Using Feverfew for Migraine Prevention and Management

Managing Migraines - A Personal Story

Guest article by Marian Brown

A throbbing, intense headache, often called an attack, migraines are no ordinary headaches. For anyone who has suffered with a migraine, even the thought of another is enough to send chills down your spine. For those lucky enough to have never been at the mercy of such an attack--count your blessings. I have, unfortunately, been a survivor of migraines for over ten years. I had been attack-free for over five years until just this last month when I was hit again.

Personally, I have discovered many ways to deal with the actual migraine and to ward off impending pain. The first migraines I suffered hit full force when I was in my early twenties. I suffered with the blurred vision, trouble concentrating, nausea, and vomiting, not to mention the intense head and eye pain. As they got worse, I even suffered mumbling speech and disorientation. At this time, the medical field offered little comfort. Typical pain relievers didn’t even take the edge off the pain. The only solace, limited as it was, was complete silence, darkness, and stillness. I was fortunate enough to have migraines of somewhat shorter duration lasting only a few hours.

After suffering in silence and finding no help from my healthcare provider, I began looking at alternatives. The first comfort I found was with amethyst. Using amethyst crystals, (at first the stone in my ring), I found that amethyst could lessen the pain. It took the edge off and at least made the migraine "tolerable". Surrounding myself with amethyst, I found limited peace and suffered fewer and far less intense migraines.

As I continued my personal growth and study with holistic care, I found better ways to deal with and even prevent migraine attacks. One of the first things I discovered was that I could "feel" a migraine coming and thwart it. Through personal awareness I also found that certain things triggered migraines. Food triggers are not uncommon. Dairy products, eggs, chocolate, coffee, and certain food additives are most common triggers. For me, coffee was a major trigger. Too much, too fast would almost certainly bring on a migraine or migraine feelings. I also discovered extreme stress and anxiety, coupled with tiredness also could trip the trigger. Personal awareness, I have found, is essential to managing migraines. Learning what "trips your trigger" is one of the first steps.

While learning to avoid certain triggers, I have since learned, one can build your defenses against migraines. Feverfew is widely respected in the herbal community as a great fighter of migraines. Taken daily over two-three months, many people have seen dramatic decreases in both the frequency and intensity of migraines. Personally, I take feverfew as a preventative measure, especially when I may find myself in situations where I am stressed, drinking coffee, and not getting enough rest. Even under these situations, I have been able to avoid attacks.

However, during this last very unexpected attack, I was able to test the power of aromatherapy. I have used aromatherapy for over three years in various situations and have had success. For the migraine, I put several drops of lavender on a warm cloth and placed it on my forehead. I also massaged lavender with a carrier oil on my temples. The combination almost immediately took the edge off the pain. I was able to lay down and relax--which sometimes was very difficult due to the pain--and with in a couple of hours the migraine had past.

Looking back on this now, I can see that I had lost touch with myself--my body was giving signals--I just wasn’t listening. It certainly put me back in touch quick! It also made me realize that I need to share what I have learned over the years with others. Hopefully, this will be a starting point for you to get in touch with your body’s signals and to explore alternatives in your own quest for better health.

UPDATE -- For the past several years I have successfully used Feverfew to both prevent and manage migraines. I still watch for the signals and when I am feeling the "migraine" stress coming on, I take Feverfew. Also, if I know of a "migraine situation," I begin taking Feverfew as a preventative measure.