Later on in life the headaches began and that started numerous trips to the doctor along with a great number of tests, including a few brain scans.  Nothing organic was found and many years later I was diagnosed with having migraine headaches.  My mother had also suffered from them.

Then started the search for a medication that worked well and that I could tolerate.  For at least 30 years I was taking an ergot compound but the last time I went to renew the prescription I was told that it was now taken off the market because they were unsure about the side effects.  I found that surprising, because the drug had been around for over 40 years.  I was then introduced to sumatriptan and to my dismay found that it was nearly 100 times more expensive that my old reliable ergot and came with a host of unpleasant side effects.

I found that the sumatriptan did get rid of my migraine and I would have relieve for about 12 hours but then the headache would come back with a vengeance and I would have to repeat the cycle.  This would actually go on for at least three days.  At the end of it, I was feeling like I had been stomped on by a herd of elephants!  It would then take me another few days to get over the fatigue and lethargy.

I was continually searching for alternative treatments and would try various things that were recommended but it wasn’t until I recently found this wonderful little book called “The Magnesium Solution for Migraine Headaches.  How to Use Magnesium to Prevent and Relieve Migraine & Cluster Headaches Naturally” by Jay S. Cohen, MD, that I found what I had been looking for.

Magnesium is nature’s natural vascular relaxant in both animals and humans.  It is not a synthetic drug with all kinds of adverse effects.  It is interesting to note that in certain areas of Africa and Japan, the number of migraine sufferers are among the lowest in the world due to the fact that the dietary level of magnesium in these areas is high.

Magnesium is essential for the normal functions of the body.  In fact it plays a major role in more than 300 different enzymatic reactions that take place within all of the body’s cells.  It has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system and quietens the actions of the sympathetic nervous system.  It is also vitally important to healing wounds, muscular function, sleep, growth and healthy pregnancy.  Magnesium has been defined as the ‘king of minerals’ and has been noted as having solved more incurable and mysterious symptoms than any other mineral.

Please do not run out and buy the first bottle of magnesium that your hands fall upon.  Using magnesium successfully depends on finding a product that agrees with you.  Some people can actually take any magnesium product, but many have difficulty with cheap, low-quality products that are not well absorbed.  You can purchase magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate and others.  To enhance absorption some companies combine magnesium with amino acids, producing magnesium maleate, magnesium citrate, magnesium lactate or magnesium aspartate, which work well for many people.

For those who have difficulty taking pills the magnesium can also come in liquid form.  Even though solutions cost more than pills, for many it is well worth it, because they are the best absorbed, best tolerated and fastest acting forms of magnesium.  You might want to check out Liquid Ionic Magnesium at your local health food store.

My recommendation is that you get a copy of Dr. Cohen’s book and take it along with you on your next doctor’s appointment.  Mention that you would like to give it a try.   There are no reliable blood tests to diagnose a deficiency.  Even people who are seriously deficient will have a normal level of magnesium in the blood.

Magnesium supplementation has been the answer for myself and many other people.  I hope that if you try it, it works just as well for you in relieving the terrible pain of migraine and cluster headaches.

There are many wonderful testimonials of people who have got rid of their migraines simply by changing their bodies from being acidic to being alkaline.

Here is how you can do it.

Migraines are classified as throbbing headaches that are felt on only one side of the head. Most migraine sufferers experience some degree of nausea and even vomiting. They are also sensitive to light and sound and the pain becomes worse with activity.

Some migraineurs experience sensory disturbances (auras) at the beginning of a headache. This might include brightly colored blinking lines, flashes of light, colored dots or black spots. It can also cause a person to see only half of an object. This type of an attack is called a ‘classical migraine’ and the headache usually starts within 10 to 30 minutes of experiencing the aura. This type of headache is experienced by 10 to 15 percent of all migraineurs.

The other 85 to 90 percent will experience a common migraine (or migraine without aura). These people can still have warning signs though, which include a hot sensation in the head, a feeling of heaviness and a tightening sensation throughout the scalp. These warnings can actually appear from a few hours to even a day before the attack.

It’s a good idea to keep a little symptom diary so that you can identify any patterns that might emerge. For instance, you might find that the migraine comes on around the same time every month. If that’s the case, and you are a woman, it could be tied in with your monthly cycle.

Unlike a regular headache, a migraine can last up to three entire days.  It starts with a dull, aching pain but then develops to an overwhelming throbbing pain that fluctuates. Most sufferers are sensitive to light and sound and need to be in a darkened room. Bending over or sudden movement, can make the pain worse. Some experience nausea to the point of vomiting. Diarrhea, increased urination and a loss of appetite can also be part of the symptomatology.

While the headache is at its worse, the hands and feet can feel extremely cold, but just before the migraine the head might have felt hot. All these temperature changes are thought to be due to disturbances taking place in the hypothalamus, which is the body’s thermostat.

Often people get migraines when a period of intense stress has actually ended, such as returning from a vacation, or shortly after meeting a deadline. It’s not unusual for the migraine sufferer to feel completely drained when the migraine is all over. Some report feeling exhausted for days after and yet others feel a sense of renewal and experience a surge of energy.

If you believe that the headaches you are having are migraines, it’s recommended that you visit your health care provider, as regular over-the-counter pain medication will do very little to help alleviate your headache.

Many migraine sufferers have found wonderful relief by changing their bodies from being acidic to being alkaline.

Here is the easiest and fastest way to accomplish that.