| More than half of the 30 million Americans who suffer | | | | appears to be an unfortunate tendency to burp. The |
| from the worst kind of headache pain take only | | | | brand used in the study, Petadolex, is available only in |
| over-the-counter remedies—or nothing at all. | | | | 50 milligram capsules; take one three times a day. |
| But doctors now believe an unorthodox remedy such | | | | Look for it in drugstores, health-food stores, and on the |
| as a B vitamin or a series of Botox injections may | | | | Internet. |
| help. How they work isn’t entirely clear. But | | | | Do the Q Co-enzyme Q10, an antioxidant found in |
| the risks appear to be minimal, and the payoffs could | | | | meat and nuts, may also crank up your |
| be huge. Here’s our guide to the remedies | | | | brain’s ability to use energy. “The |
| experts find most promising. | | | | data are very encouraging,†says Mark |
| Get your Bs | | | | Green, MD, of Columbia University. In a recent study, |
| In people who suffer from frequent headaches such | | | | researchers gave 42 patients either co-Q10 or a |
| as migraines, tests show their brains seem to be | | | | placebo and found that the antioxidant reduced the |
| consistently low on energy, leading to painful | | | | frequency of attacks by 47 percent, as well as the |
| overreactions when the brain is pushed by bright lights, | | | | amount of nausea. A 1-month supply will run you $40 |
| loud sounds, or lack of sleep. Riboflavin appears to | | | | to $60, and you’ll need to take a fairly high |
| help solve the problem, Kaniecki says. While the | | | | dose (300 milligrams every day) for at least 2 months |
| recommended daily intake for a healthy adult woman | | | | before you’ll feel better. Buy it wherever |
| is only about 1 milligram, a high dose (400 milligrams | | | | it’s sold in bulk; the Internet may be your |
| daily) cut the frequency of migraine attacks by nearly | | | | best bet. |
| 60 percent in one study, and there are no known risks | | | | A new use for Botox |
| from taking that much. You have to use it daily for at | | | | A new Mayo Clinic study found that Botox cut by |
| least a month before you’ll see results, | | | | more than half the number of headaches suffered by |
| because your body needs time to adjust. A bottle of | | | | people who get migraines 15 or more days per month. |
| 100-milligram supplements sells for about $6.99 at most | | | | But this remedy doesn’t slay headaches by |
| drugstores and is available for less on the Internet. | | | | forcibly relaxing or paralyzing muscles. Instead, experts |
| Magna magnesium | | | | say, it seems to block pain signals to the brain. |
| Magnesium also seems to correct brain | | | | Injections are usually applied at numerous sites in the |
| hypersensitivity. The dose needed is considerably | | | | scalp and neck every 2 to 3 months. A big drawback: |
| more than the 50 milligrams in once-a-day vitamins; | | | | It’s $1,000 per treatment, and insurers usually |
| patients took up to 800 milligrams daily in studies that | | | | won’t cover the cost. Many headache clinics |
| found significant reductions in the number of days with | | | | offer Botox therapy; ask your local hospital or |
| headaches, and in the intensity of pain. That amount | | | | neurologist for a referral. |
| may cause diarrhea or gas in people with sensitive | | | | A pain-piercing approach |
| stomachs, but taking a calcium-magnesium combo pill | | | | In a recent study, German insurance companies |
| can offset these side effects. Both magnesium and | | | | followed 15,000 headache patients and found that |
| calcium-magnesium supplements are available at | | | | those getting acupuncture in addition to OTC pain |
| pharmacies for $10 or less. Give it at least a month, | | | | remedies suffered 44 percent fewer headaches than |
| preferably 3 months, before deciding if it’s | | | | those relying on medication alone. How and why |
| worth it, experts say. | | | | acupuncture works is unknown. Another recent study |
| The butterbur effect | | | | compared it with so-called sham acupuncture, in which |
| Butterbur, an herb, has been used for centuries by | | | | needles are inserted at sites not usually used by an |
| Europeans to treat fever, asthma, and inflammation. | | | | acupuncturist, and found both methods equally |
| Thanks to a convincing study published last year, clinics | | | | effective at combating migraines. No one’s |
| around the country are using an extract from its roots, | | | | sure how to explain that, but having your body |
| called Petasites. Patients who took 75 milligrams twice | | | | repeatedly stuck with needles certainly seems to help. |
| a day for 4 months cut their incidence of migraine | | | | Experts believe the real thing is effective enough to be |
| attacks almost in half. The dosage is important: A | | | | added to the arsenal of available treatments in many |
| second group that took 50 milligrams twice a day got | | | | reputable clinics. Their advice: Find an acupuncturist |
| no benefit. | | | | specializing in headaches, and continue regular sessions |
| Butterbur may prevent spasms of the blood vessels in | | | | for several months. The American Academy of |
| your head, Lipton says, and curb inflammation inside | | | | Medical Acupuncture can refer you to acupuncturists |
| the vessels. The only side effect of taking the herb | | | | with MD degrees. |