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Vitex Agnus Castus May Benefit PMS & Migraines

It is well-known and documented that a significant percentage of women, who suffer from migraines, have attacks that are related to the hormonal fluctuations that occur with menstruation.

Many of these women also suffer from the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), which is also thought to be triggered by the same hormonal fluctuation. These symptoms often include, cramping, tender breasts, cravings, depression, anger, anxiety, mood swings and bloating.

 

Migraines during menopause? Vitex may be able to help.

 

MigreLief+M contains ingredients that help migraine sufferers to maintain healthy cerebrovascular function and to normalize hormonal fluctuations associated with the advent of menstruation and/or its cessation.

One of the several ingredients in MigreLief+M that contributes to these benefits is Vitex Agnus Castus (also known as chaste berry or chaste tree extract).

Several studies have demonstrated the ability of Vitex to modulate hormonal fluctuations and attenuate many of the symptoms of PMS.

Now a new open-label study, published in the peer-reviewed journal, Acta Neurology Belg. 2013 Mar 113(1):25-9 explored if Vitex also helped women with PMS with their migraines as well.

Of the 100 women who had both PMS and migraines that completed the 3 month study, 66 reported a dramatic reduction of PMS symptoms, 26 a mild reduction and 8 reported no effect.

Regarding migraines, 42% of the patients experienced a reduction in monthly attacks of greater than 50% and 57% of patients reported a reduction in monthly headache days greater than 50%.  No patients reported remarkable side-effects.

Though not addressed in this study, is the possibility that Vitex could help women whose migraines either develop or worsen upon approaching menopause. It has been shown that Vitex helps with several perimenopausal symptoms most probably because of its same ability to modulate hormonal fluctuations.

To the best of health,

 

Curt Hendrix M.S.  C.C.N.  C.N.S.

 

Active Coupon Code for MigreLief & MigreLief+M

 

Migraines and Behavior in Children

Migraines and Behavior in Children

Is There a Link?

By Colleen Doherty, MD

It’s hard to imagine your child lying in a dark room with a cold, wet cloth over her head, trying to nap away her migraine. Yet this situation is not as uncommon as you may think. Migraines occur in about 11% of children, according to a study involving over 1,700 schoolchildren in Aberdeen, Scotland, and this number only increases during adolescence. As a parent, it’s important to understand the emotional impact of your child’s migraines in addition to her physical symptoms. In fact, a recent study suggests that there may be a link between migraines and your child’s emotional health and behavior.

Like adults, some children may be genetically predisposed to migraines. The diagnosis of migraines in childhood can be tricky, as children may have a hard time verbalizing their symptoms. If your child suffers from headaches, here is what your pediatrician will likely ask you based on criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorder (ICHD-II): Frequency: How many headache attacks has your child had? (Five are required for a diagnosis of migraine without aura, the most common form of migraine in children).

Duration: How long do your child’s headaches last? In children, migraines may last from 1-72 hours.

Characteristics: How would your child describe her headache?

• Location: Is the headache unilateral or bilateral (bilateral is more common in young children)?

• Quality: Is the pain pulsating or throbbing?

• Intensity: How severe is the pain? Your pediatrician may use a picture pain scale.

Associated Symptoms: Does your child have any associated symptoms?

• Nausea/Vomiting

• Photophobia or phonophobia:  This can be inferred by the child’s behavior such as choosing to stay in a dark, quiet room.

Rule Out Other Causes: Your doctor will want to make sure that your child’s symptoms are not explained by another medical condition.

Is There a Link Between Migraines in Children and Behavior?

A study of over 1,800 Brazilian children ages 5 to 11 found that children who suffer from headaches are more likely to also have behavioral issues such as problems with attention, socialization, depression, and anxiety.  In this study, mothers of the children completed a 14-question module which assessed whether their child met the criteria for having headaches (either migraine o tension-type headache) according to the classification criteria of the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorder (ICHD-II).

children migraines

Does your child exhibit behavioral issues?

Mothers also filled out a questionnaire called the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), which rates a child on various behavioral and emotional issues. Eight symptom scales were examined, including:

• Withdrawn

• Somatic complaints (physical complaints without medical explanation)

• Anxious/Depressed

• Social problems

• Thought problems

• Attention problems

• Rule-breaking behavior

• Aggressive behavior

Results showed that children with headache, both migraines and tension-type headaches, were more likely than their peers without headaches to have problems with attention, socialization, and anxiety/depression. In addition, children with headaches had more somatic complaints and engaged in more internalizing behaviors or behaviors directed towards themselves than children without headaches. Overall, children with tension-type headaches were less severely impacted than their peers with migraines.

What Do These Results Mean?

Remember that a link between psychological or behavioral issues and headaches does not mean that one causes the other. The big picture to take away from this study is that headaches in children can negatively impact their daily functioning.

What Can I Do?

If you suspect that your child is suffering from headaches, discuss your concerns with your pediatrician. If your child continues to have headaches despite medical therapy, seeing a pediatric neurologist may be helpful. Being aware of the association between your child’s headaches and her emotional health will only make you a more informed and proactive parent.

Sources:

Abu-Arefeh I, Russell G. “Prevalence of headache and migraine in schoolchildren.” BMJ. 1994 Sep 24;309(6957):765-9.

Arruda MA, Bigal ME. “Behavioral and emotional symptoms and primary headaches in children: a population-based study.” Cephalalgia. 2012 Nov;32(15):1093-100.

Barnes NP. Migraine headache in children. Clin Evid (Online). Apr 11;2011:0318.

Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. “The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 2nd Edition”. Cephalalgia 2004;24 Suppl 1:9-160.

Cephalgiaphobia May Lead to Chronic Migraines

Cephalgiaphobia: A Vicious Cycle

Cephalgiaphobia is a psychological state that has been linked to prompting and sustaining the overuse of medication.

According to a recent study, published in the Journal of Headache Pain, frequent migraines can lead to a fear of migraines, and a fear of migraines can lead to increased migraine frequency.

Depression and anxiety are common with chronic migraine sufferers. The link between migraine and lifetime anxiety disorders (panic, obsessive-compulsive disorders, generalized anxiety, phobias) has been described in both clinical and population-based studies.

 

Cephalalgiaphobia

Cephalalgiaphobia and depression are often linked

 

A headache or Cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Cephalgiaphobia is fear of having a headache, or fear of the next headache during the time you are pain free.  This fear may induce patients to use analgesic medication in the absence of pain to prevent headaches and to improve their performances.

A recent study was aimed at assessing if cephalalgiaphobia is related to migraine frequency or medication overuse, and if it can increase migraine frequency.  This term is not only used for patients that are fearful of headache pain, but also for those exhibiting pain-panic.

Pain-panic situation is described as a significant and uncontrolled fear over anticipated painful events, which can prompt excessive and obsessive drug-taking behavior and, ultimately, medication overuse (prescription or OTC pain killers). Medication overuse in turn can lead to more pain in the form of MOH or medication overuse headaches.

In a recent pilot study, moderate-high migraine frequency was associated with higher risk of cephalalgiaphobia. Chronic migraineurs with medication overuse had a higher score of cephalalgiaphobia than those without medication overuse.  Patients with increased migraine frequency had higher cephalalgiaphobia.

The study concluded Cephalalgiaphobia may represent a high-frequency migraine feature and may play a role in chronicization. Therefore, it should be better investigated by clinicians and treated or prevented in order to reduce the risk of disability and the increase in migraine frequency.

Study details here.

Chronic migraine sufferers in general, including those at risk of becoming chronic are great candidates for migraine prevention. MigreLief should be part of any chronic migraine sufferers preventive regimen.

Why MigreLief Works:

Many things can happen physiologically that can contribute to migraines occurring.

When chronic migraine sufferers get these factors under control:

  • Maintain normal platelet aggregation
  • Reduce or eliminate vasospasms
  • Maintain normal mitochondrial energy reserves in the brain

The beneficial results can be life altering. MigreLief addresses these factors along with the underlying nutritional deficiencies and imbalances that can cause migraines which is why MigreLief has been recommended by leading headache specialists and top headache clinics.

 

MigreLief original

Prevention is KEY to controlling migraines

When temporary relief is not an option, opt for long term relief. If your chronic migraines are due to MOH and you are experiencing rebound headaches, it may be time to detox in order to break the vicious cycle of recurring migraines.

Learn more about MigreLief and beating medication overuse headaches 

 

MigreLief+M: Menstrual Migraine Formula for Migraines Triggered by Hormones

Women and Migraines - vintage adThis vintage headache remedy ad archived at the National Library of Medicine is aimed at women who were often told their headaches or migraines were “All in their head.”  In those days, women’s migraines were thought to be a result of their fragile nature and inability to cope with stress.

More women than men suffer migraines in the world and three times more frequently, but it has nothing to do with their fragile sensibilities. One of the most common migraine triggers is hormones.

There is a direct relationship between hormones and headaches.

Headaches in women, particularly migraines, have been related to changes in the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone before, during, and after a woman’s menstrual cycle. These hormone levels fluctuate dramatically and are associated with a large percentage of migraines in women.

Targeted Nutritional Support for Menstrual Migraine Sufferers:  MigreLief+M

Akeso Health Sciences, patent holder and manufacturer of MigreLief, the most successful nutritional migraine supplement for maintaining normal cerebrovascular function, formulated another life-changing product for menstrual migraine sufferers, MigreLief+M.  

MigreLief+M contains the same trusted triple therapy ingredients as Original MigreLief (Magnesium, Riboflavin & Feverfew-a proprietary source of whole leaf & extract) plus 5 additional ingredients for balancing blood sugar and hormone fluctuations (a well-known migraine trigger) and significantly decreasing PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) symptoms such as cravings, breast tenderness, bloating, cramps, depression, irritability, and weight gain.

THE HORMONE CONNECTION

Healthcare practitioners often hear women complain that they exercise and try to watch their diet but their weight loss is very slow or non-existent, and they even gain weight and body fat.

How can this happen?  The answer is like the engine of a car, the body is a complex machine and many systems can malfunction. If your car is getting poor gas mileage, a mechanic or an auto dealer may tell you to drive slower to get better gas mileage, but if your spark plugs are fouled or mistimed, you will never see the benefit of improved mileage despite your efforts to drive slower. Similarly, a lack of weight loss or even weight gain after dieting and exercise can be explained and conquered, once disruptive hormonal imbalances and blood sugar irregularities (insulin resistance) are corrected.

Most women are familiar with the many pounds that some women gain during the time of the month while experiencing PMS. This is an example of how a simple hormonal fluctuation can cause weight gain – without you consuming one extra calorie.

Likewise, many of you have seen the middle age weight gain and body fat increase of many middle-aged women who are approaching menopause. This is yet another example of how hormonal changes can cause significant changes in your weight and body composition, without consuming extra calories (which are normally thought to be the reason for weight gain). Studies show that 90% of women gain weight between the ages of 35 – 55.

Hormone changes and weight gain are directly related, and balancing your hormones is essential to prevent this weight gain. Weight gain during perimenopause is actually hormonal weight gain, and much of this weight may locate in the abdominal area. Cortisol is a hormone that we release when we’re under stress. Fat cells contain more cortisol than other cells. Fat cells located deep in the abdominal area that surround our organs contain the most cortisol. Cortisol increases the accumulation of fat in these cells and INSULIN RESISTANCE increases the abdominal accumulation of fat as well CAUSING SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT GAIN AND SUBSTANTIAL HEALTH RISK!

Estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone levels can fluctuate quite significantly a few days before and after menstruation leading to migraines and causing symptoms of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) such as:

PMS Symptoms:

  • Menstrual migraines
  • Mood swings
  •  Irritability
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  •  Changes in libido
  • Overeating
  • Cravings, especially for salty or sweet foods
  • Acne
  • Hives
  • Abdominal and pelvic cramps
  • Bloating
  • Weight gain
  • Headaches
  • Breast swelling and pain

PCOS Symptoms:

  • Hair loss: similar to male pattern baldness
  • Obesity and inability to lose weight
  • Acne

Insulin resistance: The body does not respond well to insulin, which controls blood sugar levels and can lead to Type II diabetes and abdominal weight gain

High insulin levels due to insulin resistance increase the production of the male hormone, testosterone. High testosterone levels cause symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods, and weight gain (all of these are PCOS symptoms) some HGH pills that are for sale are also linked to such observations, however, the data is shallow and not conclusive.

The testosterone causes much of the weight women gain to be in the abdominal area, which is where men carry much of their excess weight. Thus, it can be seen that the “Terrible -Twosome” of hormonal fluctuations and insulin resistance can wreak havoc on a woman’s overall health as well as her ability to prevent weight gain and lose weight. This “Terrible-Twosome” is also directly related to the occurrence of menstrual-related migraines.

Headaches in women, particularly migraines, have been related to changes in the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone before, during and after a woman’s menstrual cycle. Fluctuating hormones associated with menstrual migraines, PMS and PCOS can be controlled through specific doses of naturally occurring compounds.

A combination of naturally occurring compounds will not only nutritionally support  menstrual migraines sufferers but they will also , but they will also address the following:

1. debilitating symptoms of PMS and PCOS.

2. difficulty losing weight even after dieting and exercising

These natural compounds are:

  • High dose Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2, 400 mg/day)
  • Puracol Feverfew (100 mg/day)
  • Magnesium (citrate/oxide, 360mg/day)
  • Chasteberry extract (175 mg/day)
  • L-Theanine (100 mg/day)
  • D-Biotin (15 mg/day)
  • Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (vitamin B-6, 100 mg/day)

MigreLief+M contains the ingredients listed above known for menstrual migraine control, hormone & blood sugar balance, PMS & PCOS control.

DON’T WAIT TO GET YOUR MENSTRUAL MIGRAINES UNDER CONTROL – MIGRAINES CAN LEAD TO MORE MIGRAINES AND DEPRESSION

Migraines that first occur around your menstrual cycle may become chronic over time for many reasons.  “Migraines beget migraines – the more of them you have, the more vulnerable you become to having another,” according to Dr. Andrew Charles director of the Headache Research and Treatment Program in the UCLA Department of Neurology. He goes on to explain, “We’ve begun to see from researchers that the frequency of migraine attack is linked to permanent changes in the brain, and I think that changes the playing field for patients and those of us who take care” of them.

Migraines (menstrual or otherwise) are a risk factor for depression and can also lead to the vicious cycle of “Rebound Headaches” otherwise known as Medication Overuse Headaches.  Continuously treating the pain and other symptoms of migraine with prescription and over-the-counter drugs can eventually increase the frequency and tendency of your migraines.   This is a difficult cycle to break and often calls for detoxing and weaning off of medication.

Nipping migraines in the bud through prevention is key to keeping control of your headaches and your life. 

If you suffer menstrual or hormonal Migraines, consider trying MigreLief+M.  We recommend using it for 90 days sufficient to build blood levels for maximum effectiveness and to control blood sugar swings and hormone fluctuations (1 bottle – 60 caplets is 1 month supply).

For more information or to purchase MigreLief, visit our official website MigreLief.com

 

Homemade Ginger Tea – Recipes and Health Benefits

Ginger is one of the most widely used herbs in the world and has many health benefits. It is native to Asia but cultivated in the West Indies, Jamaica, and Africa.

Tea is the most gentle form of consuming ginger. Ginger tea is a spicy, invigorating, and healthy beverage made by peeling and grating fresh ginger root, immersing it in boiling water, and simmering the tea for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the desired strength.

Ginger contains more than 200 substances in its oils, which is why it has so many different uses. It is commonly used as a home remedy for indigestion, nausea, and to ward off colds, flu, and sore throats. Ginger is known to have an effect on a variety of conditions and diseases due in part to its impact on excessive inflammation which is an underlying cause of many illnesses.

ginger

Ginger root

 

Inflammation is the body’s natural healing response to illness or injury, and it subsides as the body heals. However, in some conditions, including arthritis, diverticulosis, gallbladder inflammation, and heart disease, the inflammation does not go away. It becomes chronic and leads to many other problems. Ginger has often been useful in treating chronic inflammation.

It is believed that ginger may block prostaglandins, which stimulate some muscle contractions, control inflammation, and impact some hormones. Therefore migraines may be prevented and stopped by ginger stifling the action of prostaglandins. Ginger, with all its anti-inflammatory properties, is a potent herb that is good for any type of pain or swelling of the tissues. Ginger tea for headaches is a proven remedy. For maximum effect, it is best taken at the very onset of a headache or migraine attack. It is also a popular home remedy to stop nausea that many people experience with migraines.

Healing & Preventive Benefits of Ginger

  • Multiple benefits include – Circulation booster, blood sugar reduction, increase perspiration, soothes menstrual pain, weight-loss helps reduce sinusitis and throat soreness
  • Treating Colds: Drinking ginger herbal tea is sometimes recommended for relief of cold symptoms because it is said to loosen phlegm and fight chills by spreading a warm feeling throughout the body
  • Treating Nausea:  Ginger tea has been used in traditional Asian medicine to treat nausea. Pregnant women report relief from morning sickness after consuming small amounts of ginger root, ginger tea, and ginger ale. When given in large doses, ginger also relieves chemotherapy-related nausea.
  • Relieving Joint Pain: Ginger has been used to treat joint pain by stimulating blood circulation and has been used to relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and Raynaud’s syndrome.
  • Digestive Disorders: Ginger has a warming and soothing effect on the stomach. Whether it’s gas, seasickness, indigestion, diarrhea, or the flu, ginger will help. It does this by mimicking some digestive enzymes used to process protein in the body.
  • Promoting Heart Health: As little as 5 grams of dried ginger a day has shown to slow the production of triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol in the liver.

GINGER TEA RECIPES

The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger – more than you think you will need. Everyone’s taste is different however so adjust the amount of ginger and honey to your liking.

#1 Honey Ginger Sweet TeaGinger Honey Sweet Tea

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups water
  • 2 family-size tea bags
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 7 cups cold water
  • Garnish: lemon slices

Preparation

  1. Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add tea bags. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
  2. Discard tea bags. Stir in honey and ginger. Pour into a 1-gal. container.

 

#2 Homemade Ginger Tea (Serve Hot or Cold)

IngredientsGinger Tea Recipe - best

  • 4-6 thin slices of raw ginger
  • 1  1/2 – 2 cups of water
  • juice from 1/2 lime, or to taste (may use lemon instead of lime)
  • 1-2 tbsp honey or agave nectar, or to taste

Preparation:

Peel the ginger and slice thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea. Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.

For stronger ginger flavor…

Simply slice ginger into paper-thin slices, without peeling it, bring it to boil, then turn it down and let it simmer for 30 mins then cover it and let it sit overnight. It will develop a really strong ginger flavor and a lovely brown color.  The next morning, strain it and either bottle it or, add the lemon juice and serve. You can sweeten with honey, brown or white sugar,  or artificial sweetener.   The ginger will have a strong, deep flavor and spicy, heat you simply can’t get by pouring hot water over it, or letting it steep for a short time.

Note: Keep in mind that if you are making ginger tea as a home remedy during cold and flu season, sweeteners are not recommended.

 

#3 Ginger Honey Green Teaginger green tea

Ingredients

  • 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled
  • 1 regular-size green tea bag
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup boiling water

Preparation

  1. Grate ginger, using the large holes of a box grater, to equal 1 Tbsp. Squeeze juice from ginger into a teacup; discard solids. Place tea bag, lemon juice, and honey in teacup; add boiling
    water. Cover and steep for 3 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bag, squeezing gently.

 

#4 Ginger Tea (1 quart)ginger in a pan

Ingredients:

  • Water, 4 cups
  • 2-inch piece of fresh ginger root or 1/4 cup freshly grated ginger
  • Juice of 1 lemon (optional)
  • 1/4 cup honey (optional)
  • Thin slices of lemon or lime (garnish)

Peel the ginger root and slice it into thin slices. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Once it is boiling, add the ginger. For a more lemon taste, add the lemon juice and the whole squeezed lemon to the boiling water as well. Cover it and reduce it to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Instead of adding lemon to boiling water, you may also add it “to taste” after the boiling process.

Line a strainer with a thin wet cloth and strain tea into a pitcher. Stir in honey and lemon to taste. Serve hot or chill thoroughly and serve on ice with thin slices of lemon and lime.

 

#5 Cranberry Ginger Teacranberry ginger

A tangy blend of ginger and cranberries. This tart tea recipe will make your taste buds
jump for joy, and wake you up in the morning.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tea bags
  • 2 cups hot water
  • 1/2 cup ginger, fresh and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup cranberries
  • 1/2 cup cranberry juice
  • Pinch of nutmeg

Preparation:

Steep tea, ginger, and cranberries in water for 15 minutes. Strain and add nutmeg and cranberry juice. Serve warm.

 

#6 Cranberry Ginger Punch

Ingredientsginger cranberry tea

  • 1 piece (3-inch) fresh ginger, thinly sliced
  • 3 cups cranberry-raspberry juice
  • 1  1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 6 slices lemon 6 slices orange

Directions Make the ginger tea: Bring the ginger and 3 1/2 cups of water to boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat and steep for 2 hours. (Tea can be made up to a day ahead and refrigerated.)

Mix the punch: Strain the tea into a large pitcher and stir in the remaining ingredients. Serve over ice.

 

Invent your own ginger tea concoction…

Mix your favorite ingredients into the basic ginger tea recipe, for example, fresh mint leaves, a bag of chamomile, and half a lime.

To make different variations of ginger tea, you can add just a few slices of ginger tea to a variety of teas. Here are some examples.

  • Ginger White Tea
  • Ginger Black Tea
  • Ginger Green Tea
  • Ginger Chamomile Tea
  • Ginger Lemon Balm Tea
  • Ginger Osmanthus Tea
  • Ginger Cinnamon Tea
  • Ginger Clove Tea

Note:  Store fresh ginger in a cool, dark, dry place. Do not keep them in the refrigerator, even after cutting them, or they will shrivel up.

Stay healthy and enjoy!

Avoid Menstrual Migraines and Non-Menstrual Migraines with a Natural Remedy

Worried about your next menstrual migraine attack?

Menstrual migraines are often more severe, last longer, and are more resistant to treatment than non-menstrual migraines…  So what can you do?

Consider a natural option for addressing menstrual migraines nutritionally at the cellular level, MigreLief+M.  MigreLief+M is a dietary supplement formulated for chronic sufferers of menstrual and all hormonally related migraines.  MigreLief has been used by hundreds of thousands of migraine sufferers and recommends by headache specialists and neurologists nationwide.

Until MigreLief+M, no one medicine was available to manage both hormonal and blood sugar fluctuations, migraines and other symptoms associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle.

+M contains the same triple therapy ingredients as MigreLief Original formula, Magnesium, Riboflavin and Feverfew which are listed in the American Academy of Neurology’s Evidence-Based Guidelines for Migraine Prevention PLUS five additional ingredients to address hormone and blood sugar fluctuations.  All MigreLief daily and fast-acting formulas were formulated to address the underlying nutritional deficiencies, imbalances, and dysfunctional brain processes common to migraine sufferers.

MigreLief+M Ingredients (two caplets contain):

MigreLief MHigh dose Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2, 400 mg/day)
Puracol Feverfew – proprietary form of whole leaf & herbal extract (100 mg/day)
Magnesium (citrate/oxide, 360mg/day)

PLUS:

Chasteberry extract (275 mg/day)
L-Theanine (100 mg/day)
D-Biotin (15 mg/day)
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride -vitamin B-6, (100 mg/day)
Chromium Picolinate (1,000 mcg/day)

It has been estimated that 70% of migraine sufferers are female. Of these female migraine sufferers, 60% to 70% report a menstrual relationship to their migraine attacks.  In addition to typical premenstrual syndrome (PMS), many women also endure migraine headaches during the same few days.

Headaches in women, particularly migraines, have been related to changes in the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone before, during and after a woman’s menstrual cycle. These hormone levels fluctuate dramatically and are also associated with a large percentage of migraines in women approaching menopause (Pre and Peri-menopause.)

NON-MENSTRUAL VS. MENSTRUAL-RELATED MIGRAINES

Non-menstrual migraines occur randomly and are not consistently associated with the period of time either before, during or slightly after menstruation.

Menstrual related migraines can be broken down into 3 categories:

  • 1   Premenstrual migraines, which occur just prior to the commencement of menstruation
  • 2   Menstrual migraines which occur during menstruation
  • 3   Late menstrual migraines which occur shortly after menstruation ends

All 3 types of menstrual-related migraine attacks are often more severe, last significantly longer, and are more resistant to treatment than the usual non-menstrual migraine attacks.

Work-related disability is greater in premenstrual and menstrual migraines than in non-menstrual migraines.

The literature indicates (and is substantiated by reports from sufferers) that all menstrual-related migraine attacks were less responsive to acute prescription drug options.  Only 13.5% are pain-free after 2 hours compared to 32.9% of non-menstrual migraine attacks.  This indicates that 86.5% of menstrual migraine sufferers and 67.1% of non-menstrual migraine sufferers do not achieve complete relief from debilitating migraine pain after 2 hours.

DON’T WAIT TO GET YOUR MENSTRUAL MIGRAINES UNDER CONTROL


Migraines can lead to more migraines and depression.

Migraines that first occur around your menstrual cycle may become chronic over time for many reasons. “Migraines beget migraines – the more of them you have, the more vulnerable you become to having another,” according to Dr. Andrew Charles director of the Headache Research and Treatment Program in the UCLA Department of Neurology. He goes on to explain, “We’ve begun to see from researchers that the frequency of migraine attack is linked to permanent changes in the brain, and I think that changes the playing field for patients and those of us who take care” of them.

Migraines (menstrual or otherwise) are a risk factor for depression and can also lead to the vicious cycle of “Rebound Headaches” otherwise known as Medication Overuse Headaches. Continuously treating the pain and other symptoms of migraine with prescription and over-the-counter drugs can eventually increase the frequency and tendency of your migraines. This is a difficult cycle to break and often calls for detoxing and weaning off of medication.

For more information on MIGRELIEF+M and its ACTIVE INGREDIENTS visit MigreLief.com

Related Topic:

MIGRAINES & MENOPAUSE

Statistics indicate that migraines in women tend to increase during the approach to menopause and during menopause, however, they tend to decrease or go away after menopause.

Some women who have never had migraines develop them as they enter the period before and during menopause. The answer as to why this happens may be explained as follows:

A women’s monthly cycle causes significant fluctuations in estrogen during certain times of the month. This hormonal fluctuation (decreasing levels of estrogen) is known to trigger menstrual migraines in as many as 1/3-1/2 of women with migraines.

Therefore, it is not surprising, that the decreasing levels of estrogen associated with menopause, may also trigger migraines in women. The solution in both cases may be to maintain a healthy diet, exercise, and add nutritional supplements to your daily regimen known to benefit migraine sufferers and balance hormone levels.

Migraine headaches can severely affect women undergoing the changes of menopause. They can range from mild to debilitating. Migraine headaches are closely linked to a woman`s hormones; as a result they experience five times as many migraines as men. An estimated 30% of women experience migraine headaches before menopause, and that percentage only increases during the time of menopause.

If your migraines, whether menstrual or menopausal related or not, are occurring several times a month or more, and you find yourself unable to function while reaching for pain medications more and more,  you are a good candidate for migraine prevention, to stop migraines from occurring in the first place.

 

Surgery for Migraines? A Last Resort if All Else Fails

Some migraine sufferers get to the point where they will consider almost any option available to reduce or rid themselves of their chronic migraines.

As surprising as it may be to learn, about half of migraine sufferers never go to a specialist to learn about the spectrum of options they have for either treating the pain of their migraines or if they have 2 or more migraines a week, options for preventing their migraines from occurring.

Some of you who have really bad chronic migraines, may have read about and considered looking into a relatively newer type of migraine surgery called Trigger Site Release Surgery.*

*Surgery for chronic migraines, if ever an option, should only be discussed and considered once all other non-surgical options for controlling your migraines have been exhausted.  Including trying for 3 months, the best known natural medicine for migraines – MigreLief  (www.migrelief.com)

Of course if you have tried all of the preventive options, and the numerous medicines for controlling the pain or aborting migraines and your life is still significantly and unacceptably disrupted by your chronic migraine attacks, then a conversation with a physician experienced with this procedure might make sense.

Trigger Site Release Surgery – Surgeons have shown that some patients who respond to Botox injections (many do not) may be candidates for this surgery that deactivates targeted trigger sites where your migraines occur. At least 4 sites, the forehead, side of the head, back of the head and the nasal area, have been identified as sites that can compress nerves and cause migraine attacks. Surgically these areas can be decompressed (which may involve removing parts of muscles in the area).  This surgery is relatively new. Long-term safety and side-effects of this treatment are not completely known.  80% of patients (though in total, a relatively small number) report at least a 50% reduction in migraine frequency, intensity or duration but these decreases in frequency, intensity and duration also apply to patients who successfully take preventive options without going through surgery.

For those of you who would like to read more information about trigger point release surgery please go to the following link.

https://www.enttoday.org/article/targeting-headaches-trigger-release-surgery-an-option-for-patients-with-chronic-migraine/

 

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

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Stopping Rebound Headaches from Prescription Drugs

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 be at higher risk for rebound headaches as well.

medication for headaches

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 MigreLief.com ) We recommend starting MigreLief one week before withdrawing from the drug that is being over-used.

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 Excedrin 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 NOWHERE!)

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.

WARNING: The above recommendations are based upon review of some literature discussing detoxing or withdrawing from drugs causing Medication-Over-Use-Headaches. It is for education purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It is necessary to discuss your particular situation with your physician before starting on this kind of program.

Dallas Cowboy Claiborne Suffered Migraines for Years

Morris Claiborne of the Dallas Cowboys has been dealing with migraines since he was in high school.  Claiborne just returned to practice yesterday after dealing with a migraine.  The Dallas Cowboys are training in Oxnard, California just 20 minutes north of MigreLief headquarters – Akeso Health Sciences in Westlake, California.

In a recent interview, Claiborne stated that he tried his best to fend them off in this latest instance, waking up early in the morning Tuesday and heading immediately to the training room.

“I felt it coming,” he said. “But it never slowed up.”

Claiborne has missed practices after being hit by migraines, but he has yet to miss a game because of them.

“I hope that never happens,” Claiborne said. “I have been searching for ways to try to deal with it… I never know when it’s coming or how it’s coming.”

Currently he takes Immitrex and lies down in the dark due to light sensitivity, until the migraines disappear.

When asked if he has found anything to prevent them, “No I haven’t found anything to deal with them yet… I’ve been searching since high school.”

A Cowboy fan, or fellow migraine sufferer should tell Mr. Claiborne about MigreLief as an alternative to merely treating the pain, and suffering a lifetime of recurring migraines.  Researchers are showing the more migraines a person gets, the greater the tendency for future migraines, making prevention key.

Back at practice Thursday, the second-year veteran hopes to play in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday night.

“I’m just going to enjoy everything about the Hall of Fame Game,” Claiborne said. “Hopefully we get a lot of playing time, but I know that’s probably not going to happen. I’m just going to go in and enjoy everything – every snap I do get, just try to take advantage of it and try to get better each and every play and hope the rookies do well.

Lets hope Mo Claiborne runs down to his local CVS Pharmacy for a bottle of MigreLief and starts tackling those migraines.

Chronic Migraine Prevention

 

MigreLief.com

 

Menstrual Migraines in Adolescents

Many adult women who suffer from chronic migraine headaches find that many, if not most of their headaches occur between 2 days before menstruation and 2-3 days after menstruation. These migraines are referred to as “menstrual” or hormonally related migraines.

Recently researchers at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital completed a study analyzing what percentage of adolescent, menstruating young women experienced “menstrual” or “hormonally” related migraines.

It was found that out of the 891 adolescent girls studied, 50% experienced a headache during their first period upon entering puberty and almost 40% of these adolescents continued to experience migraines just before or just after their periods.

These migraines are brought about by both the hormonal shifts that occur during menstruation as well as changes in blood sugar levels. They are often accompanied by PMS symptoms of bloating, breast pain, irritability, cravings, acne, poor sleep and anxiety, as well.

Correcting these imbalances can reduce or eliminate both migraines and many of the symptoms of PMS.

Our own clinical observations indicate that addressing hormonal shifts without also balancing blood sugar levels leads to less comprehensive benefits not only regarding migraine prophylaxis but regarding the aforementioned symptoms associated with PCOS. Therefore we recommend adding to any proposed regimen, ingredients like chromium picolinate, or other insulin-sensitizing ingredients, plus additional dietary fiber to prevent spiking of blood glucose levels that can often lead to the precipitous drops associated with hypoglycemia.

A combination dietary supplement created just for women and teens experiencing hormonal migraines and to address both hormone fluctuations and blood sugar swings is MigreLief+M.  Learn more at MigreLiefM.com

 

 

Stepping into the Light is Difficult for Migraineurs

Migraine sufferers often get left in the dark during this popular time of year 

For many people, summer is a time for taking vacations, drinking iced tea and lemonade, enjoying the weather, family outings, weekend trips, relaxing days at the beach, and simply enjoying the warm weather and sunshine.  But for migraine sufferers warm weather can mean serious trouble and sensitivity to light makes that beautiful sunshine blinding and often painful.

Battling Light & Heat

The lazy days of summer we all look forward to can be a nightmare for migraine sufferers.  In fact some people are migraine free during the winter months but with the arrival of summer and warm weather the migraines set in and reoccur all season long.  They find themselves more often than not opting to stay indoors.  Of course staying in where you can control the environmental factors may be a solution, but not if you want to enjoy some outdoor fun.

light sensitive headache

As a basic outdoor strategy, be sure to wear dark sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat. Also, staying hydrated is key to avoiding light and heat related headaches. Humidity is really tough to control out of doors, but following some of the suggestions made in preventing barometric pressure and altitude headaches is good general advice for those who will be out in the humidity as well.

Headache Prevention for Outdoor Enthusiasts

The barometer drops rapidly just before a storm, and your blood vessels may react to that, trying to equalize the pressure. Many sufferers recognize this fact and even find themselves watching the weather channel to know when to anticipate a summer storm migraine.

Strategies for barometric pressure headaches


 Some migraineurs have reported that lying down in a dark room can ward off the pressure headache, but if you are or want to be an outdoor enthusiast, you have to figure out other ways to deal with it.  The good news is that whether technophile or phobe, there are gadgets that can help you. If you are one who prefers gadgets over devices and apps, Newspring Power International Company, Ltd. offers a fishing barometer designed to check the barometric pressure at specific locations.

The application for migraineurs is that you can set the device for up to six places where you might wish to go for the day, and program it to warn you when a storm is approaching any of those places. If you prefer a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), there are several smart phones and tablets which have barometric sensors with free apps that will send you alarms when pressure reaches the danger zone for you.”

If you are already taking MigreLief for prevention, eating a magnesium rich snack when the barometer starts dropping can help to prevent the impending headache. When going for an outing, be sure to pack some nuts such as walnuts, almonds or cashews, and banana or raisins. If you have room for a small cooler, yogurt is also rich in magnesium. In addition, these snacks will keep up your blood sugar in a healthy way. Low blood sugar, especially when eating erratically on a daytrip, can trigger a migraine.

AVOIDING OTHER SUMMERTIME MIGRAINE TRIGGERS

Stress – After a flurry of activity and preparation, when a person finally has a chance to relax, headaches often set in.  The beginning of the weekend or a vacation is a common time for migraines to occur.  Take it easy, plan in advance, and just agree with yourself or family members that the number one key to everyone enjoying the time is to relax and be unhurried in everything.

Change in sleep patterns – The longer days of summer find people going to sleep later than usual especially when on vacation, or shifting between time zones.  This disruption in a normal sleep pattern can lead to migraines, so try to maintain as normal a schedule as possible, or, if you know you will be up later than usual, try to squeeze in an afternoon nap.

Allergies & Altitude –  Allergens in the environment can also cause migraines, and the level of some allergens can increase with humidity. Higher altitudes for summer campers can also be a problem.  Higher altitude means thinner air, which means your circulatory system is working harder, in turn affecting the load your brain vessels are carrying. Keep up with similar treatment as suggested for barometric pressure headaches, and add some raw, local honey to your diet to alleviate stress from airborne allergens.


ULTIMATE PREVENTION

If you know what your triggers are, it is always best to avoid them if possible and hopefully prevent a migraine.  But even if all precautions are followed, migraines may still strike so it may be time to consider attacking your migraines and all potential future migraines with nutrition.  “Let food be your medicine,” said Hippocrates. Even if you eat right, upping certain nutrients such as magnesium, feverfew, and vitamin B2 can seriously assist in controlling migraines and headaches.  Anyone with underlying nutritional deficiencies and imbalances causing dysfunctional brain process especially need these nutrients (See “The Science of MigreLief”).

Taking MigreLief with its Triple Therapy protocol is a convenient and measured way to get the right amount of the necessary nutrients to help maintain normal cerebrovascular tone and function.

If migraines are controlling your life and keeping you from having a fun memorable summer, take control of your health so you may step into the light once again without fear.

 

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

Cindy McCain’s Battle with Migraines Inspires Campaign

Cindy McCain, who has suffered from migraines for more than 20 years recently launched the “36 Million Migraine Campaign” on the TODAY show.  This is an effort by the American Migraine Foundation to raise $1 for each of the 36 million Americans suffering  migraines.

In an interview on TODAY, Mrs. McCain,  wife of Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, described her migraines as a vise or nail in her forehead, stating “It’s indescribable to those who have never suffered.”  Commenting on the urgent need to raise more money for migraines, which affect 12% of US citizens, Mrs. McCain  stated, “It affects our economy. It affects our daily life. It affects our school children. Everything is involved in this.”

McCain said she suffered headaches during her husband’s 2008 presidential bid, as evidenced by the sunglasses she was often photographed wearing. “That’s when it was happening, big time,” she said. “That was the sign.”   She acknowledged her migraines in some circles in the past, but found most people didn’t get the severity of the disorder — a problem she calls the “stigma” of migraine sufferers

The pain of migraine is hardest on family members, who often don’t get just how bad it feels. “They want so much for you to feel well and they don’t understand it,” McCain said.

More than 15 genetic mutations have been identified that leave people susceptible to migraines.

For more information on the 36 million migraine campaign, please visit the official page at AmericanMigraineFoundation.org

Nutritional Migraine Supplement for Long Term Migraine Relief – READ MORE