MIGRAINE

Homeopathic Treatment of Migraine Headaches

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It is very common for each one of us to suffer from headaches a couple of times in our lifetime; but for some, headaches are far too common and their recurrences become a major hindrance in leading a normal life.

One such type of recurrent headaches is called Migraine headaches. Migraine headaches show a typical pattern of recurrence and are characterized by severe to moderate head pain, involving both sides or one side of the head, which may or may not be present with nausea and vomiting.

Although the actual cause of migraine is not very clear, researchers believe that migraine headache is caused by a drop in the level of a chemical, serotonin, in the brain, which leads to the inflammation and dilatation in the blood vessels of the brain, leading to a headache.

Migraine is often pyschosomatic in origin. There are migraine personalities and most migraine sufferers show one or many of the following behavioral patterns : conscientiousness, fastidiousness, rigidity of views, constant conflict between the environment and self, high levels of expectation.

Migraine headache sufferers are predominantly females - however, we are observing a shift. Often, it is observed to be running in the family, showing heriditary links.

Due to some triggering factors, varying from person to person, there is some kind of vasoconstriction and vasodilatation of the branches of the carotid artery which leads to typical throbbing and congestive attacks of headaches.

Migraine headache attacks may be triggered by :

• Allergic reactions.
• Bright lights, loud noises, odors or perfumes.
• Physical or emotional stress.
• Changes in sleep patterns.
• Smoking or exposure to smoke.
• Skipping meals.
• Alcohol.
• Menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, hormone fluctuations during the menopause transition.
• Tension headaches.
• Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami).
• Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus fruits, onions, dairy products and fermented or pickled foods.

The signs and symptoms of migraine headaches vary among patients. Therefore, what a patient experiences before, during and after an attack can't be defined exactly. The four phases of a migraine headache attack are common but not necessarily experienced by all migraine headache sufferers :

• The PRODROME, includes symptoms experienced by patients, hours or days before the headaches. These may include irritability, depression, tiredness, yawning, constipation, stiffness of neck and so on.
• The AURA, immediately precedes the headache. The symptoms may include foggy vision, colored vision, bright lines in front of the eyes, sensation of pins or numbness on body, vertigo, loss of smelling power, nausea / vomiting and photophobia.
• The PAIN phase, also known as HEADACHE phase : Usually the headache is in one half of the body. It increases gradually and lasts from 4 to 72 hours. However the intensity, duration and frequency of pain varies from person to person. The headache can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, vertigo, pallor of face, loss of appetite, sensitivity to smells, noise and light and so on.
• The POSTDROME phase, the symptoms occuring after an attack of migraine. These include mood changes, depression, tiredness, lethargy, loss of appetite and so on.

The International Headache Society defines the intensity of pain on a verbal 4 point scale :-

Migraine headaches are usually underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

The diagnosis of migraine without aura, according to the International Headache Society, can be made on the basis of the following criteria, the '5, 4, 3, 2, 1 criteria' :-

• 5 or more attacks.
• 4 hours to 3 days in duration.
• 2 or more of - unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate to severe pain, aggravation by or avoidance of routine physical activity.
• 1 or more accompanying symptoms - nausea and / or vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia.

For migraine with aura, only two attacks are required to justify the diagnosis.

POUNDING (Pulsating, duration of 4 to 72 hOurs, Unilateral, Nausea, Disabling) can help diagnose migraine.

If 4 of the 5 criteria are met, then the positive likelihood of diagnosing the headache as a migraine headache is very high.

To rule out possible organic causes of headaches - for example, an aneurysm, tumor or structural abnormality - a doctor may employ vision tests, x-rays, a CT scan, a lumbar puncture or an EEG.

It is very important for those suffering from migraines to realize that lifestyle modifications like regular exercise and reducing stress in their life are very essential in curing migraine headaches.

Regular exercise can release endorphins, the body's natural painkilling agents. Exercising may also help to dilate blood vessels, which increases blood flow and may counteract the constricting action that occurs at the onset of most migraines.

Identifying trigger factors and avoiding these factors can be very helpful in controlling the recurrence of migraine headaches.

Holding an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables against your forehead while soaking your feet in hot water may stop a migraine headache if done right away.

In addition to being a major cause of pain and suffering, recurrent migraine headache attacks are a significant source of both medical costs and lost productivity. Medical costs per migraine sufferer averaged USD 107 over 6 months in one 1988 study, with total costs including lost productivity averaging USD 313. Annual employer cost of lost productivity due to migraine headaches in the USA amounted to one billion dollars in 1994, in addition to lost productivity estimated at 13 to 17 billion dollars per year.

The workplace model of 9 to 5, 5 days a week, may not be viable for a migraine sufferer. With education and understanding, an employer could compromise with an employee to create a workable solution for both.