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Natural herbal &
homeopathic remedies for migraine
Migraine
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION
- REMEDIES - BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM - migraine
A severe disabling headache, migraine generally,
but not necessarily, starts around
puberty and diminishes by middle age. This intense, throbbing pain,
is usually limited to one side of the head, sometimes
spreading to both sides. It occurs when the blood vessels of the
head and neck constrict, which results in decreased blood flow to
the vessels.
There are basically
two types
of migraine: one without aura (a group of visual symptoms) which is characterized by nausea,
vomiting and visual disturbances; and with aura which has warning
signals like flashing lights before the eyes. A migraine can last
from three hours to three days. Menstrual periods and certain
specific foods are supposed to be the main reasons and that is why
women are more susceptible to migraine than men.
Migraines are recurrent. In most cases they last for a few hours,
but can continue for up to three days. People suffering from
migraines are usually very sensitive to light and have a low
auditory tolerance for noise.
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Earliest signs may include excessive hunger and thirst,
exhaustion and mood swings. |
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Feeling giddy first thing in the morning. |
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Visual disturbances like a visual blind spot and zigzag
patterns in front of the eyes. |
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A big dislike for bright light and loud noise. |
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Nausea and vomiting |
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A common throbbing disabling headache. Usually the first
four symptoms are present in most of the cases, but the
headache might come without any prior warning as well. |
Often the sequence of symptoms goes like this -
As you rise from the bed in the morning you feel giddy.
There is darkness before the eyes or flashes seem to
appear in the dark. Besides, you might feel sick in your
stomach and start nauseating. Then, there is a piercing
pain in the temples. The pain starts in the opposite
side of the eye which is overtaken by darkness. The pain
spreads gradually and gains severity. Movement, light
and noise make it worse. Vomiting provides some relief.
After about 2-4 hours, pain starts subsiding. The pupil
of the eye on the painful side often gets dilated. At
last, the patient falls asleep and when he wakes up the
pain has disappeared, although the face still looks
dull.
No apparent reason can be sighted as a cause for
migraine but the following have been found to be the triggering
agents in majority of the cases:
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Genetic predisposition, specifically related to the
blood flow to the brain is one cause according to many
researches. It is supposed to be inherited from the
parental side. |
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Hormonal triggers, mostly during menstruation also cause
migraine. |
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The four ‘Cs’ of food – caffeine, chocolate, citrus
fruits and cheese are the major dietary culprits behind
migraine. |
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Red wine and fried foods are also suspected for
triggering it. |
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Weather and
stress may cause it in certain cases. Many
people have been found to suffer from this attack on
Saturdays after a hectic five day week. |
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Emotionally charged mental state,
anger,
anxiety, tired
eyes, dyspepsia, allergic condition, etc. are some of
the other causes attributed to migraine. |
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Some people also cannot stand very bright lights and too
loud noises. |
There
are a number of ways of treating recurring migraines. These include
prescription and OTC medication, natural remedies and complementary
therapies.
Prescription and OTC medication
There is no known medical cure for migraine headaches, and often
migraine sufferers become discouraged when treatments do not rectify
the problem. Doctors often prescribe a combination of medications
such as abortive and preventative drugs, to try and prevent the
migraine before it begins or lessen the pain when a migraine
strikes.
Abortive medications will stop the headache and may prevent the
recurrence of symptoms. They should be taken at the first indication
of a migraine headache. Over-the-counter medications include
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) such as
ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen as well as aspirin.
Prescribed medications include ergotamine, a vasoconstrictor, and
serotonin receptor agonists. Preventive medication is specifically
geared towards people who suffer from recurrent migraines,
experiencing at least one a week, and includes prescription
medication such as beta-blockers, anti-depressants, anti-convulsants
and calcium channel blockers.
Natural Remedies
Herbal
and homeopathic remedies can offer an effective natural solution and
can be of assistance in alleviating the painful and discomforting
symptoms of a migraine. Herbs such as Silybum marianus (Milk
Thistle), Passiflora Incarnata and Hypericum perforatum (also known
as St. John’s Wort) can be extremely beneficial in helping to
soothe the recurrence of pounding headaches. In addition, studies
have suggested that the herb Feverfew, when used regularly, can help
to eliminate or greatly reduce the frequency and severity of
headaches and migraines.
In taking a holistic view of your health, you can address many
factors that contribute to optimal physical, mental and emotional
well-being. Natural and herbal remedies can be used to help
address the root causes of the ailment and not just the symptoms.
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Tanecetum parthenium (Feverfew) - This is a
well-known medicinal herb and one of the most widely
respected in the prophylactic (preventative) treatment
of migraine and chronic headaches. There are many
clinical studies to support its effectiveness in
significantly reducing or completely eliminating the
occurrence and the severity of chronic headaches and
migraines. Feverfew doesn’t stop the pain once it
starts, but reduces the frequency drastically. |
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Silybum marianus (Milk Thistle) - Leaves of milk
thistle are rich in flavonoids that are extremely good
for the circulation, and also a substance called b-sitosterol,
that emulsifies fats and breaks down the cholesterol
deposits. Seeds are rich in a substance known as
silymarin, which is actually a mix of several organic
compounds that are known to be very beneficial in
protecting the liver. They also have excellent anti-inflammatory
quality. Milk thistle is also known to possess
properties of calming muscles spasms and stimulating the
bile flow. These properties of milk thistle make it a
fantastic remedy for chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and
minor digestive and bile flow related problems. |
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Passiflora Incarnata (also known as
Passion Flower) - This climbing shrub is native to South America but
some of its 450 odd species can be found in colder
climate of North and Central America as well. It grows
up to a height of 10 metres clutching with the help of
tendrils. All its aerial parts; the stamen, three lobed indented
leaves and bright showy flowers that have white petals
covered over by pinkish violet filaments, have medicinal
properties. The main constituents are maltol, ethyl
maltol, indole alkaloids and various antioxidants.
Mainly maltol and ethyl maltol and to some extent the
antioxidants present impart the sedative property to
this herb for which it is quite famous. In effect it is
so effective yet gentle, that even children are given
preparations based on passionflower for treating
insomnia, anxiety and nervous system originated
palpitations and digestive problems. It is believed that
passionflower works by increasing levels of a chemical
called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA
lowers the activity of some brain cells, resulting in
relaxation. |
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Hypericum perforatum (also known as St. John’s
Wort) has been traditionally used for centuries to
support balanced mood and safely maintain mental
wellness and equilibrium. In recent times, clinical
studies have confirmed ancient wisdom and Hypericum is
one of the most widely studied herbs on the market
today. Active ingredients include glycosides, flavonoids,
volatile oils, tannins and resins. St. John’s Wort
has also been shown to support stable mood during the
menstrual and premenstrual periods. |
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Cinnamon - Cinnamon is basically used to treat
all kinds of digestive problems ranging from
indigestion, poor appetite, intestinal spasms to nausea,
flatulence and trapped gas. They all can trigger
migraine and the antispasmodic and stimulating effect of
cinnamon, which is due to the essential oil and cinnamic
aldehyde present in its bark, soothes the stomach. |
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MiGone Plus
Promote calm discourage common nervous
tension.
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Headache Soothe™
Headache remedy for relief of head pressure and neck pain due to stress, tension and fatigue.
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The Calm Within CD
Offers professional relaxation,
visualization and affirmation techniques
for self-help and stress relief.
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MindSoothe
Promote balanced mood, emotional health
and feelings of wellbeing.
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Oily fish like salmon and mackerel, known for their
natural anti-inflammatory action, are a big help in
preventing migraine. |
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Ginger helps in nausea as it is a digestive and also has
antispasmodic effect. Ginger in food or ginger tea may
be taken to relieve these symptoms. |
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Monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is a flavor enhancer
found mostly in food from Chinese restaurants; is a
potential triggering agent of migraines. You may
therefore ask these restaurants to prepare the food
without MSG. |
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Avoid foods containing the amino acid tyramine (found in
red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers,
figs, and some beans), which again is a potential
triggering agent of migraines. |
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You should incorporate foods rich in omega-3 fatty
acids, like flaxseed, walnuts (which contain alpha-linolenic
acid, an important omega-3 fatty acid), and fish, into
your diet, as these foods are natural anti-inflammatory. |
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Compared with healthy people, people with migraines have
been found to have lower blood and brain levels of
magnesium. Therefore supplementing with magnesium is
supposed to reduce the frequency of migraines in most of
those treated. The requirement is case specific and
these supplements must be taken only under the guidance
of a doctor. |
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Hot dogs, like luncheon and other cured meats must be
avoided. |
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Less intake of salt may help as it does have the
capacity to induce migraine. |
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Avoid the trigger foods – the four ‘Cs’ in particular. |
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A hot compress on the neck and a cold one on the
forehead give some relief. Avoid hot one on the neck if
it creates more trouble. |
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Sleep straight – Relaxing muscles and joints, prevents
and relieves the pain. |
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Tie a tight cloth around your head. This age old remedy
decreases blood flow to the scalp and saves from the
deadly throbbing and pulsating feeling. |
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No cocktails and less smoking. Smoking inside a car with
windows down is a strict no. |
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And finally, de-stress yourself. It may not be possible
all the times but its better than been tied to the bed
for days together just because of a mere ‘headache’. |
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MiGone Plus
Promote calm discourage common nervous
tension.
|
|
Headache Soothe™
Headache remedy for relief of head pressure and neck pain due to stress, tension and fatigue.
|
|
The Calm Within CD
Offers professional relaxation,
visualization and affirmation techniques
for self-help and stress relief.
|
|
MindSoothe
Promote balanced mood, emotional health
and feelings of wellbeing.
|
|
|
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