Feeling the onset of a migraine can be absolutely dreadful. Knowing the intensity of what you’re about to experience can cause even the toughest of humans to cringe. Though there are endless home remedies promising relief – few have been studied a proven effective. Among the alternative treatments that have been studied, however, one vitamin has shown great promise in its ability to treat a migraine in its early stages. That vitamin is B3, or Niacin. Lets take a quick look at three reasons this vitamin shows promise for the treatment of migraines:
Halts The Onset of A Migraine
As early as 1944 studies were showing that Vitamin B3 showed great potential as a preventative treatment for migraines and headaches. More recent studies have backed up this assessment. A 2003 article published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, niacin was effective at aborting a migraine in the early onset of it. Additionally, a study by the Mayo Clinic has suggested that niacin can be an effective alternative treatment in the prevention of migraines.
Limits Blood Vessel Constriction
One of the believed causes of migraines is that blood vessels carrying blood to the brain become constricted, which results in a build up of pressure behind the constriction. The lack of blood flow creates a lack of oxygen to the visual center of your brain, which is why some sufferers experience the aura phase in which lights or dark spots are often seen. As the blood vessels dilate to compensate for the constriction, excessive amounts of blood flow to the brain and create an intense pressure, likely resulting in a migraine.
Vitamin B3 can be effective at alleviating this if taken before the full onset of the migraine. It has certain properties that help increase the diameter of blood vessels – thereby preventing a build up and release of excessive pressure and helping to maintain normal blood flow to the brain. It is important to note that vitamin B3 has only been shown to help if taken during the pre-stages of a migraine (i.e. during the aura phase). Taking it after the full onset of the migraine can make it worse – as it may increase the blood flow to the brain.
Improves Cellular Energy In The Brain
There is increasing evidence of a reduction of cellular energy in brain tissue of migraine sufferers. According to The Department of Neurology and Headache Centre at G. Rummo Benevento in Italy, this “impairment of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism might play a role in the disease”. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine published a related report indicating that in addition to its ability to limit blood vessel constriction, Vitamin B3 also the ability to improve mitochondrial energy metabolism. It is believed that this contributes to the vitamin’s effectiveness at preventing migraines.
With various studies indicating its effectiveness, vitamin B3 warrants more research and shows great promise as a preventative treatment for migraines. Have you taken Vitamin B3 at the onset of your migraines? We want to know your experience. Share you story below or post a comment on our Facebook Page!
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