Expert: Tonja Wells - 12/30/2009

Question
Tension RX Nighttime supplement has the following ingredients in 3 caps:  Vitamin B-6 (50 mg), 4-Amino-3-Phenylbutyric acid (1,000 mg), GABA (200 mg), L-Theanine (100 mg), Citicoline (50 mg), 5-HTP (50 mg).  I cut down to 2 caps a night because when I take 3 caps it brings on a migraine.I wake up with one.  I still get migraines at other times.  Is there an ingredient that may be causing the migraines.  I have taken this supplement for 2 years, because I don't sleep well without it.  I take 30 mg of armour thyroid each day for a thyroid condition. I am 41 years old and I think I am starting into the change.  I have had these migraines for 2 years.  I started getting the migraines a couple of months before I started the supplement. I am 5'4' and 141 lbs.

Answer
Hello Lora,

If you are taking something for stress I would try an herbal alternative. B vitamins can keep you awake. I don't see anything in here which would promote migraines but everyone's body is different.

I would look at trying something like Nature's Sunshine's Herbal Sleep.  You did not say if you could not get to sleep or you wake up and can't get back to sleep or what time this might happen. All of this is important in knowing what supplement to take.

Thyroid has a lot to do with going to sleep so I would use Thyroid Support with your AM meal as well.

Migraines usually have a lot to do with a liver. It is usually a hot liver. Without knowing anything else about you I would suggest Nature's Sunshines Liver Balance.

Make sure you are drinking half your weight in ounces in water as well. Hydration is essential to preventing headaches of any kind. Alkaline water would be best.

Other issues which might promote migraines are food allergies.

Sometimes feverfew works to help migraines.

You must also figure out if you have vasoconstrictive or vasodilative headaches. If their is too little blood flow to the brain you want to relax with ginkgo, lobelia or ginger.  With too much blood flor you want to work with digestive bitters.

Liver is almost always related to migraines though.  

Applying NSP's Tei Fu lotion to the neck and shoulders to relax your muscles can help.


You can find all these herbals and more at my website at

www.YourHerbalHealthSolutions.com

To a healthy New Year.

Tonja Wells, CNHP, NHC

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose and treat diseases. If you have any health problems consult a health practitioner before embarking on any course of treatment