Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Headache (cluster)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Magnesium has scientific support for its use in the management of cluster headaches, though the evidence is moderate rather than conclusive. Cluster headaches are a severe form of headache characterized by recurrent, unilateral attacks. Several studies have found that individuals suffering from cluster headaches often have lower serum or intracellular magnesium levels compared to healthy controls. This observation led to the hypothesis that magnesium deficiency might contribute to the pathophysiology of cluster headaches.
Clinical research, including small randomized controlled trials and case series, has shown that intravenous magnesium sulfate can provide relief for some patients experiencing acute cluster headache attacks, especially those with documented magnesium deficiency. For instance, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Cephalalgia (1996) found that intravenous magnesium sulfate reduced headache intensity in about 40% of patients with cluster headaches. The proposed mechanisms include magnesium’s role in modulating neuronal excitability, vascular tone, and neurotransmitter release, all of which are relevant in headache disorders.
However, the evidence base is limited by small sample sizes, variability in dosing and administration, and a lack of large, high-quality trials. Oral magnesium supplementation has also been studied, but the evidence is less robust compared to intravenous administration. Overall, while magnesium is not universally effective, its use is supported by scientific studies, particularly in patients with low magnesium levels or refractory cluster headaches.
Other health conditions supported by magnesium
Abdominal PainAbscesses
Acid Indigestion
Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Adrenal Fatigue
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Alkalosis
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Control (countering side effects)
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bronchitis
Bulimia
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deposits
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Colon (atonic)
Constipation (adults)
Convulsions
Cramps (leg)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Dizziness
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Gastritis
Headache (cluster)
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hypertension
Insomnia
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Oxygen Deficiency
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Psoriasis
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rhinitis
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seizures
Senility
Shock
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Sugar Cravings
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Tachycardia
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Tetanus
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
Tinnitus
TMJ
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Twitching
Wasting
Wheezing
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Products containing magnesium
Nature's Sunshine CleanStart Mild
Nature's Sunshine Adrenal Support
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Hydrate
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Plant Protein
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Plant Protein
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Whey Protein
Nature's Sunshine AIVIA Whey Protein
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine AnxiousLess
Nature's Sunshine Calcium-Magnesium (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Calcium Plus Vitamin D
Nature's Sunshine Cellular Energy
Nature's Sunshine Chromium-GTF
Nature's Sunshine Coral Calcium
Nature's Sunshine Coral Calcium
Nature's Sunshine Fibralgia
Nature's Sunshine Free Amino Acids
Nature's Sunshine Gentle Move
Nature's Sunshine Glandular System
Nature's Sunshine Heavy Metal Detox
Nature's Sunshine Magnesium
Nature's Sunshine Magnesium Complex
Nature's Sunshine Mega-Chel
Nature's Sunshine Mind-Max
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets Pouch
Nature's Sunshine Power Beets To-Go Packs
Nature's Sunshine Sea Calcium (Nature's)
Nature's Sunshine Sunshine Heroes Whole Food Papayazyme
Nature's Sunshine Silver Shield BioGuard Hand & Body Cream
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Revive
Nature's Sunshine Structural System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental (Without Iron)
Nature's Sunshine Super Trio
Nature's Sunshine Urinary Maintenance
Nature's Sunshine Urinary System
Nature's Sunshine VitaWave
