"My Chronic Headaches Are Gone!" — How One Woman Got Relief With Magnesium for Migraines

For years, Terri Nielson struggled with chronic migraines. The pain was so bad, it made it difficult to do basic daily tasks. She tried fix after fix, but relief felt out of reach until she stumbled on magnesium for migraines — that's when everything changed. Read on for her story and to see if magnesium for migraines could work for you.

The link between pain and magnesium intake

It turns out women are especially susceptible to magnesium shortfalls, says Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of Magnesium: The Missing Link to Total Health. She explains that the stress of juggling caregiving, work, running a household and trying to find time for yourself can zap levels of the mineral. What’s more, medications like antibiotics and those used to control acid reflux and blood pressure can trigger a deficiency, says Dr. Dean.

People with low magnesium are 35 times more likely to suffer migraines, per a study in the journal International Clinical Psychopharmacology. Dr. Dean explains, “Depleted magnesium levels can affect calcium and potassium levels, leading to muscle spasms, muscle aches and migraine.”

Related: Top Doctors: You’re Likely Not Getting Enough Magnesium If You Feel Anxious, Achy, Tired and Have Trouble Losing Weight

How to boost magnesium levels

It’s easy to restore levels by adding magnesium-rich foods like pumpkin and chia seeds, almonds, cashews and spinach to your daily diet, says Dr. Dean. She adds that cooking and processing strips magnesium from foods.

Supplements can also help. Dr. Dean advises taking 600 grams a day of magnesium glycinate, a form of the mineral that’s easy to absorb and doesn’t have the laxative effects linked to other forms of magnesium supplements. That makes it an ideal choice if you have a sensitive digestive system.

Related: Dentists: This Simple Jaw Massage May Ward Off Your Tension Headaches and Migraines

Magnesium for migraines success story: Terri Nelson

Just a few more minutes, thought Terri Nielson, 52, lying in bed praying the pain in her head would subside before she had to go to work. With a bustling career in IT as a technical writer, concentration and attention to detail were essential, yet Terri struggled to maintain either skill due to chronic migraines that made it impossible to function

“The migraines got so bad that I often missed work. Instead, I’d lie in bed wishing I could sleep, but the throbbing in my head made that difficult, so fatigue was also a problem,” recalls Terri. “I spent nearly every moment with some sort of headache. Then, in a turn that felt like pouring salt on a wound, I developed mysterious acid reflux that I couldn’t trace to any specific foods.

Terri's search for relief

“I’m not one to go to doctors, but after a few years, I could no longer manage my chronic migraines with over-the-counter remedies, and I wasn’t comfortable starting prescription migraine medicine that I worried I’d need for the rest of my life.

“Fearing I was doomed to live with horrible headaches, I attempted to push through and ‘deal with it.’ I tried eating more anti-inflammatory­ foods, getting plenty of rest and exercising as much as I could. I even tried applying both heat and ice to my head and neck. But nothing helped ease my pain.

“When the relentless heartburn started, I broke down and went to the doctor, who sent me for X-rays of my digestive tract in the hopes of finding the root cause of my acid reflux.

“My doctor prescribed proton pump inhibitors, but they left me with a terrible, consistent cough. So instead, I attempted to control my acid reflux by taking over-the-counter medicines, changing my sleep positions and adjusting my diet. But again, nothing seemed to offer me lasting relief.

“It was so frustrating because every ‘remedy’ I’d tried only covered my symptoms like a Band-Aid. And I knew if that Band-Aid was ever ripped off, my poor health would still be there lurking underneath.

Finally! A simple solution

“As I continued searching for ways to stop my migraines and acid reflux for good, I ended up finding answers in a surprising place. I’d always dreamed of owning my own health store, and after a shop in my area went up for sale, I bought it and eagerly began researching natural products to sell.

“I was intrigued when I came across ConcenTrace Trace Mineral Drops. The liquid supplement contains magnesium, which I learned can prevent the narrowing of brain blood vessels that cause headaches. The drops are also infused with chloride, an electrolyte that’s key to proper hydration and supporting the function of muscles and nerves that play a role in migraines.

“I’d never been tested for a magnesium deficiency — in fact, every physical indicated I was healthy — but it was encouraging to know that perhaps magnesium might unlock the relief I’d been searching for. With nothing to lose, I brought a bottle home and hoped for the best. After just one week taking the drops per the label’s recommendation, I felt like a new person! My headaches went away and I was able to focus and think more clearly than I had in years.

“I soon noticed that my acid reflux began to ease too. After researching a bit more, I discovered that magnesium can help neutralize stomach acid and relax spasms in the esophagus that cause reflux. That meant I was finally able to sleep deeply through the night and wake up feeling refreshed!

“Another unexpected benefit: I think I boosted my immune system — I haven’t been sick in nearly five years! I’m grateful to feel so ­fantastic, especially after feeling so lousy.”

Bonus: Peppermint oil soothes a migraine

And in some cases, it does so as effectively as painkillers, say researchers in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine. “The application of (peppermint oil) is very likely activating channels in sensory neurons that are leading to the analgesic effect by shutting down heat and pain pathways,” says Andrew Huberman, PhD, a neuroscientist and tenured professor at the Stanford School of Medicine.

And the balm can also help with the brain fog linked to tension-type headaches, says Huberman. To get the perks, use your fingers to rub peppermint essential oil on your forehead and temples when pain strikes.

Related: Study: These 7 Essential Oils Boost Brainpower by 226% — How to Get the Perks

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