Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Menstrual Migraines Treatments in Herbal medicine

Saturday, 7 December 2013

Menstrual Migraines Treatments in Herbal medicine

Menstrual Migraines is a hormone related headaches happened in the before, during or immediately after the period, or during ovulation as a result of the levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuations in the menstrual cycle.
Treatments In herbal medicine

1. Peppermint
Peppermint contains high amounts of menthol which have long been used in herbal medicine to treat various pain conditions including headache. In a randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossed-over study conducted in the neurology Clinic of Nemazee Hospital, affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, southern Iran, from March 2007 to March 2008. Menthol solution can be an efficacious, safe and tolerable therapeutic option for the abortive treatment of migraine(G.1)

2. Feverfew
Feverfew and it's ingredient parthenolide have shown the inhibition of the brain chemicals that dilate blood vessels and cause a migraine. Some researchers suggested that a CO(2)-extract of feverfew decreased the migraine frequency from 4.76 by 1.9 attacks per month in the MIG-99 group and by 1.3 attacks in the placebo group (P = 0.0456). Logistic regression of responder rates showed an odds ratio of 3.4 in favour of MIG-99 (P = 0.0049). Adverse events possibly related to study medication were 9/107 (8.4%) with MIG-99 and 11/108 (10.2%) with placebo (P = 0.654). MIG-99 is effective and shows a favourable benefit-risk ratio.(G.2) while others insisted that there are insufficient evidence from randomised, double-blind trials to suggest an effect of feverfew over and above placebo for preventing migraine.(G.3)

3. Butterbur
Butterbur is a creeping underground plant, genus Petasites of 15 -20 species, belonging to the family Asteraceae, native to Northern Hemisphere. In a comparison in a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized trial comparing Petasites extract 75 mg bid, Petasites extract 50 mg bid, or placebo bid in 245 patients with migraine conducted by Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Petasites extract 75 mg bid is more effective than placebo and is well tolerated as a preventive therapy for migraine.(G.4)

4. Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba is oldest living tree species, genus Ginkgo, belonging to the family Gink-
goaceae, native to China. Some researchers suggested that Gingkolide B, a herbal constituent extract from Ginkgo biloba tree leaves, seems to be effective as preventive treatment in reducing migraine attack frequency and in attenuating the use of symptomatic medication in our small series of children with primary headache in a small sample of 30 young patients(G.5). Other found that Ginkgolide B is effective in reducing MA frequency and duration. The effect is clearly evident in the first bimester of treatment and is further enhanced during the second(G.6)

5. Cannabis
Cannabis is a herbal plant with three putative varieties Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis, native to Central Asia, and South Asia. clinical cannabis indicated that Migraine has numerous relationships to endocannabinoid function. Anandamide (AEA) potentiates 5-HT1A and inhibits 5-HT2A receptors supporting therapeutic efficacy in acute and preventive migraine treatment. Cannabinoids also demonstrate dopamine-blocking and anti-inflammatory effects. AEA is tonically active in the periaqueductal gray matter, a migraine generator and suggested that Migraine, fibromyalgia, IBS and related conditions display common clinical, biochemical and pathophysiological patterns share an underlying clinical endocannabinoid deficiency that may be suitably treated with cannabinoid medicines(G.7)

6. Lavender
Herbalist suggested that rubbing a little lavender oil on your temples, or dropping some in the bath water can be extremely soothing. For the migraine associated with depression or poor digestion, it may be result of the relaxation and coronary circulative effects of the oil(G.8)

7. Soy, Dang Qui and Black Cohosh

Since falling levels of estrogen is the major provocative factor in migraine associated with menstruation. In the study of forty-nine patients were randomized to receive either placebo, or a daily combination of 60 mg soy isoflavones, 100 mg dong quai, and 50 mg black cohosh, with each component standardized to its primary alkaloid, conducted by Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, patients received study medication for 24 weeks. Average frequency of menstrually associated migraine attacks during weeks 9-24 was reduced from 10.3 +/- 2.4 (mean +/- s.e.m.) in placebo treated patients to 4.7 +/- 1.8 (P < 0.01) in patients treated with the phytoestrogen preparation(6)

7. Others
Many herbs such a Fenugreek, Black willow, Marjoram, St. John's wort, fennel or caraway seed tea hane been used to relieve pain or symptoms of migraines, but they are not mention here because lack of studies.