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Magnesium for Migraine

The Causes of Migraine

A few facts:

  • Women are three times more likely to have migraines than men.
  • Migraines may be hereditary
  • Some women may have fewer migraines when they are pregnant

The pain can last from four hours to three days, and if untreated, can be severe enough to hamper daily activities. Based on symptoms, they are classified into two types:

  • Common migraine: If you have a migraine with aura, you may see things such as stars or zigzag lines or have a temporary blind spot about 30 minutes before the headache starts. Even if you don’t experience an aura, you may have other warning signs in the period before the headaches starts, such as a craving for sweets, thirst, sleepiness, or depression.
  • Classic migraine is migraine without aura.

Migraines tend to first appear between the ages of 10 and 45. The exact cause is still not well understood, but the problem is considered to be related to the circulatory and nervous system and more common among people who have epilepsy, depression, asthma, anxiety, stroke, and some other neurologic and hereditary disorders.

A migraine can be triggered by a number of factors including alcohol, stress and anxiety, certain odours or perfumes, loud noises or bright lights, and smoking can trigger a migraine. These attacks may also be triggered by changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle or due to the use of birth control pills. Certain foods also act as migraine triggers, as do changes in sleep patterns, missed meals, and exercise or other physical stress.

Magnesium-migraine Connection

Researchers believe that there is a magnesium-migraine connection because of magnesium’s role in stabilising the blood vessel walls. Magnesium plays a vital role in multiple physiologic processes and deficiency of magnesium can be seen in many chronic medical illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, preeclampsia, eclampsia, sickle cell disease, and chronic alcoholism. Regular sleeping patterns are also very important to migraine sufferers and magnesium is an important mineral when it comes to helping you get sleep.

It was first suggested over 70 years ago that a deficiency in magnesium could cause headaches. A lot of the things that cause the body to run short of magnesium also either trigger migraines or lower your resistance to disease. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include premenstrual syndrome, leg muscle cramps, coldness of extremities, weakness, anorexia, nausea, digestive disorders, lack of coordination, and confusion. Magnesium also helps in protein synthesis and helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function.

In 1989, a study showed that sufferers have low brain magnesium during migraine attacks. Published in ‘Headache, The Journal of Head and Face Pain, October 1989, the study established that low brain magnesium is an important factor in the mechanism of the migraine attack.

Other studies have shown that a deficiency of magnesium may play a particularly important role in menstrual migraine.

Magnesium Supplementation

A German study in the Munich-Harlaching Clinic evaluated the effect oral magnesium supplementation has on patients. 81 patients aged 18–65 years with migraine, with an attack frequency of 3.6 per month, were examined.

After 4 weeks they received 600 mg of oral magnesium daily for 12 weeks or placebo. By weeks 9–12, the attack frequency was reduced by 41.6% in the magnesium group and by 15.8% in the placebo group. The number of days with migraine and the drug consumption per patient also decreased significantly in the magnesium group. Duration and intensity of the attacks also tended to decrease compared to placebo.

Another study done in Italy found that magnesium supplementation is helpful in managing menstrual migraine.

Getting more Magnesium

If you suffer from regular migraines, chances are you might be having low serum magnesium. Include plenty of magnesium-rich foods like wheat germ, beans, soy products, whole grains, seafood and dark green leafy vegetables to your diet.

You should also add some good oral magnesium supplements like Mag365. Another way to get magnesium is through topical solutions like Magnesium Rub. Transdermal magnesium therapy is ideal for those suffering from a severe lack of magnesium.

Mag365 not only has a high bioavailability, it is also gentle on your stomach. For best results, take on an empty stomach ideally a half hour before bed. Take magnesium for at least 60-90 days to see a more meaningful difference

For full article and references visit MAG365

 

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Korean Ginseng Corp. Red Ginseng Capsules

Santha in our Kingston Store as well as Ioana in Edgware both like the Korean Red Ginseng capsules.

Ioana says: “I like it because I think is one of the strongest on the market. It gave me the energy that I lacked, but also helped me control my stress levels. It is a great tonic for tiredness, stress and detoxification.

Santha goes on to say explain the reason he prefers this ginseng over other brands:

  • The selected fully matured 6 year old Korean Ginseng roots are washed with skin intact and sun dried to keep in all the health giving Ginsenosides and this process gives the product a shelf life as long as 10 years.
  • It is easy to digest and absorb and therefore suitable for all ages.
  • It helps fight against aging due to its antioxidants and helps the body restore its vitality.
  • It helps to alleviate stress, tiredness and helps to increase blood circulation, concentration and brain function.
  • Because of it’s adaptogenic qualities, it is often especially beneficial for those recovering from illness, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and those suffering from diabetes.

 

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Stress, Anxiety and Low Mood – A.Vogel

Stress, anxiety and low mood are unpleasant emotions which are all interlinked. You may feel stressed about a looming deadline at work. The fear of not completing the task in time will make you feel anxious. The fact that you are now stressed and anxious makes it difficult for you to think about anything else, which in turn makes you feel a bit miserable.

The more miserable and anxious you feel, the less you are able to concentrate, which makes you stress more about the deadline. This in turn increases anxiety levels … and so it goes on.

Continuous pressure to succeed does nothing to help us relax. Against us is a need to perform at our best, and to keep up with the ever increasing standards. What is this doing to us? It’s putting us under stress, making us anxious and leaving us with a low mood.

Stress

Stress is not an illness in itself. It tends to manifest itself by way of unpleasant symptoms, both physical and mental. These include the feeling of nervousness, a racing heartbeat and sharpening senses, as well as a feeling of being overwhelmed, irritable or restless. It occurs when we are put under too much pressure and we struggle to react rationally or to relax.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the reaction to undue stress. It can be triggered by a wide range of circumstances including performing or speaking in public or social situations. Anxiety can be treated in a similar way to stress, and finding an effective management technique for you goes a long way towards easing your symptoms.

Low Mood

Low mood is found at one end of the unhappiness spectrum. This shares a border with mild depression if your mood continues to be low for a long period of time because you are unable to pick yourself up.

However, the boundary between the two is not clear. It often takes a medical professional such as a doctor or psychiatrist to determine if you are experiencing symptoms of depression or low mood associated with normal day-to-day living.

When you are feeling sad, down or fed-up, it is important to keep an eye on your feelings and symptoms as these will give you the clearest indication of the root cause of your problem. If you are feeling a bit down because it is the end of your holiday and are not looking forward to the normal routine of work and housework, or after some bad news, the chances are that you will feel sad for a few days but as things go back to normal, this feeling will lift. What is important with low mood is to distinguish it from depression.

Depression

Depression is a medical condition in which the sufferer experiences feelings outside the normal range of emotions. It is a serious condition which must be treated by a medical professional, particularly if accompanied by thoughts of suicide. It is important to establish if the emotions you are experiencing are due to low mood or depression. Although sharing many similar features, the two conditions are usually managed differently.

Low mood is part of the normal spectrum of emotions we go through in our daily lives. Moods tend to get better as circumstances improve or with the arrival of good news. Depression is a complex medical or psychiatric condition which may be severe and potentially life threatening if left untreated. Depression is also likely to interfere with everyday life – for example, someone with the condition may not have the motivation to leave the house for days at a time.

Understanding and treating

Having an understanding of these three conditions often helps us to tell if we are just having a bad day, or if we are indeed succumbing to the modern day illness of busyness. It is important to examine your symptoms carefully, as stress, anxiety and low mood may lead to more serious health conditions, including high blood pressure and heart problems. The good news is that they are all treatable, often through a combination of self-help techniques and herbal remedies, most commonly Valerian, Avena sativa and St. John’s Wort.

So take a deep breath and relax…

Written By Marianna for a.vogel.co.uk

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Menopause tips from A.Vogel

The menopause gets rather a rough press in our society as we don’t usually value age and experience the way they do in less Westernised cultures.

There are many things you can do for your health to ensure that the menopause is embraced rather than dreaded. Why not try a few of the health tips below to help you through the menopause and into the next phase of your life.

Food and drink

There are some dietary changes you can make to help you through the menopause:

  • Drink at least 1.5 litres of still plain water daily
  • Cut out coffee and take a maximum of 2 cups of tea daily (why not try Bambu – a coffee alternative)
  • Make sure your bowels move regularly
  • Eat regularly as skipping meals will not help with trying to maintain a healthy weight
  • Reduce refined carbohydrates – white sugar, white bread, white pasta, white rice and things covered in heaps of syrup
  • Eat more phyto-oestrogenic foods such as broccoli, oats & soya
  • Eat more non-dairy, calcium containing foods such as brown rice, salmon and pumpkin seeds
Exercise
  • Walk for 20 minutes every other night – 10 minutes outbound and 10 minutes home. This helps trigger the production of happy chemicals called endorphins in your body
  • Get a mini trampoline (rebounder). You can use it in front of the television so that you don’t get bored
  • Get some mini weights and use them gently whilst watching the ‘soaps’
Sleep
  • Being able to sleep well is easier if your digestion is working properly, so observe the suggestions for eating and drinking above. If you habitually wake at about 3am, you may find that improving your digestion has a very good knock-on effect on your sleep pattern
  • Spend some time relaxing before you go to bed so that your mind stops buzzing
  • Write down things that are on your mind and a list of things you need to do the next day before you go to bed so that you do not have everything revolving round in your mind as you try to go to sleep
  • Avoid all caffeine, not just in the evening but during the day as well. Try to stay away from situations that will cause anxiety. Use calming herb teas such as lemon balm and chamomile to help relax your mind, or use a herbal remedy containing valerian, such as A. Vogel Dormeasan®Valerian-Hops drops to help you re-establish a good sleeping pattern.
 Stress
  • Take time out for yourself
  • Eat regularly, as skipping meals or eating on the run creates more stress
  • Avoid caffeine
  • Practice breathing techniques, or take up yoga or another gentle, meditative exercise that promotes deep relaxation
  • If you need further help, you might like to consider using a herbal remedy such as A.Vogel Stress Relief Daytime
Low Mood/Tearfulness
  • Exercise is very good for both body and mind as it releases natural chemicals in the body that make us feel happy.
  • Write it down – it is best not to bottle your feelings up. Talk to those around you but if you find this difficult, even writing your problems down in a journal can help release your feelings. Better out than in as they say.
  • While drinking in moderation is acceptable, it is best to try and avoid alcohol. Water is the best drink to hydrate the brain!
  • Change things in your surroundings. The brain can easily form repetitive patterns making it hard to change your emotions, so try doing something new when you feel low and you might surprise yourself and others. They do call it the change after all.

If you are looking for a herbal remedy for low mood, you might wish to consider A. Vogel Hyperiforce® St. John’s Wort tablets. This can however not be take if on any other medication.

Soy isoflavones for before, during & after the menopause

A.Vogel Menosan® Menopause Support can provide support to the body through all stages of the Menopause but is especially useful when broad range of symptoms such as hot flushes, irritability, tiredness, pains and aches, vaginal dryness etc kick in.

Made from fermented soya beans
Support for all stages of the menopause
Also contains magnesium and hibiscus

Eileen does Menopause Monday’s for A. Vogel, with a weekly blog and video. Click HERE to find out more her blog.

In this A.Vogel video, Eileen explains why good liver function is so important during the menopause and she recommends what you can do to support your liver.

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Solgar L-Theanine

Alex in our Muswell Hill Store loves to recommend Solgar L-Theanine.

She says: ”It is a single amino acid which helps regulate brain function, increase GABA levels, and support alpha waves, to create a focused, clear state of mind. I think it is helpful in any stressful situation, perfect for intense studying as it is non drowsy.”

The properties of L-Theanine can be summed up as being a relaxing agent without sedation and is also said to reducing the perception of stress while slightly improving attention. While it does not appear to induce sleep, it may help with sleep as it helps with GABA, the body’s main calming neurotransmitter in the brain.

Solgar uses a Free Form, patented L-Theanine – Suntheanine® to promote optimal absorption and they suggest taking 150mg per day or as recommended by your health care practitioner.

 

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Biocare MitoGuard Intensive

Feeling tired? Oana, Our Watford Store Manager recommends BioCare MitoGuard Intensive.

She says: “It is a great tasting supplement that supports energy levels using B vitamins and magnesium combined with D-Ribose , CoQ10 and amino acids. Magnesium and Vitamins B2 and B3 are essential components of energy production and contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.”

MitoGuard® Intensive supports cellular energy production. The mitochondria in our body cells are our own power stations in the body and generate our energy. They can be prone to oxidative damage and impaired function. MitoGuard® Intensive is designed to support the function of these mitochondria and energy production in the smallest parts of our body, using Nutrients, Antioxidants and stress fighting adaptogens.

 

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Solgar Cardio Health Essentials

Our Product of the week is Solgar MultiPlus with Cardio Health Essentials.

It is the next generation in a wholefood base for overall cardiovascular health. With a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and energy-rich wholefood concentrates, you can get the benefits for heart, vascular and whole body health in one convenient complex.

Heart health is easy to take for granted especially as heart disease shows few symptoms before it is too late. Even with a balanced diet and moderate exercise, we have emotional and physical stress, pollution and contaminants in the air as well as in our body. Life causes oxidative stress on our body which ultimately affects our heart . Solgar MultiPlus with Cardio Health Essentials is designed to help combat these daily problems by including many of the high-performing, protective nutrients you need:

COQ-10 and Niacin (Vitamin B3): These are both found in healthy muscle structure. COQ-10 is a critical nutrient required by the cells in the body to produce the energy we need to keep our heart strong, as well as being an antioxidant which helps protect us from oxidative stress.

Copper, Manganese and Vitamins C and E: Antioxidants help fight free radicals and support cell repair for a health heart and circulatory system.

Circulatory Herbal Complex: Ginkgo Biloba, Hawthorne Berry, Motherwort,  Pomegranate,  Amla and Cayenne Powder – a mixture of traditional herbs used to strengthen the heart and improve circulation.

Solgar MultiPlus with Cardio Health Essentials also contains a full spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals for general health and wellbeing. They have been added to a wholefood base for improved absorption by the body.

February is our Heart Health month. Visit one of our stores to chat to a member of staff to find out more about what you can do to help improve your cardiovascular health.

 

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BetterYou Magnesium Spray

Juan, a nutrition student, in our Putney store loves BetterYou Magnesium Oil. He says: “Initially, I was very sceptical about magnesium oil in a spray, but after using this great product I can confirm that it works rapidly. After 2 or 3 days it will make a big difference for you. Magnesium is another key nutrient absent in most of our diets. Too much processed food, not enough time for preparing proper meals, stress, high consumption of stimulant drinks such as coffee or tea and excess alcohol contribute to reduction of magnesium in our bodies. This mineral is important for our health because it is involved in more than 300 functions in our body and low magnesium can be related to anxiety, sleeping problems, moments of hyperactivity, muscle cramping, facial tics or painful muscle spasms.
BetterYou has the most soluble and pure, natural source of magnesium known. The spray is an amazing way for a body to absorb quickly and probably nearly 100% of magnesium that is applied onto skin. The absorption is really effective if it is applied immediately after taking a shower. The reason is very simple – pores are open and magnesium can go easily penetrated deeper through skin. So many people could benefit from Magnesium Oil. It could also be beneficial for those who practice sport, to recover and rebuild muscles fast. I would also recommend it to people that have sleeping difficulties and for skin health. I do some sports and after a week of using the Magnesium oil, I noticed a big difference in my performance.
I have also suggested BetterYou Magnesium Oil to two of my friends and they are very grateful to me. One of them was getting really strong abdominal ache days previous to menstrual cycle. I told her to apply 4 or 5 sprays in the tummy area at the first onset of pain and now she doesn’t have words to describe how happy she is. The other suffers from restless leg syndrome. I suggested to him to try magnesium oil and he now feels much better. “
We don’t need more convincing! Visit us in store to find out more about the BetterYou Magnesium range.

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