One of the ways magnesium works is by relaxing muscles. Some migraines start with muscle tension. It also interacts with brain chemicals:

"It seems magnesium concentration affects serotonin receptors, nitric oxide synthesis and release, as well as other migraine-related receptors and neurotransmitters. In fact, evidence suggests some 50 percent of patients have low levels of ionized magnesium (IMg++) during an acute migraine attack." Mauskop A, Altura BM. Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraines. Clin Neurosci 1998;5(1):24-7.

Magnesium also interacts with calcium and potassium, which in turn interact with and catalyze several vitamins, including D, A, C, and K3. Magnesium tends to be the major nutrient most people are low on (unless they're eating lots of pumpkin or sunflower seeds), so these nutrients can get out of wack, causing lots of low-level symptoms at best. I know from my own experience if I'm having enough triggers and my system is not functioning quite right, that can be enough to allow the migraine to go from mild to full-blown.
Source(s):
Mauskop A, Altura BM. Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraines. Clin Neurosci 1998;5(1):24-7.

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/mineralprimer.html

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitaminprimer.html

I use magnesium to treat and prevent my own migraines and my son's. My mom tried ours over Christmas and now she and several friends are also using it.

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