(also referred to as...) Sick Headache, Suicide Headache
Description Migraines are vascular headaches that begin with the constriction of blood vessels in the head and neck, followed by a dilation of the same blood vessels, which activates nearby pain receptors. The intense, throbbing, pain associated with migraines is typically felt during the dilation phase. Migraines tend to affect women more than men with 15 - 30% of women and 5 - 20% of men suffering from this painful affliction. Sufferers tend to be between the ages of 20 and 50, however, migraine headaches can start before the age of 20 and as early as the age of 10. Headaches continue into the 30s and 40s. Attacks tend to lessen and even stop as you approach 50. For women, migraines are temporarily halted during pregnancy and can stop completely with menopause. Women also tend to experience a migraine during menstruation, when estrogen levels are low.
Symptoms and Signs: There are two types of migraines -- classic and common -- with similar tendencies but differing initial characteristics. Classic Migraine The classic migraine is often preceded by a prodome/aura/warning period. An aura of visual dimness, flashing lights, geometric patterns, blind spots, and the inability to see clearly can last several minutes or hours. Speech disorders, weakness, and other visual/smell disturbances can also occur. The migraine appears following this period. Classic migraines typically occur on only one side of the head or over one temple or eye, with a deep, throbbing pain. The pain may migrate from side to side, in some cases. Attack ranges from mild to severe. Common Migraine A common migraine has no prodome or warning period and 75 - 80% of migraines are of this type. The pain is just as intense as with a classic migraine, but can occur in the front of the head, behind one ear, as well as on one, or both, sides of the head. The pain may also originate at the back of the head and travel to one side. This type of migraine occurs slowly, with throbbing pain lasting from two to seventy-two hours. General Symptoms You may also experience fatigue, mood changes, muscle tension, sensations on the face or arms, and yawning. Nausea, diarrhea, extreme light sensitivity, fear of sound, lightheadedness and/or dizziness, numbness, restlessness, sore muscles, vomiting, and weakness are also common. Post migraine headache symptoms include the inability to concentrate, fatigue, and sore muscles. Note that tension or cluster headaches are not migraines and should be treated separately. For more information, see the dedicated section on Headache.
Causes:
The exact cause of migraines is not known. It is believed that serotonin may play a role, as this chemical triggers nerves and stimulates blood vessels. Research into this theory is still ongoing. Food sensitivities and allergies often play a key role in migraines. The majority of migraine sufferers are sensitive to alcohol, with chocolate and monosodium glutamate (MSG) rounding out the top three sensitivities. Other suspect foods should be considered on an elimination basis. These include aged cheeses, various forms of alcohol (especially red wine), aspartame/NutraSweet, nitrates (from cured and processed meats), peanut butter and nuts, and pickles and fermented foods. Caffeine can also act as a trigger, though this substance is sometimes used in migraine pain-relief blends. Low blood sugar levels are frequently associated with migraine headaches. Blood sugar levels are often low during an attack, with the lower the blood sugar level, the more severe the migraine. Low estrogen during menstruation tends to cause migraines in women. This may also be the reason behind a higher incidence of migraine headaches in women. Constant noise and strong odours may function as potential migraine triggers. Hunger and fatigue can act in the same fashion. Weather is also an accepted migraine trigger. And left-sided migraines can be due to menopause. Risk factors that make you more susceptible to migraines include a family history of migraines (with 50 - 80% of sufferers having a close relative with the same condition), being a woman between 45 and 64, cyclic vomiting, abdominal pain, and/or motion sickness during childhood, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Note that these factors do not "cause" migraines, but make you more statistically susceptible to this condition.
What to Expect: A migraine can occur anywhere from once a week to once or twice a year. Initial symptoms usually disappear with the onset of a migraine and are replaced by the intense pain characterized by this condition. Nausea and vomiting commonly occur. Diarrhea, sweating, chills, and light sensitivity may also be present. When you experience a migraine attack, find a quiet, dark room where you can lie down. You can usually resume normal activity after the attack, but you may have a strong desire to sleep.
Remedies
Although there is no cure for migraine headaches, their severity can be reduced through a large variety of alternative methods. Prevention is the primary goal. When this is not achieved, relieving the pain of a migraine in progress becomes the objective.
Special Considerations for Children Children are often less able to relate the location or type of head pain they are experiencing and may find it difficult to point to the area where they are experiencing pain. Be patient when attempting to determine whether they are experiencing a migraine or other type of headache. To ease your child's condition, apply cold packs during an attack. Have them lie down in a dark, quiet room. S/he may need to rest for some time after the migraine. Once rested, s/he should be able to return to normal activity.
Aromatherapy Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and cooling actions. Blend 3 drops peppermint, 8 drops lavender oil, and 1/2 oz./15mL sweet almond oil. Gently massage the blend into the temples, being sure to avoid the eye area.
Foods A low-fat diet may prove helpful. Eat fruits and vegetables and incorporate more fibre into your diet. Avoid saturated fats found in red meat and pork as they contain arachidonic acid which can increase blood clotting associated with migraines. Opt for fish instead, which contains beneficial essential fatty acids. Reduce your intake of fried foods, butter, margarine, and hydrogenated oils found in mainstream salad dressings, baked goods, and poor quality cooking oils. Alternatives include cold-pressed, unrefined, olive or safflower oil. A Loma Linda University study in Southern California tracked the eating habits of 54 migraine sufferers for several months. They found that a low-fat diet resulted in significantly fewer migraines and those that occurred were brief. Note that fats are essential for proper bodily function. They allow your body to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K and facilitate proper brain function. The goal is to reduce, but not eliminate, fat intake.
Herbs Feverfew is one of the most popular herbs used as a migraine preventative. The herb will not stop a migraine already in progress, but can be used as a preventative or to reduce severity. It inhibits the production of inflammatory substances and dilates the cerebral blood vessels, easing the migraine. Feverfew is best used fresh. Grow a plant indoors or out and eat a few leaves daily for prevention. Fresh: This plant can be eaten (a few leaves at a time) to treat migraines. Infusion: Use 1/2 to 1 tsp. feverfew per cup of boiling water. Let steep 5 to 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups daily. You may also use this method as a preventative. Supplement: Take 50 to 80mg daily as a preventative. During an attack, take 1 to 2g in divided doses throughout the day. You may also consider looking for supplements that contain at least 0.2% parthenolide, or 250mcg to 500mcg. Tincture: Take 20 to 40 drops of quality tincture 3 times daily.
Homeopathy Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy. Belladonna: Throbbing, right-sided migraine. Bryonia: For left-sided bursting and splitting migraines with the sensation as if everything will "burst out". Migraine starts over the left eye and radiates to the back of the head. The migraine is made worse from the slightest movement and made better with pressure and closed eyes. China: For pulsating migraines due to weakness or low blood pressure. Great periodicity -- every second day or fourth day, et cetera. Hypersensitivity of the scalp and skin, sensitivity to odour. Migraine is made better by standing and made worse by lying down. Gelsemium: Migraines start from the back of the head and radiate to the front. Heavy eyelids, diplopia (double vision), and pain in the eyeballs. The head feels very heavy and the person feels as if they can hardly lift it. Migraine is made better by passing urine and holding the head up. Kalium Bichromicum: The "Migraine of Kali Bichromicum" has digestive origin and is preceded by visual disorders such as photophobia (abnormal sensitivity to light) and temporal loss of vision. Migraine is highly localized over the eyebrows in a small spot and bones and scalp feel sore. Migraine is relieved by pressure. Lachesis: Lachesis works very well for a left-sided migraines due to menopause. Natrum Muriaticum: Migraine occurs in the morning upon awakening and feels as if a thousand hammers were knocking on the brain. Also called "nervous migraines" or "migraines of a school-girl". Migraines made better in a dark, quiet room and made worse from light. Nux Vomica: Migraines come from overeating, excess drinking, or smoking. Occurs in the back of the head or over the eyes. Person feels dizzy and the brain feels as if it is turning in a circle. Migraines occur from sunshine. Pulsatilla: Migraines occur from overwork or at the end of menstrual flow. Pressing, pulsating pain localized around the temples. Migraine is made better with fresh air and made worse in a warm, stuffy room. Silicea: Migraine usually starts from the back of the head and spreads, finally settling in the forehead. There is profuse sweating of the head and dizziness from looking up. Migraine is made better lying down with eyes closed in a dark room and made worse from cold drafts.
Lifestyle It is important to chart your migraines and isolate potential triggers. When you experience a migraine, note the day and time, food and drinks you have consumed, and additional factors you feel are relevant and could have contributed to your attack. These include certain smells, sounds, actions, emotions, et cetera. If you find a pattern emerges, take measures to reduce or prevent potential triggers. Avoid foods containing tyramine -- a vasoactive amine that can trigger migraine attacks. Tyramine is found in avocados, bananas, beer, cabbage, canned fish, hard cheeses, cold cuts, potatoes, dairy products, eggplant, canned, smoked, or pickled fish, hot dogs, raspberries, red plums, red wine, sausages, tomatoes, and yeast. Avoid constant noise, perfumes, cigarette smoke, and other strong odours, as they may act as potential migraine triggers. Hunger and fatigue act in the same fashion. Be sure to eat small meals, with nutritious snacks in-between. Do not miss meals. You may also employ relaxation and stress-reduction techniques to avoid or significantly reduce fatigue. Though it has been used to help ease the pain of a migraine, caffeine can also act as a trigger. Avoid or significantly limit your intake. Alternatives include dandelion tea, non-medicinal herbal teas, and other coffee substitutes. A number of pharmaceutical drugs can trigger migraines. These include birth control pills, Tagamet (for indigestion), and pain and asthma medications. Consult with your naturopath or other health practitioner to determine viable alternatives to these medications. Discuss your situation with friends and loved ones. Migraine sufferers often indicate that their pain is more severe than their families or friends realize and that they may feel isolated as a result.
Minerals Magnesium can be used as a preventative in the same fashion as Feverfew. It also helps ease migraine pain. Use a chelated form for optimal absorption and take 600mg daily. Reduce dosage if you experience diarrhea or gastric irritation.
Therapies, Healing Aids, and More Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin along a series of energy channels or paths known as meridians. Particular areas or systems of the body are stimulated, opening blocked or restricted pathways and promoting energy flow. This therapy has worked very well for many migraine sufferers. Biofeedback is a form of relaxation that often proves highly effective for migraine sufferers. You are taught to redirect blood flow away from the dilated vessels in the head and will likely require a few sessions to learn this method. Biofeedback should be learned when you are not experiencing a migraine so you may employ the technique when you next experience an attack. It is commonly accepted that some food allergies can cause migraines. Allergy testing can be done to determine specific allergens. Strategies include a skin test, Radioallergosorbent (RAST) test and Enzyme-Linked Immunoadsorbent Assay (ELISA) test. Common suspects include alcohol, chocolate, citrus fruits, cow's milk, eggs, high-fat diets, meats (especially deli meats), monosodium glutamate (MSG), pickled items, strong cheeses, and wheat products. Contact your local allergy testing centre for more information. Relaxation techniques often prove highly effective when dealing with migraines. These include biofeedback as mentioned above, deep breathing, meditation, and visualization. The various relaxation methods will help you slow down and calm your mind.
Vitamins Niacin/B3 increases circulation and blood flow to the brain. Take 250mg twice daily. Do not be alarmed if you experience a "Niacin Flush". This natural dilation of blood vessels around your limbs and upper chest area will subside after approximately 15 minutes. Niacinamide is a "non-flushing" form of niacin with the nicotinic acid removed.
Actions and Remedy Listings
For More Information ...
The Migraine Association of Canada
365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1912
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 3L4 Tel.: 416.920.4916
Toll-free: 1.800.663.3557 Web: www.migraine.ca
Email: cindy@migraine.ca American Council for Headache Education (ACHE)
875 Kings Highway, Suite 200
Woodbury, New Jersey
08096 Toll-free: 1.800.255.ACHE National Headache Foundation
5252 North Western Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
60625 Toll-free: 1.800.843.2256 Web: www.headaches.org
See also Headache
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