Migraines and Magnesium

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

13 Jun 2006 12:23 PM

Some recent research from a team at the State University of New York shows that magnesium may have an impact on your migraine suffering.

Migraines affect a lot of people in the United States -- approximately eighteen million women and five million men. I can remember my mother being practically incapacitated by occasional migraines when I was a child; she would lie in a dark room and we couldn't turn on the lights or make too much noise.

Eighty percent of patients in the study done by the State University of New York responded positively to magnesium within fifteen minutes -- they experienced a complete elimination of their migraine pain. Unfortunately, almost half of the patients who responded well to magnesium found that their symptoms returned within a few hours. However, some of the patients were free of symptoms for a day or more.

The final word? This study seems to indicate that magnesium deficiency could be an important factor in migraine suffering. The lead doctor on the study feels that Americans in general don't get enough magnesium in their diets. Those who do get enough magnesium in their diets may lose it through excessive stress or diabetes.

And magnesium deficiency has some of the same symptoms of migraines, like sensitivity to noise and bright light, headache, anxiety, and even heart disease and menstrual cramps. That seems to be more evidence pointing to the connection between magnesium and migraines.

If you want to make sure you're getting enough magnesium, here are the guidelines: 350 milligrams daily for men and 280 milligrams daily for women. Whole grains are a great source for magnesium, as are nuts and seeds, legumes, cocoa, and green leafy vegetables. If you're a fish lover, try halibut -- just three ounces gives you 90 milligrams of magnesium. Almonds, cashews, soybeans, and spinach are the next richest sources of magnesium, with more than 75 milligrams of magnesium per serving. Just watch your sodium intake!

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Nicole Humphrey (15757) 13 Jun 2006 12:33 PM

I get migraines a lot. It will be interesting to see if this works! Thank you so much for the info!

Andrea M (2525) 14 Jun 2006 07:16 AM

I suffer a great deal from migraines! This would be interesting to see if it works! I suffer from them at least a few times a month! So this would be a blessing if it does work:)

Elizabeth247 (5) 21 Jun 2006 09:59 AM

I started taking magnesium from Jigsaw Health, and it has helped me with my migraines, as well as constipation. It is the only magnesium I have found that doesn't give me diarrhea. :) I didn't realize my body needed magnesium. Thanks for sharing the info!

Aimee Amodio (11995) 21 Jun 2006 10:47 AM

Thanks for sharing your experiences with magnesium, Elizabeth - it's one thing to read about a study and another thing to hear the good news directly from a migraine sufferer. I'm really glad to hear it works for you! My mother has suffered from migraines pretty much since I was born, and I've seen the misery she goes through when she has one.