Nutritional Therapy For Migraines In Pregnancy
One of the more interesting new health-related web sites that have popped up recently is NutrtionMD.org, which is part of the Physiciain’s Committee For Responsible Medicine (PCRM). What makes this of particular interest to Migraine sufferers is that they offer a comprehensive and understandable overview of migraine treatment, both conventional and alternative.
Alternative therapies for dealing with migraines during pregnancy is often a woman’s only option. Many man-made drugs (as well as natural herbs and aromatherapy oils like rosemary) have proven to give harmful effects to the fetus. The alternative is either be extrememly miserable for nine months and never let let the child forget it for the next 37 years, or look into gentle alternative therapies, such as nutritional therapy for migraines.
What Is It?
You control or lessen your symptoms through your diet when you are on nutritional therapy for migraines in pregnancy. Ideally, you would start this diet before you get pregnant, but very few of us are lucky enough to live in an ideal world. If you have been keeping a headache journal, then you might know already what foods to avoid that may trigger a migraine.
Other nutritional therapy hints include eating what’s called a “baseline diet”:
- Brown rice
- Dried or cooked fruits for any fruit that is NOT a citrus fruit
- Water (plain or carbonated)
- Gradually taper off caffeinated beveraged to avoid caffiene withdrawal migraines and to not expose the fetus to the harmful effects of caffeine.
- Plenty of cooked veggies
- Condiments only in moderate amounts
- Absolutely NO alcohol!
After a couple of weeks, the migraines should diminish. If they do, add one food to this baseline diet per week and see what happens. Nutritional supplements are still a throny issue as to whether they are necessary for pregnanct women or not.
As with everything else you read on the web, please don’t use it in the place of a qualified doctor or obstetrician’s advice.
For more tips on handling headaches while pregnant, check out this post.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
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