So what is the magnesium migraine connection? There are many theories about how magnesium is involved in migraine headache. What seems to be well accepted is that there are receptor sites in the brain that magnesium will bind to. These sites are normally excitatory in nature and the binding of magnesium seems to calm them down. Severe lack of magnesium in the brain has been known to cause everything from apathy to psychosis in psychiatric conditions and can even cause seizures.
Unfortunately up to 85% of all migraineurs are magnesium deficient. The levels of magnesium in the blood do not correlate to that in the fluid of the brain, so if you ask your doctor to check your levels, don’t be surprised if he or she tries to put you off a bit.