Migraine

The pain of a migraine headache is often described as an intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head. It is often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. People with migraine tend to have recurring attacks triggered by a lack of food or sleep, exposure to light, or hormonal irregularities (only in women). Anxiety, stress, or relaxation after stress can also be triggers. A migraine comes on suddenly. The head and neck muscles, reacting from continuous stress, become overworked. The tight muscles squeeze the arteries and reduce the blow flow. Then, when the person relaxes suddenly, the constricted muscles expand, stretching the blood vessel walls. With each heartbeat, the blood pushes through these vessels and expands them further, causing intense pain.

{mosgoogle}

Jump to - Symptoms, Causes , Treatment, Other suggestions

Symptoms of Migraine

Symptoms vary from person to person and from migraine to migraine. Five phases can often be identified: * Prodrome: A variety of warnings can come before a migraine. These may consist of a change in mood (for example, feeling “high,” irritable, or depressed) or a subtle change of sensation (for example, a funny taste or smell). Fatigue and muscle tension are also common * Aura: This is commonly a visual disturbance that precedes the headache phase. Some migraineurs develop blind spots (called scotomas); see geometric patterns or flashing, colorful lights; or lose vision on one side (hemianopsia). * Headache: Although migraine pain usually appears on one side of the head, 30-40% of migraines occur on both sides. Throbbing pain may be present. More than 80% of migraineurs feel nauseated, and some vomit. About 70% become sensitive to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). This phase may last 4-72 hours. * Headache termination: Even if untreated, the pain usually goes away with sleep. * Postdrome: Other signs of the migraine (for example, inability to eat, problems with concentration, or fatigue) may linger after the pain has disappeared.

Causes of Migraine

Migraine Headache Causes The exact cause of migraine headaches is not clearly understood, though experts believe they are due to a combination of the expansion of blood vessels and the release of certain chemicals, which causes inflammation and pain. The chemicals dopamine and serotonin are among those involved in migraine. These chemicals are found normally in the brain and can cause blood vessels to act abnormally if they are present in abnormal amounts or if the blood vessels are unusually sensitive to them. Various triggers are thought to bring about migraine in certain people prone to developing migraine. Different people may have different triggers: * Certain foods, especially chocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol, and MSG, bring on headaches in some people. (MSG is a food enhancer used in many foods including Chinese food.) * Missing a meal may bring on a headache. * Stress and tension are also risk factors. People often have migraines during times of increased emotional or physical stress. * Birth control pills are a common trigger. Women may have migraines at the end of the pill cycle as the estrogen component of the pill is stopped. This is called an estrogen-withdrawal headache. * Smoking may cause migraines or interfere with treatment.

Treatment Of Migraine

Grapes: The juice of ripe grapes is an effective home remedy for a migraine. It is said that King Jamshed of Persia, who was very fond of grapes, once stored the juice of grapes well packed in bottles and made it public that the bottles contained strong poison, so as to prevent other from taking it. It so happened that the king's wife was struck with migraine and having obtained no relief from any treatment, decided to end her life by taking this so-called `poison'. She took it several times in small doses and contrary to her expectations, it gave her great relief instead of killing her.

Niacin: Niacin has proved helpful in the treatment of migraine. Valuable sources of this vitamin are yeast, whole wheat, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, nuts, sunflower seeds, liver, and fish. Vitamin B complex tablets containing 100 mg of niacin can be taken for the same purpose.

Cabbage Leaf Compress: An ancient folk remedy for easing the pain of migraine is a cabbage leaf compress. A few leaves of the vegetable should be crushed, and then placed in a cloth and bound on the forehead at bedtime, or when convenient during the day. The compress should be renewed when the leaves dry out.

Lemon Crust: The crusts of lemon have also been found beneficial in the treatment of migraine. These crusts should be pounded into a fine paste in a mortar. The paste should be applied as a plaster on the forehead. It will provide great relief.

Vegetable Juices: Carrot juice, in combination with spinach juice, or beet and cucumber juices, has been found beneficial in the treatment of migraine. In the first combination, 200ml of spinach juice may be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice to prepare 500 ml or half a liter of the combined juices. In the second combination, 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juices may be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice.

Dietary Considerations

BREAKFAST
Option one:
Non-citrus juice such as apple, pear or peach
Whole grain, calcium fortified cereal topped with skim milk or soy milk and fresh berries
Herb tea

Option two:
Scrambled eggs (purchase those high in omega-three fatty acids) or add in some fresh cooked salmon or canned salmon and fresh herbs such as basil or cilantro
Fresh Blueberry Muffin or toasted whole grain bread
Herb tea
Melon

Option three:
French toast recipe such as Seattle Apple French Toast (using skim milk)
100% juice
Herb tea

LUNCH
Option one:
Vegetable cottage cheese (low fat) in whole-wheat pita with lettuce or sprouts
Fresh fruit
Herb tea

Option two:
Homemade soup that doesn't contain prohibited foods, such as Asparagus and Sesame Chicken Soup (substituting cider vinegar for the rice wine vinegar)
Crusty roll
Calcium fortified juice
Salad

Option three:
Tuna salad sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce
Baby carrots
Strawberry Sports Shake
Oatmeal Cookies

DINNER
Option one:
Pasta stir-fry, such as Linguini Honey-Sauced Prawns
Steamed broccoli
Garlic bread sticks
Fresh fruit salad

Option two:
Broiled fish, such as salmon or tuna
Baked potatoes
Sautéed zucchini
Microwave Rhubarb Crisp

Option three:
Gingered Pork and Peaches (made without the lemon juice or peel)
Mashed potatoes
Mixed green salad
Cinnamon-Scented Raspberry Rice Pudding

Other effective Remedies for Migraine

During the initial two or three days of the juice fast, a warm-water enema may be taken daily to cleanse the bowels. A hot foot bath, fomentation over the stomach and spine, cold compresses (4.5degrees C to 15.6 degrees C) applied to the head, and towels wrung out of very hot water and frequently applied to the neck will go a long way in relieving migraine headaches. The patient should also take plenty of exercise and walk in the fresh air.

Comments

Add New