Spearmint:
A New Natural Antimigraine Remedy
A Personal Anecdote with Spearmint (Mentha
spicata) as Migraine Prophylaxisby
by M.T. Nieh, Ph.D., Independent Scholar, Rensselaer, NY
(mintresearch@yahoo.com)
The author’s serendipitous discovery
revealed that a decoction of a spearmint species (Mentha
spicata, Lamiaceae) successfully treated her migraine headache
attacks. This is a very easily prepared and inexpensive
remedy with no adverse side effect. This remedy exceeds
the efficacy of large doses of riboflavin (vitaminB2), that
has been reported as prophylaxis for migraines 1,2,
and that the author used it for over two years before spearmint.
Consumption of 5-6 cups of a spearmint decoction
of a species grown in the garden miraculously cleared her
headache within 75 minutes one summer day in 2001. Subsequent
consumption of this decoction became a daily refresher.
The author experienced no additional migraine problems.
The author proposes a possible correlation
between the pharmacological activities of sesquiterpenoids
as found in feverfew, butterbur, monoterpenoids as found
in cannabis, and of monoterpenoids as found in spearmint.
She speculates that those terpenoids that are potential
migraine remedies might be stereospecific (levorotatory).
She further promotes studies of spearmint decoction as a
safe and very low-cost natural antimigraine remedy.
1. Schoenen, J., Lenaerts, M., Jacquy, J.:
Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis,
Neurology, 50, February 1998, 466-470.
2. Boehnke, C., Flach, U., Reuter, U., et al.: High-dose
riboflavin treatment is efficacious in migraine prophylaxis,
Eur. J. Neurol., July 2004, 11(7), 475-7.
Preparation of Spearmint Decoction
Into a 4-qt crock-pot, place 6-7 pieces of
fresh or dried above-ground (leaves and stems) parts of
a spearmint (mentha spicata) plant, 10-12 inches/piece.
Add hot water to the top of the pot, set the pot to “high”
until the water boils. Decant and drink the clear dark amber
color liquid without condiments. Drink 6-7 cups within 90
minutes for an acute attack.
Alternatively, if spearmint plant is not readily
available, commercial Organic Spearmint tea bags are available
at natural food stores. I suggest that the tea made from
the bags be concentrated. Use one bag in 8oz hot water in
a ceramic/glass CLOSED container (to avoid evaporation of
essential oils). Allow it to boil 3-5 minutes until the
liquid is clear dark amber color. Drink 6-7 cups within
90 minutes for an acute attack.
For prophylaxis: Drink a more diluted tea
several glasses daily.
Please send your comments to
mintresearch@yahoo.com
Disclaimer
This abstract and preparation reflect ONLY the experience/opinion
of the individual who posts the message. The information
contained above is not intended nor implied to be a substitute
for professional medical advice relative to your specific
medical condition or question.
Marjorie Nieh is trained an Organic Chemist whose professional
associations included the DuPont, Eastman Kodak companies,
several smaller corporations and several universities in
the East Coast. Currently, she is an Independent Scholar
who actively conducts research on Complementary and Integrative
Medicine based on her personal experiences. Besides her
professional interests, she is an active participant of
the martial arts. She owns a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and
has been an instructor for many years. To complement a chemical
profession, Marjorie has also been a Chinese cooking instructor
in which she specializes in her hands-on techniques to prepare
healthful meals. She focuses on her Complementary and Integrative
Medicine research in which her unique background and experiences
would well benefit not only the scientific and medical organizations
but also wellness centers and spiritual retreats throughout
the globe.
BIOGRAPHY
MARJORIE T. NIEH, Ph.D. mintresearch@yahoo.com
Marjorie Nieh is trained an Organic Chemist
(Ph.D., Purdue University) whose professional associations
included the DuPont, Eastman Kodak companies, several smaller
corporations and several universities in the East Coast.
She was born in Shanghai, China who immigrated to the US
as a teenager. She maintains her Chinese culture and philosophy
in addition to her fluency in several dialects of the Chinese
language.
Currently, she is an Independent Scholar who
actively conducts research on Complementary and Integrative
Medicine based on her personal experiences. For example,
a serentipidous discovery of a spearmint decoction miraculously
treated her migraine in 2001. Her vigilant literature research
led her to speculate that chemicals in spearmint share the
biological activities with those chemicals (terpenoids)
contained in the known natural migraine prophylaxes, e.g.
feverfew and butterbur.
Besides her professional interests, she is
an active participant of martial arts. She owns a black
belt in Tae Kwon Do and has been an instructor for many
years. She is an advocate of martial arts tenets: courtesy,
modesty, perseverance, self-control, integrity and indomitable
spirit. With less intense activities, she finds tai chi,
qi gong, yoga and pilates are helpful in alleviating her
constant back pain due to a severe scoliosis that has been
progressed to 60 degrees at the rate of one degree per year
recently. Although back surgeons suggested surgery on her
severe back condition, her firm belief has been that physical
activities far outweigh a highly invasive procedure.
To complement a chemical profession, Marjorie
has also been a Chinese cooking instructor in which she
specializes in her hands-on techniques to prepare healthful
meals.
Lounging into a new career, she focuses on
her Complementary and Integrative Medicine research in which
her unique background and experiences would well benefit
not only the scientific and medical organizations but also
wellness centers and spiritual retreats throughout the globe.
Abstract of presentation to the 2005 Natural
Products Gordon Research Conference:
A Personal Anecdote
with Spearmint (Mentha spicata) as Migraine Prophylaxis
M.T. Nieh, Ph.D., Independent Scholar, Rensselaer,
NY
(mintresearch@yahoo.com)
The author’s serendipitous discovery
revealed that the brewed tea of a spearmint species (Mentha
spicata, Lamiaceae) has successfully treated her migraine
headache attacks. This is a very easily prepared and inexpensive
remedy with no adverse side effect. This remedy exceeds
the efficacy of large doses of riboflavin (vitaminB2), that
has been reported as prophylaxis for migraines, and that
the author used it for over two years before spearmint.
The major component in the spearmint is l-carvone
or R-(-)-carvone (~70%) in addition to nearly sixty minor
components, many of which are terpenoids.
The known natural antimigraine remedies, e.g.
feverfew (Tanacetum partheniuim) and butterbur rhizomes
(Petasites hybridus, Asteraceae) contain sesquiterpene lactones
and sesquiterpene esters, respectively. Studies showed that
they inhibit: blood platelet aggregation, release of serotonin
in addition altering the arachidonic acid pathway which
decreases the synthesis of the inflammatory chemical mediators,
prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
A most recent research study revealed that
terpenoids of the non-psychoactive cannabis, cannabidiol
(CBD) and terpineol, modify the serotonin-binding activity
at the 5HT1a and 5HT2a receptor sites. The potential of
CBD suggests an acutely active anti-migraine drug while
that of terpineol, putatively prophylactic.
The author proposes a possible correlation
between the pharmacological activities of sesquiterpenoids
as found in feverfew, butterbur, monoterpenoids as found
in cannabis and of monoterpenoids as found in spearmint.
She speculates that those terpenoids that are potential
migraine remedies might be stereospecific (levorotatory),
which could be lead targets for the development of anitmigraine
drugs. She further promotes studies of spearmint tea as
a safe and very low-cost natural antimigraine remedy.
