The Efficacy of Herbal Supplements and Nutraceuticals for Prevention of Migraine: Can They Help?

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2021-05, Vol.13 (5), p.e14868-e14868
• Main Authors: Kaur, Kavaljeet, Hernandez, Vernicia, Al Hajaj, Sari W, Ebrahim, Ahmed M, Razack, Mirash, ElSharief, Mohamed W, Dragas, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Family/General Practice; Internal Medicine; Neurology
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.14868

Migraine is a common neurological disorder associated with or without aura. Although the pathophysiology of migraine is not very well understood, pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers are found to be increased in migraine. Multiple studies have been done to see if alternative medicine such as herbal supplements and nutraceuticals are effective in the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches. This review aimed to evaluate the effect of supplements like coenzyme Q10, riboflavin (vitamin B2), feverfew, and magnesium on the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks. We performed a thorough literature search using mainly PubMed. We included studies published in the last 10 years, those conducted among adult human participants 18-65 years of age, and those published in the English language. Based on the articles selected for the final review, we concluded that herbal supplements and nutraceuticals help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches; however, mixed results were seen regarding the severity and duration of headaches. Moreover, there were no concerning side effects with these supplements. Therefore, physicians can suggest herbal supplements to patients who experience adverse effects from pharmaceutical drugs and desire a more natural treatment.