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