Can Coffee cure a Migraine?

 Can that cup of Joe from your local Starbucks treat a migraine? Short answer--yes it can. There aren't enough adjectives in the English language to adequately describe the excruciating pain of a migraine headache. By nature migraines are debilitating and drastically interrupt daily activities. The throbbing, nausea and aura often give little notice of their arrival and seem to always come in pairs. 

While there are numerous treatments available, the chemical compound we know as caffeine is bar none one of the most effective.  Over the years caffeine has gotten an ugly reputation as being dangerous with the potential to cause everything from insomnia to atrial fibrillation. However, keep in mind that one would have to consume an unnatural quantity on a daily basis for most people to experience negative side effects. On average, you would need to consume approximately 4 cups per day or 10 cans of soda to be on the wrong side of the caffeine effect.

 The truth is caffeine helps reduce inflammation and has vasoconstrictive properties, causing blood vessels to narrow & restrict blood flow, which can aid in the relief of head pain. When experiencing a migraine, our adenosine receptors--which are in control of synaptic function (neuron communication), are activated. Excessive activation of these receptors worsen with the onset of head trauma, such as a migraine. Essentially, migraines alter your brain structure. So what role does caffeine play?? Caffeine in moderate doses disrupts the adenosine receptors and giving any migraine a run for it's money. 

It should come as little surprise that virtually any pain relieving ingredient that is naturally in many of the foods we consume( food is medicine) will also appear in many prescription and over the counter medicines such as Excederin migraine and Excederin Head Care( review on the latter coming). The addition of caffeine combined with the power if other pain relieving power houses such as acetaminophen, usually provide a much quicker and longer lasting form of relief.

Like anything else, the key is moderation and of course that will differ from person to person. As always, consider your personal health care needs and consult your health care provider before starting a new regimen. Until next time, have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the coffee and cocoa. 🎄

#migraines #coffee #Excedrin #headache