Dark leafy greens may be key to severe migraine relief, case study suggests

Eating a lot of dark green, leafy vegetables with your meals could be the key to relieving severe, chronic headaches, according to a case study reported by doctors that successfully treated a man who suffered from intensely debilitating migraines for more than 12 years.

The peer-revewed case study, published in BMJ Case Reports, is the latest evidence to suggest that certain types of food could be an effective alternative to treating severe migraines, the authors said.

“While medication plays a central role in migraine prevention and treatment, there is growing evidence that dietary intervention may also offer an effective approach to migraine management without the adverse effects associated with some medications,” they wrote in the paper, noting a recent study that found a low-fat, plant-based diet lowered migraine pain as well as its duration.

The 60-year-old patient profiled in the case study had experienced frequent migraines for twelve and a half years and found little relief from a variety of conventional treatments and therapies.

Migrane medication such as Zolmitriptan and Topiramate, cutting out certain types of food like chocolate and caffeine that could potentially precipitate the headache, and meditative exercises like Yoga all had limited to no effect. He also tried other types of interventions meant to reduce stress, which can also be a trigger.