Nutritional therapy for migraine: How supplements can make the difference

Inflammation of the brain and nervous system

One of the main players in migraine is inflammation of the brain or nerves (neuro-inflammation). People with migraines all have, to a greater or lesser extent, inflammation in the brain (Kursun O, 2021; Biscetti L, 2023).

Inflammation in the brain and nervous system is a completely normal—and healthy—response to damage caused by, for example, infection, head injury, toxic substances, free radicals, lack of oxygen, overstimulation, stress, medication, and other factors. The inflammatory response is also switched off again once the harmful factor has been removed and the damage repaired. When the balance between damage and repair is disturbed, the inflammation can become chronic and itself cause damage to the nervous system, blood vessels, and the meninges.

Neuro-inflammation can have a wide variety of causes (see box), which strongly overlap with the underlying causes and triggers of migraine. Together with your doctor and/or therapist, you can determine which are present in your case and need to be addressed.

It is important to do this as much as possible with a healthy diet and lifestyle. An anti-inflammatory, unrefined, fiber- and polyphenol-rich plant-based diet—vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, unground whole grains—can significantly reduce migraines and even cure them completely (Karimi E, 2023; Bakırhan H, 2022; Ghoreishy SM, 2022; Perzia BM, 2021).

Adjusting your diet is not always sufficient for everyone, especially not in the short term. The nutrients discussed later on have a beneficial effect on migraines because they improve or eliminate several (or even all) underlying causes of neuro-inflammation.