Here's the advice i give to all of my patients...what works for some does not work for all, but the most common denominators in either bringing on migraines or making them worse are: Dehydration Fatigue Caffeine(chocolate,coffee,tea,colas, some over-the-counter meds) Menstruation Cigarette/cigar smoke,nicotine patches alcohol, and more often, red wines MSG in Oriental food Preservatives in things such as barbecue sauce aged cheese(posted 9665 days ago)There are many herbal and OTC (over the counter) medications that work..unfortunately, it's a process of elimination.Women who take BC pills often get relief when they no longer take them, other women benefit from going on them for awhile.It's a real dilemma, but I always suggest starting with avoiding those common things above which are associated with MOST, but not ALL migraines. It also helps to keep a diary of foods you have eaten right before and during a migraine, hoping to find a pattern there that is individualized.For those with a migraine aura, this is a little easier to do.It's hard to think when your head is pounding.Beware of medical folks who offer a quick fix of medications without going through this process..the drugs are good if and when you need them, but it is always better to find out the triggers that are specific to your problem, then perhaps you will need less intervention and be able to have some control over these things.If you want to try herbal remedies, check with your pharmacist first..some of them will interact with other medications you may be on, just like prescription drugs.Good luck, hope this helped.