Magnesium Helps Prevent and Ease Migraines

Magnesium is a mineral with relaxing properties. It can help fight migraines, improve sleep and ease anxiety.

Migraines are more than bad headaches. They are a neurological condition causing intense, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. The pain can be accompanied with nausea, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity. About 1 in 7 people experience migraines each year. They are the leading cause of disability in young people aged 5–19, and the second leading cause in adults aged 20–59.

What does magnesium do in the body?

Magnesium is a mineral involved in over 600 body processes, including energy production, muscle and nerve function, and brain chemistry. About half of Americans don’t get enough of it through their diet. Low magnesium is also more common in people who drink alcohol heavily, take certain medications (like diuretics or stomach acid blockers), or have conditions such as diabetes or celiac disease.

Magnesium helps migraines

Research consistently finds that people who suffer from migraines tend to have lower magnesium levels, not just in their blood, but inside their cells, where most magnesium is stored. Even when blood tests look normal, a hidden deficiency may still be present.

Low magnesium appears to make the brain more excitable, trigger the nerve wave thought to cause migraine “aura,” promote inflammation, and affect blood vessel behaviour in the head. These are all key steps in how a migraine starts.

Several clinical trials have tested daily oral magnesium supplements (typically 360–600 mg) taken over weeks or months. Benefits included fewer migraine days, less pain, and reduced need for other medications. One large review rated the evidence as “strong” for reducing both how often and how severely migraines occur.

Not all supplements are equal. Organic forms such as magnesium citrate, phosphate, or chelate are better absorbed than inorganic forms like magnesium oxide. Taking it on an empty stomach can help with absorption.

Magnesium has a strong safety record, even in children and pregnant women. The main caution is in people with advanced kidney disease because the kidneys regulate magnesium levels, so those with impaired kidney function should consult a doctor before supplementing.

Decades of research prove magnesium is a safe, inexpensive, and effective option, both for stopping a migraine in its tracks and for reducing how often they happen. Magnesium can be taken in tablet or powder form.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.