Ginger and Migraines: Natural Prevention and Relief for Headaches

The migraine affects 15% of the European population. The ginger, via its anti-inflammatory effects and its capacity to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, shows an effectiveness comparable to migraines-chronic-prophylaxis-sumatriptan">ginger vs sumatriptan in some clinical trials.

Key study: ginger vs sumatriptan

A randomized Iranian study (Phytotherapy Research, 2014) on 100 migraine patients compared 250 mg of ginger powder to sumatriptan 50 mg: comparable effectiveness at 2 hours (patient satisfaction 64% ginger vs 70% sumatriptan), with a significantly higher tolerance for ginger.

Anti-migraine mechanisms of ginger

• Inhibition of prostaglandins E2 (central mediators of migraine pain)
• Blockage of thromboxane B2 synthesis (vasoconstriction)
• Anti-nausea action (relieves the most disabling symptom)
• Inhibition of substance P (pain neurotransmitter)
• Reduction of TNF-α (elevated marker during migraine attacks)

Ginger for prevention vs. in crisis

In prevention (daily intake): reduces the frequency of attacks by reducing theanti-inflammatory-inflammation-natural-remedy">background neurological inflammation.
In crisis : 250-500mg of ginger powder at the start of the attack, in hot water. Effective if taken within the first 30 minutes.

INTI Drink: practical dose against migraine

One INTI shot contains a concentrated dose of organic ginger in Belgium standardized. no added sugar — important because some migraine sufferers are sensitive to the blood sugar fluctuations that trigger attacks. The sugar of comparison INTI vs GIMBER (~34g/100ml) could paradoxically trigger an attack in patients ginger blood sugar-sensitive.