Antispasmodic & Nervine Herbs for Migraines

     Nervine & Antispasmodic Herbs for Chronic Migraines

By Krista Kill

     Chronic migraines are considered a neurological pain disorder, which can be classified by the occurrence of headaches on 15 days per month, with 8 of these episodes meeting the criteria for a migraine (Mungoven et al., 2021). The criteria for a migraine include a moderate to severe pain in the head, typically unilateral in nature, which can be accompanied by a pulsing sensation, nausea, photophobia, photophobia, an aura, and vertigo (Pescador & De Jesus, 2024). 

     There are several possible root causes for chronic migraine headaches. One of these includes Lyme bacteria, which can affect the cranial nerves, and manifest as chronic migraines. This condition is often referred to as neuroborreliosis (McEntire & Chwalisz, 2024). Another common cause includes mycotoxin illness, which occurs when an individual is repetitively exposed to a mold contaminated environment. Mycotoxin illness can lead to several clinical presentations of neurological and neuropsychiatric syndromes, including chronic migraines, pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and more. All of these symptom expressions can be traced back to a burdened and dysregulated nervous system (Empting, 2009). Other factors that are commonly associated with chronic migraines include structural injury recall, such as seen in TBI’s (Chen et al., 2023), stress on the liver (Celikbilek et al., 2014) and the gut (Cámara-Lemarroy, et al., 2016). These may be instigated and/or perpetuated by chemical exposures, toxin buildup, imbalance microbes, food sensitivities, or emotional stressors. 

     Nervine and antispasmodic herbs can be of great support, for those struggling with chronic migraines, as their mechanisms of action directly address the neurogenic inflammation that is involved in the production of a migraine (Malhotra, 2016). Nervine herbs are a classification of herbs, whose primary mechanism of action is to calm, stimulate, or tonify the nervous system. For herbalists, this herb family is highly valuable, as their clinical applications cover a wide variety of neuroinflammatory and neuropsychiatric based conditions. For those suffering with migraines, nervine herbs can be highly beneficial in calming neuro-inflammation, which as aforementioned, is the catalyst to producing chronic migraines (Malhotra, 2016).

     One example of a nervine herb, whose primary clinical application is for migraines, is Feverfew. This herb was traditionally used as a remedy for chronic headaches and migraines, in ancient herbal medicine. It was so commonly used for headaches, that it was coined “housewives’ aspirin” (Peterson, 2020). Its preparation can be delivered via decoction, infusion, fluid extract, tincture, and poultice. Delivery by means of decoction or capsules are best for treating migraines. The plant’s active constituents include an essential oil, which contains camphor, terpene, borneol, several esters, pyrethrins, parthenolide and santamarin (Peterson, 2020). While its nervine action is most valuable for migraine relief, it also shares other  therapeutic actions, including antiseptic, expectorant, stimulant, tonic, and vermifuge actions (Peterson, 2020). 

     Another classification of herbs, which can be quite beneficial for the treatment of chronic migraines, are herbs that are a part of the antispasmodic classification. Antispasmodic herbs are herbs whose mechanism of action calms and prevents spasms of the musculoskeletal system or organ tissue. Some subclassifications of antispasmodic herbs, such as skullcap, are also considered a part of the nerving family. In applications to headaches, antispasmodic herbs may be of a more useful application, when the root cause of the migraine syndrome traces back to injury recall, or organ dysfunction (such as a hyper or hypo-toned organ tissue). An example of this may be a liver referral pathway, due to a sluggish liver, which can produce pain that travels up the right chain in the body, oftentimes landing its endpoint in the right shoulder or right temporal lobe region. This referral pathway is caused by the inflammatory induced irritation of the inferior pleura and peritoneum (Yi et al., 2021). Lemon balm is an herb that is a good example of a mild antispasmodic, which can help improve conditions associated with a sluggish liver, such as non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (Kim et al., 2020). 

     When used with proper application, both nervine and antispasmodic herbs can be beneficial to treat pain based conditions, such as chronic migraines. While clinicians should keep a watchful eye out for possible root causes, offering the patient or client relief with herbs that calm the pathophysiological mechanisms, which may result in pain based disorders, is a great way of achieving a fast improvement of symptoms. In the case of nervine herbs, calming neuroinflammation may greatly support a migraine case, whose neurological system is riddled with inflammation of the cranial nerves, possibly due to chronic infections, severe leaky gut, injury, or stress, which all stress the central nervous system (Empting, 2009). For clinical application of antispasmodic herbs, looking at tissues that are hyper or hypo functioning, as possible components to the contributing factors to chronic migraines, is another accelerated way to achieve symptom improvement, based upon assessing what may be the cases' unique underlying factors (Peterson, 2020). Two examples of cases that may do better with antispasmodic herbs, include migraine based conditions were there is significant musculoskeletal tension, such as an upper trap or a cervical muscle in spasm, injury recall of the head or neck area, or a hypo toned organ tissue, such as a liver. Combining nervine and antispasmodic herbs for cases of chronic migraines, and other pain related disorders, are a powerful and effective combination of herbal medicine, especially when combined and applied with a mindful clinician’s eye. 

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