toll on even your basic enjoyment of life. “Research,” reports the IOM study, “has shown quality of life [for migraine sufferers] to be inversely proportional to the frequency of migraine occurrence.”

Prevention is crucial. This is why pain management and the role of prevention is so crucial to restoring quality of life for the migraineur. While the medical community currently focuses on abortives (medications to rid the sufferer of immediate pain) and palliation (making one comfortable in the midst of pain), the IOM stresses the importance of understanding triggers, conditions, and causes of the pain, along with preventive treaments, in order to eliminate the outcomes of chronic pain — that physiological change that occurs with chronic suffering.

You can stop pain’s progress. The good news is that even if those changes have already occurred, there are measures you can take to reverse the changes. Although it will be a difficult path, the reward is stopping the progress of chronic pain as disease, healing your body, and drastically reducing the incidence, and even possibly the complete cessation of the headaches.

If your headaches have not progressed to point of morbidity, you can take measures to prevent your headaches from progressing from acute to chronic.

If you are currently a chronic migraine sufferer, you too, are a great fit for migraine prevention.

The Road to Preventing Migraines

The most important step to lifelong migraine relief is prevention. Prevention includes understanding and resolving the underlying cause(s) of the headaches. This helps one to avoid the environment or the set of triggers for headache pain to occur in the first place, or, having experienced pain in its acute form, to prevent the pain from becoming chronic.

Migraines can be prevented.  NPR (National Public Radio) published a June 2012 article about the fact that there are migraine preventives, but their statistics show that only between 3 and 13% of people use preventives. According to conventional medicine, 38% of migraines can be prevented. Natural medicine practitioners know that many more than that can be prevented.

Dr. Jamie Von Roenn and her associates said in 1993, “For at least two decades, most major medical journals and the lay media have recognized that many patients have needless pain.” Dr. Von Roenn has been a pioneer in palliative (pain relief) medicine. Another decade has passed since she made that statement.

Migraine experience is individual. Despite many years of research and observation, the medical community has never “officially” determined exactly what causes migraines. Part of that is due to the individual nature of the experience. While there are common triggers, symptoms, and patterns, the underlying cause is extremely complex and individual. The most that the medical community has been able to determine concretely is that the majority of migraineurs have a family history of migraineurs. Fully 85% of migraine sufferers have a family member who also suffers or has suffered from migraines.

Lack of scientific determinates, however, does NOT prevent a fuller understanding of the phenomena by both user and intuitive practitioner. (Use of the term “intuitive” here implies any member of the medical community who applies intuition and analysis, in addition to empirical knowledge, in order to understand a medical phenomenon.)

There are several avenues toward prevention.  You are your own best advocate. Only you know how you experience your migraine pain. Only you have the key to your personal headache “structure,” all of the elements that go into creating your migraines. According to the 2011 IOM (Institute of Medicine) study, a gamut of “upstream” influences shape conditions and behaviors that produce or exacerbate disease, in this case, your pain. It appears that, although there may be specific pain triggers, that the entire milieu surrounding your migraines may be more complex.

Commit to the discovery process. Prevention requires work, self-study and analysis, and a willingness to apply what is learned. The ultimate goal, of course, is to eradicate the headaches entirely, but how does one do that if they keep occurring during the discovery process, and they begin to escalate? One answer is to treat with a preventive remedy while working to discover the root causes. While the easiest thing may be to take an abortive (something to stop the pain), abortives are rarely natural, and side-effect pharmaceutical abortives may cause far more problems than they solve.

Consider starting with MigreLief. The immediate goal is to reduce the incidence of the migraines. Cutting migraines by half, say from a dozen migraines a month down to six or three is huge. The triple therapy of MigreLief can do this, and can possibly eliminate them all together. Using MigreLief during the discovery process can stop your headaches from progressing, enabling you to concentrate more on finding and eliminating causes.

Migraines should not be a lifestyle. Take control, consider prevention over treating the symptoms of migraine pain for life.

 ABOUT CURT HENDRIX – THE SCIENTIST BEHIND MIGRELIEF

LONG TERM MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE RELIEF

Prevent menstrual migraine headaches by addressing the underlying causes leading to more than just migraines.

THE MIGRAINE – WEIGHT GAIN CONNECTION

90% of women gain weight between the ages of 35-55. The average weight gain is about 15-20 pounds, with a disproportionate amount of this weight being an increase in body fat.

What is unfair about this, is the fact that much of this weight gain and/or body fat increase, can occur without, increasing caloric intake. This is different than the weight you gain because you eat too much of the wrong foods and don’t exercise enough. It’s the stubborn, difficult weight gain or increases in body fat percentage (without weight gain) that occur in middle-aged and beyond women.

Why does this phenomenon occur in so many women in this age range, and what can you do to prevent or reduce the good chance this may happen to you?

There are specific techniques and natural supplements that can help balance a female body that is desperately trying (and in many cases with limited success) to balance many physiological processes, that by design, change with age. These changes can cause uncontrolled and undeserved weight or body fat percentage gains.

Much of this new weight will NOT be gained as much around the hips and thighs but in the stomach and waist area. Shifting/fluctuating hormones, stress and insulin resistance are the guilty parties.

Women who suffer from migraines will also be glad to learn that controlling these same issues of fluctuating hormones, stress and blood sugar due to insulin resistance will reduce their migraine frequency and intensity as well.

Why does this weight gain occur when hormones fluctuate and stress and blood sugar are poorly controlled?

Some women can start experiencing the symptoms of early menopause (perimenopause) as soon as their mid 30’s. The hormonal fluctuations of perimenopuase and the few years after menopause (one full year with no period) can strongly influence your metabolism, appetite and increase your storage of fat.

Though your hormones will fluctuate during perimenopause, the general trend is for your estrogen levels to diminish with ultimately the cessation of ovulation.

The body is aware of decreasing levels of estrogen from the ovaries and searches for new sources of estrogen production. Unfortunately, fat cells are a source of estrogen and the body may convert more calories into fat.

Though progesterone levels also tend to decrease during this period, decreasing progesterone levels don’t cause weight gain but they may cause water retention making you feel puffy or bloated.

Testosterone levels may also decrease during perimenopause (and menopause). This could result in decreased muscle mass (as well as other things like decreased libido). Less muscle mass would lead to decreased metabolic rate and additional possible weight gain.

INSULIN RESISTANCE

As if dealing with fluctuating hormones isn’t enough of a challenge during these years of a woman’s life, both men and women (in ever increasing numbers, mostly due to diet) are becoming “insulin resistant”.

This is a condition where your body is no longer as responsive to the hormone insulin, as it was when you were younger. Our bodies require increasing amounts of insulin to be released to maintain blood sugar at healthy, non-diabetic levels. Insulin resistance can occur whether you are over-weight or thin.

When our bodies don’t respond in a sensitive way to insulin, the sugar in our blood, is not absorbed efficiently by our cells and they don’t get the source of energy that they need. The cells can feel deprived and appetites increase and fat accumulation and weight gain can occur.

In the case of women suffering from PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome), the insulin resistance that accompanies this condition leads to weight gain as well. But in the case of PCOS the women often have too much testosterone and this causes the weight gain to occur around the stomach and waist much like it does it men. Also hair at the crown of the head can thin, and hair may grown on the face and back.

In fact, because estrogen and progesterone levels drop more than testosterone levels do during perimenopause and menopause, women may also tend to gain more around the middle than the hips and thighs. Some women tend to lose their waistline.

The fat that you can grab around your belly is NOT the problem. This is just sub-cutaneous fat, and though cosmetically not desirable, it is not the fat that increases cardiovascular and cancer risk.

It is the fat beneath your abdominal muscles that surrounds your internal organs that is of greater health concern. This fat is called abdominal or visceral adiposity.

It is the fat that protrudes out some men’s stomach to the point where they look like they swallowed a beach ball but yet they continue to say………. “Feel how hard my stomach is!” Of course it’s hard, there is so much fat underneath the abdominal muscles, pushing them outwards, that or course the abdomen feels hard.

Insulin resistance as well as stress and hormonal fluctuations can successfully be controlled and reversed and your body, self-image, emotional status, energy levels, cognition, health and over-all life will improve dramatically.

How do you know if you are insulin resistant?

One measurement is to measure yourself around the smaller part of your waist (but do NOT suck your stomach in when taking this measurement). Then measure your hips around their widest part.

Divide the waist measurement in inches by the hip measurement in inches. If the resulting number is .8 or larger (for women, 1 for men), then you have disproportionate weight in the waist and are at greater risk of having insulin resistance.

Your risk further increases if you have hypertension, low HDL levels (below 45 if you are a woman), or high triglyceride levels (above 150).

If you have darkened skin patches around the neck or armpits, it is extremely likely that you are insulin resistant. This is a condition known as acanthosis nigricans.

Stress The effects of long-term stress on our over-all health is very significant. One of the most important hormones that is released by our adrenal glands when under-stress is cortisol. This is necessary and helps us to deal with short-term stressful events or stimuli.

But, when stress is chronic, and cortisol is being released in excessive and lasting amounts, it can also lead to weight gain and other health problems.

Like insulin resistance and hormonal fluctuations, stress must also be dealt with.

Bringing It All Together

Because stress, hormonal fluctuations and blood sugar fluctuation due to insulin resistance are also major contributors to chronic migraine headaches as well as weight gain, several of the key “natural medicines” that help to resolve these issues are in MigreLief+M. This is a very effective natural medicine that helps to prevent migraine headaches and coincidentally helps women with the related weight gain issues we have been discussing.

Chasteberry – A specific extract of Vitex Agnus Castus, otherwise known as Chasteberry extract has been shown in numerous human studies to naturally balance the hormonal fluctuation discussed above.

Biotin – Doses of biotin, (a B-vitamin) much higher than normally found in multi-vitamin products, has been clinically proven to help regulate blood sugar irregularities that can be caused by insulin resistance.

B-6 – High doses of Vitamin B-6 have been shown to decrease or eliminate the symptoms of PMS (including bloating and related weight gain) caused by fluctuating estrogen levels. This vitamin is also involved in the processing of sugar and can help protect against the effects of blood sugar fluctuations caused by insulin resistance.

L-Theanine – an amino acid derived from green tea, has been shown to be very calming and help to reduce stress levels.

All four of the ingredients are found in the correct, therapeutic doses in MigreLief+M. For those of you who don’t suffer from chronic migraine headaches but do want to benefit from their weight gain/loss/body fat benefits, I suggest that you purchase these ingredients separately at your health food store.

For those of you who fear that they are insulin resistant, I suggest taking these other ingredients as well (which also can be purchase at any well stocked health food store):

800 mcg per day of chromium picolinate for blood sugar control 600 mg per day of R-Lipoic acid for blood sugar control

Consumption of a least 50 grams of dietary fiber spread out throughout the day with meals. Fiber helps to slow the body’s absorption of sugar and prevents the fluctuations that we have been talking about. You can choose psyllium as a supplement or, ground flax seed as your fiber source.

Moderate aerobic exercise of 20-30 minutes a day can also help to correct insulin resistance.

A daily B vitamin complex of 50 mg of B-1,2,3,5 plus folic acid and B-12 can also help with sugar metabolism and stress.

Diet-wise, lean meats, high fiber whole grains, vegetables, legumes and fruit will help reestablish normal insulin levels. Until you see weight and or body fat starting to drop, keep carbohydrates in the form of pasta, bread and sugar to a minimum.

What to expect?

By following this advice over the course of 3-6 months (3 months or less for migraines) your:

1- Weight or body fat percentages should start to meaningfully drop

2- Your hair, at the front and crown of your head, if it was thinning, should start to thicken

3- Any discolored patches of skin around the neck and armpits should start to lighten or disappear

4- Migraine frequency and intensity (if you were a sufferer) should noticeably improve

5- Energy levels should noticeably improve

6- If you are still menstruating, your periods should be much more regular

7- If you were experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, they should improve

8- If you had unwanted hair on the face or back, it should lighten and thin, if not completely go away.

To read more about some of the natural medicine ingredients written about above and to discover how yo can prevent migraines and lose weight at the same time visit: http://www.migrelief.com/migreliefm/active-ingredients

Curt Hendrix, M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S

MIGRELIEF ACTIVE COUPON CODE:  $5 OR $3 OFF MIGRELIEF

We are so confident that MigreLief will work for you, we are offering a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your results for any reason after trying MigreLief for 90 days.  (each bottle is a 1 month supply)

You have nothing to lose but your migraines! 

Let MigreLief make a difference in your life as it has for tens of thousands of users for the past 15 years. 

Note:  MigreLief can be used by itself or safely in conjunction with other migraine medications and prescription drugs.

No side-effects.

 
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THE MAN BEHIND MIGREIEF

Curt Hendrix, M.S, C.C.N, C.N.S, is the Chief Science Officer for Akeso Health Sciences, the manufacturer of the highly successful, comprehensive migraine prevention supplement “MigreLief Triple Therapy with Puracol,” for which he is best known.  Curt formulated MigreLief in 1996 and is dedicated to the research and development of natural medicines for specific medical conditions and innovative, leading edge solutions for migraine sufferers worldwide.

He has been named  Principal Scientific Investigator in multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) governmental grants studying the benefits of natural medicines on disease.

He is currently working under an NIH grant and principal investigator for research and development of  his all natural combination drug for arresting the development of Alzheimers disease.

There are 4 distinct phases to a migraine:  Prodromal (aka Premonitory), Aura, Pain and Postdrome. 

It is during the first two phases (prodromal and aura) that you get hints that a migraine is coming, and recognizing these hints (symptoms) may give you the edge you need to fight back and either prevent the migraine entirely or decrease the severity and or duration of the pain phase (which is obviously the most debilitating and problematic).

The Prodrome Stage – About 65% of migraine sufferers experience the prodrome phase. In the prodrome stage, sufferers experience emotional or physical symptoms two hours to two days before the pain phase starts.

These symptoms can occur in migraineurs with and without aura.

They are:

• Fatigue
• Yawning
• Appetite changes
• Altered mood – depression
• Muscle Stiffness – especially in the neck
• Appetite changes
• Digestive changes – (some sufferers vomit up food they ate quite a while ago)
• Irritability
• Euphoria
• Food cravings
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Sensitivity to odors, noise and light
• Increased urination

Physicians who specialize in migraine treatment find that only 30% of sufferers recognize that they have one or more of the “prodrome” symptoms until they are actually told what symptoms to look for. Once informed then up to 80% of sufferers report having one or more of them.

The Aura Stage – Less than half of migraine sufferers experience the aura stage. During this stage, about one-third of patients see flashing lights, wavy lines and blank spots in their field of vision (called scotoma) for a few minutes to a few hours before the pain stage begins. Some also have temporary trouble speaking or feel tingling or numbness on one side of the face or feet. (called parathesias). Others may develop a hypersensitivity to touch.

The Pain Stage – The onset of the pain stage can start within minutes or sometimes hours of the commencement of the aura stage. In addition to pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia) sound (phonophobia) and movement may also be experienced.

The Postdrome Stage – During this stage of migraine, even though the pain is gone, some sufferers can feel exhausted, depressed and/or, residual neck pain.

What to try when you notice any of the symptoms in either the “prodrome” or “aura” phases.

If you haven’t realized it already, it is advantageous to experience either or both of these stages because they can both serve as a type of “advanced warning” system that a migraine is imminent.

It is to your advantage to try to address preventing your migraine as early as possible, so focus on the 13 symptoms listed in the prodromal section.

If you don’t experience any of these, but do experience the symptoms listed in the “aura” section, then that’s when you can start trying the following techniques to prevent your migraine from occurring:

TECHNIQUES TO TRY:  (None of these techniques work for everybody. You will need to experiment to see which of them help you the most.)

1-   H2O – Drink plenty of room temperature water to make sure you are well hydrated.

2-   BREATHE  – If you feel stressed, try meditating if you know how, or try these breathing exercises:

Stress Reducing-Breathing:
The depth and rate of our breathing respectively decrease and increase when we are stressed. This can deplete oxygen flow to the body and the brain. Please do this breathing exercise exactly as it is described at least 3 times a day:

Blow your breath out through your mouth and then seal your lips. Breathe in slowly through your nose for 10 seconds while expanding your chest. Hold it for 30 seconds while trying to think about “nothing”.

At the end of 30 seconds then slowly expel the breath you were holding, through your lips over a 15 second interval. Notice how your entire body relaxes throughout this breathing exercise especially during the exhalation segment.

Repeat this sequence at least 3 times in a row, working yourself up do doing it 5X in a row, three times a day.

Over time, as your body and brain relax and get used to this very effective breathing technique, you may want to increase the time you breathe in through you nose to 15 seconds, the time you hold your breath to 60 seconds and the time you exhale through your mouth to 30 seconds

Perhaps have someone massage you (if massage relaxes you.) Try taking a warm (not hot or cold) bath.

3-   ESSENTIAL OILS – Try applying either essential oils of peppermint or lavender to your temples, forehead and or neck. 2-3 drops is sufficient.  The side of the neck behind and below the ear is a good spot.

4-   IBUPROFEN – I am hesitant to suggest you consider taking any OTC or prescription medicines for pain based upon the symptoms of the prodrome phase because I don’t want people to medicate unnecessarily. (If you are pretty sure that one of the prodrome symptoms is a reliable indication that you are going to get a migraine that would be an exception).  But I do suggest trying either of these meds if you experience the symptoms of the aura phase.  I have seen just 200-400 mg of Ibuprofen help many people not only eliminate the aura but prevent the migraine too. (Of course you should confirm that it is OK taking any medication with your physician.)

5-    INCREASE MIGRELIEF DOSE – Though not clinically substantiated, anecdotal reports of MigreLief users taking an extra pill or two upon noticing any of the symptoms, have reported some benefits.  This is not totally surprising because a few studies have shown both feverfew and magnesium to not only prevent migraines but actually help to eliminate the pain of some migraines.

6-    GET OFF THE COMPUTER – Stop working on your computer.  The flickering or flashing lights of a computer screen is a trigger to some migraine sufferers.

7-   WALK -  If it’s not too hot or cold, get out and take a walk at a moderate pace for 10 minutes.

Please remember that none of the above suggestions works for everyone. You will have to experiment to see if one or more of these techniques works for you.

To learn more about successful migraine prevention, visit MigreLief.com

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.

FDA Warns on Mixing Antidepressants with Migraine Drugs (First released in 2010)

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 20 — Mixing common migraine drugs with antidepressants can trigger a life-threatening condition called serotonin-syndrome, the FDA has warned.

Serotonin-syndrome is characterized by rapid heart beat, sudden changes in blood pressure, and increased body temperature. Other symptoms include restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Options successful at preventing the occurrence of migraines would decrease the risk described above in patients taking anti-depressant and experiencing migraines.  

For warning signs of serotonin syndrome and more info on Anti-depressants and migraine drugs click on the link at the end of this article.  For information on your natural migraine control option recommended by doctors, neurologists and pharmacists, go to  www.MigreLief.com

MigreLief is a dietary supplement for the nutritional support of cerebrovascular function in migraine sufferers age 2 years and above.

RELATED ARTICLE:  ANTI-DEPRESSANTS AND MIGRAINES – A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMBINATION!   Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome etc…

Track and manage your migraines – before they manage you.

Click here to download your Migraine Diary

Note:  MigreLief can be taken by itself or combined with prescription migraine medications.  The MigreLief Migraine Diary is a great tool when starting MigreLief’s Triple Therapy for the first time.  If you record your daily intake of MigreLief and other medications, you may notice you soon have less of a need for your prescription drugs.

MigreLief addresses the underlying nutritional deficiencies and imbalances that migraine sufferers often have in common. More on MigreLief’s three mechanisms of action.

A recent study published in the April 25^th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reviewed the results of 31 published studies on the use of Botox injections to prevent migraine headaches.

The researchers found that the use of botox injections to prevent occasional migraines (episodic migraines defined as less than 15 headache days per month) and chronic daily headaches was of no greater benefit than placebo.

They further reported that for chronic migraines (15 or more migraine or headache days a month) or chronic daily headaches, there was a small to modest benefit that was probably not clinically very significant. In addition, compared to placebo, Botox injections caused:

• Neck discomfort or pain
• Muscle weakness
• Paresthesias (a prickly, tingling, electric shock type sensation)
• Drooping of the upper eyelid
• Skin tightness or discomfort

The bottom line is that for most people, based upon this analysis of 31 published studies, the expense and effort of going through Botox injections to try to prevent chronic migraine headaches may not lead to satisfactory results.

For an established natural option to control migraines please visit www.MigreLief.com

Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.