Do any supplements or foods help with migraine? Do any trigger migraine?

I’ve suffered from migraines (with and without headaches) for 40 years. Different doctors have given me conflicting lists of migraine triggers, but none of them have helped. About 17 years ago a doctor interviewed on CNN said there are a multitude of possible migraine triggers and that you’ll never figure out your personal triggers. He said that when you feel a migraine coming on to take your medicine as soon as you can. That’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten regarding migraines.

Read "How to Heal Your Headache", comprehensive information on migraines and their triggers and genetic predisposition. He stresses addressing dietary triggers first.

Caffeine triggers my migraines. If I have one cup of coffee, no migraines. But if I have caffeine on two or more days, I might get a migraine.

I get Botox shots every three months plus take Verapamil every day to control my migraines. Even with that, I normally get 2-3 migraines per month anyway. In mid-May 2022 I started taking an L-Glutamine supplement every morning in the hope that it would heal my digestive system. (I am gluten-intolerant and lactose-intolerant.) I have not had a migraine since then. I still have to take Verapamil and I'm still getting Botox, but the break-through migraines seem to have stopped. I am taking NOW brand 500 mg l-glutamine capsules. (I do not have a financial interest in any drug or supplement company.) (Note that this is a non-placebo controlled non-blind test case of one person - me, but still, wow!)

My aura migraines had increased in frequency from occasional to 3 or 4 a week, sometimes with 2 episodes in one day. But soon after starting each day with 200Mg of Ubiquinol (Mercola) plus 100Mg of B2 (Now) and adding 2 Magnesium Threonate capsules (Mercola again) at lunchtime, my aura migraines have all but ceased. This could of course be coincidental but so far so good...

Some of these foods are also high in salicylates. I suspect that high-salicylate foods trigger migraines for me.

Some magnesium supplements SEEM to give many people Migraine or increase frequency and severity. Magnesium that is chelated especially gluconate. I get a severe migraine from this.

Daily does of 270 mg DHA and 135mg of EPA made from algea (not fish) dropped my migraine frequency about 65%. It was really astounding to me and has worked for the past 2 years. I began taking DHA/EPA supplements for general health reasons at recommendation of Dr. Michael Greger, MD, founder of NutritionFacts dot org, a not-for-profit website. He does not sell anything (except his book all of which is available via free videos on the website). I did not expect any effect on my migraines from the DHA/EPA so was surprised and pleased at the positive change. Over several years I had tried everything mentioned in this comments thread and nothing worked. I noticed improvement after about 6 weeks of DHA/EPA supplements.

I recently doubled my dose of CoQ10 (ubiquinol) from 100 mg to 200 mg, mostly to help in absorbing a cholesterol supplement (citrus bergamot) I started taking. My headaches have been reduced by about half in frequency. Very surprised as I had been taking the 100 mg for years and never saw any effect.

Try tart cherry supplements. They have had a positive affect on my migraines by reducing daily frequency in half.

Surpringly, I found out some supplements like Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Sulfate were a cause of my migraines. A few months after stopping those, I experienced significant arthritic hip pain. I now take Glucosamine HCl daily and 2/3 capsule of chondroitin (150 mg) twice a week, which is the lowest amount I have found that solves my arthritis. I can still get a mild headache for a day after the Chondroitin, but it is manageable.

I am also sensitive to slightly rancid oil supplements like flaxseed that were probably not ideally stored by the seller or exposed to heat in the shipping process, or maybe sourced overseas.

Ditto other's comments on getting testing for food sensitivities!

My husband was getting migraines at least twice a week, back about fifteen years ago. He started taking feverfew every day and the migraines almost disappeared after a few weeks. The only times they have recurred have been when he stopped taking the feverfew because he was traveling or it was not available where we we lived for a while. It does seem to be necessary to persevere for a few weeks for it to take effect.

I take a handful of cayenne pepper capsules at the onset of aura--it helps quite a bit, although it can lead to, ummm, digestive distress. I also take Dramamine. Helps tremendously, partly because it just makes me sleep. I recently bought a Cefaly (an electronic device that is supposed to prevent migraines if used daily), and so far so good. I use the SeaBand elastic things to help with nausea.

I'm 85 years old. Most of my life I've had migraines. About four years ago, I was suffering the migraines every week. I started taking 400 mg of magnesium and 4000 IU of vitamin D3, daily. My migraines stopped and I haven't had one since then. I don't know which supplement stopped the migraines. I had been using 200 mg magnesium, because I get constipated easily. I have read that magnesium can help with migraines. Also, I started the vitamin D3 because I no longer get sun, and my blood test showed low levels.

Recently added Life Extension Brain Shield (gastrodin) with good result. My frequency and severity have been reduced about 80% after a month. The effect started almost immediately.I originally took feverfew, but then I seemed to become accustomed to it, and added one by one, the others. Topamax worked, but it made me stupid. I also like ginger for the nausea, and it also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

I had 3-12 migraines/month for about 25 yrs. Bedridden if not treated. Luckily the triptans work terrifically for me, but most lost their efficacy after 2 yr and I would move on the the next. Zomig has continued working well. I tried all the home remedies listed and more - and none worked significantly. But Miracle of miracles, a Dr. told me I was low thyroid despite "normal" blood levels with the usual USA tests (not good for measuring direct thyroid function). Simply took low dose Armour thyroid and my migraines nearly totally stopped within 3-weeks. I still can get them <1/month; but the threshold to trigger them has skyrocketed up and can now drink wine, eat chocolate etc. I suggest to all migraineurs that low thyroid should be checked by symptoms and get a Dr. willing to listen and try it. Recent mri has shown my thyroid to be atrophied and consistent with the diagnosis!
Lou

Nutritionfacts.org ran a story last week on the use of powdered ginger. In a double blind placebo-controlled study 250 mg. was as effective as sumatriptan.

I take them all and I realise that after adding them one by one they had an impact on my migraine. Nothing else worked not even morphine at one point. Was thinking of ending my life. Now I have my life back! It works!!!!!

I forgot to mention that you need to take Fever Few every day. If you wait until you get a migraine and then take it, it won't do any good.

My son suffered from migraines. I started him on Fever Few. He hasn't had a migraine for about 20 years now. Also, everyone I know, that had migraines, I recommended Fever Few. All of them have reported back to me that they no longer have migraines.

I forgot to mention that you need to take Fever Few every day. If you wait until you get a migraine and then take it, it won't do any good.

Adeline277
My daughter had atmospheric migraines that were debilitating. She was found (after much pushing of her MD) to have severe food allergies, IgE diagnosed. Since being on the diet that eliminated these foods she has been migraine free. Push to get tested.

My migraines are caused by the barometric pressure bringing in "Low" conditions. No one seems to be addressing migraines caused by atmospheric disturbances.

Look up mention of using topical lidocaine -- rubbed on temples and forehead. There were a few studies of this some years ago that I came across, showed my doctor, got a Rx and used. It's worked for me, done at the first hint of a migraine, to greatly reduce the length and intensity of the headache. The 'make it more expensive' pharma approach has been to test using lidocaine as nose drops, to get the same effect.