Migraines are painful headaches usually only on one side of the head and may be associated with nausea, vomiting, and changes in vision. About 6 percent of men and 18 percent of women between the ages of 25 to 55 suffer from migraine headaches. Now research reports that supplementation with butterbur (Petasites hybridus) and melatonin may help migraines.
Double-blind studies found that butterbur extract relieves migraines significantly better than placebo. A study published in Neurology found that the frequency of migraine attacks was reduced by 48 percent for migraine patients taking 75 mg of butterbur twice a day, by 36 percent for those taking 50 mg of butterbur twice a day, and 26 percent for the placebo group (no butterbur). "Petasites extract 75 mg bid is more effective than placebo and is well tolerated as a preventive therapy for migraine," the study authors conclude.
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Another study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that butterbur extract reduced the frequency of migraine attacks by over 60 percent. "The results suggest that migraine patients can benefit from prophylactic treatment with this special extract," the study authors write. "The combination of high efficacy and excellent tolerance emphasizes the particular value that Petasites hydridus has for the prophylactic treatment of migraine."
Other research suggests that melatonin secretion from the brain's pineal gland may be disturbed in people suffering from migraine and sleep disorders. A 2004 study published in Headache reports that 5 mg of melatonin taken 30 minutes before bedtime may reduce migraine symptoms. "Melatonin may be helpful in patients with headache who are suffering from delayed sleep phase syndrome," the study authors write. "Its effectiveness may be due to modification of vascular and nociceptive systems or to its chronobiological action which adjusts the patient's biological clock to his/her life-style."
REFERENCES:
1. Lipton RB et al. Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine. Neurology 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2240-4.
2. Grossmann M and Schmidramsl H. An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000 Sep;38(9):430-5.
3. Nagtegaal JE et al. Melatonin-responsive headache in delayed sleep phase syndrome: preliminary observations. Headache 1998 Apr;38(4):303-7.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on October 13, 2006 02:45 PM
