Archive for the ‘Migraines’ Category
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been found to help relieve migraines. TMS is an electromagnetic device that changes the electrical currents in the brain without any pain or discomfort.
TMS was first studied by Anthony Barker of England in 1985. By using magnets instead of an electrical current, he was able to map the conduction of nerve impulse in the brain and spinal cord on patients in the study. Had he used the traditional electrical current, the patients would have felt slight pain.
The use of TMS can alter the nerve activity in the brain. It is usually safe. However, patients with a previous history of strokes may have seizures following a session with TMS. It can also cause seizures in healthy individuals when applied with a high frequency and intensity.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation may be applied with a single electrical pulse or utilizing repetitive pulses, known as rTMS. The side effects of rTMS may include pain on the skin and muscles in the area that was stimulated by rTMS. In more severe cases, burns to the area of stimulation may result from rTMS.
Researchers at Ohio State University conducted a study on patients with migraines. They used a portable transcranial magnetic stimulator for this study, in the hopes that one day this portable version can be mass-produced. The stimulation was applied to the head at the start of a migraine. About 39% of the patients reported that they were pain-free two hours following the application of this device.
One day, this device will be readily available for patients suffering from migraines to use in their own homes. In the meantime, migraine sufferers can rely on homeopathic remedies to relieve their migraine symptoms.
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Monday, July 19th, 2010
Achieving migraine relief with exercise is a tricky endeavor. Overall physical activity will help prevent migraines. However, some forms of exercise may actually trigger migraines. Therefore, proper planning must be taken to develop a course of physical activity that will prevent migraines and help a person feel better. In addition, exercise can prevent a person from falling victim to other illnesses.
There are so many people who suffer from migraines and don’t realize that their lifestyles play a large role. Most jobs today are eight-hour desk jobs, which don’t involve much physical activity. In their leisure time, most people watch cable television, play video games or browse the Internet. This lack of exercise has devastating effects. It causes people to gain weight, and have reduced blood flow. This also makes it more difficult to sleep at night. The additional weight, impaired blood flow and difficulty sleeping add stress to the body and can all trigger migraines.
The benefits of exercise are numerous. Someone who exercises burns carbohydrates and fat. Reducing fat content in the bloodstream aids in blood flow.
The primary catalyst for the metabolism of carbohydrates and fat calories are hormones, such as epinephrine and glucagon. However, too much exercise makes the body release large quantities of these hormones into the bloodstream. This decreases serotonin levels in the brain, which then causes headaches. On the positive side, exercise helps the body use sugar for energy. Therefore the body needs less insulin, a hormone that breaks down sugar. Someone who exercises regularly would be need less likely to develop diabetes, which makes a person more prone to headaches.
Blood is responsible for transporting oxygen to the organs of the body. When a person is engaged in physical activity, blood flow is increased. Hence, the body gets more oxygen as a result. Many headaches stem from a lack of oxygen to the brain, so increasing oxygen flow to the brain would prevent headaches.
Physical activity also has the additional benefit of helping a person sleep better at night. Sleep is one of the body’s greatest healing mechanisms, and reduces stress on the body. Improved sleep can help ward off migraines.
By increasing the time you spend exercising, but not overdoing it, you can find relief from your migraine symptoms.
Tags: migraines and exercise, migraines and oxygen, migraines and physical activity, migraines and sleep, migraines and stress
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Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Here is a list of conventional drugs used in the treatment of migraines. (Because of their side effects, natural migraine remedies are preferable in many cases.)
- Sumatriptan Sucinate: Also known as Imitrex, Sumatriptan can be administered orally or intranasally. Side effects include tingling, flushing, nausea, check or neck tightness or pain, and throat discomfort. If the first does only provides partial pain relief, a second dose may be taken after an hour. However, it is advised that a person should avoid taking this medication for five days following each complete dose.
- Naratriptan: Also known as Amerge, this drug remains in the bloodstream for six hours. This is good for people with recurring migraines and with menstrual migraines. Side effects include nausea and vomiting. It is taken orally.
- Zolmitriptan: Also referred to as Zomig, this drug is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream, and helps relieve migraines faster than other drugs. It helps resolve the symptoms of migraine, such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Its side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, jaw pain, tingling of the skin, and tightness of the throat or neck. It is taken orally.
- Rizatriptan: Commonly referred to as Maxalt, it is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. In fact, relief of migraines has been noted within 30 minutes of taking this drug. Side effects include drowsiness, bitter taste and nausea. It is taken orally.
- Ergotamine Tartrate: Nicknamed Ergot, this drug was commonly used to offset an attack before the introduction of Imitrex (Sumatriptan). This works by decreasing serotonin levels, and causes the blood vessels to narrow in the brain. (The migraine causes these same blood vessels to widen.) Side effects include diarrhea, cramping, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, numbness and high blood pressure. Worse, it can lead to decreased circulation in the extremities. Additionally, taking Ergot daily can lead to rebound headaches. It is taken orally.
- Dihydroergotamine Mesylate: Nicknamed DHE, it is related to Ergotamine. However, it causes nausea less frequently and causes the veins to narrow even more than the arteries. It may be administered intranasally, or in cases of severe migraines, intravenously. The narrowing of the blood vessels is a side effect that can cause more serious harm.
- Isometheptene Mucate: This drug is often combined with a mild sedative known as dichloralphenazone, along with acetaminophen. The combination of these three drugs is called Midrin. It works by narrowing the blood vessels that are widened during a migraine. It is less dangerous than other migraine drugs.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Commonly referred to as NSAIDs, this class of drugs successfully relieves migraines in many people. They work by stabilizing bodily proteins and reducing inflammation. One specific type is naproxen sodium. This is available without a prescription under the name Aleve. By prescription only, as Anaprox or Naprelan. Other examples of this class include aspirin and ibuprofen. Side effects include abdominal distress, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, ringing of the ears (tinnitus). More severe side effects include bleeding of the stomach and ulcers.
People who suffer from migraines but don’t want the side effects of the drugs mentioned above may prefer homeopathic migraine remedies.
Tags: migraine drugs, migraines and Imitrex, Migraines and Naratriptan, migraines and Sumatriptan, Migraines and Zolmitriptan
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Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Does Thermo-Auricular Therapy® effectively treat migraines? We must first understand what Thermo-Auricular Therapy® is in order to make this determination.
The word “thermo” refers to heat, and “auricular” refers to the ear. Hence, this is a treatment that is performed when a specially trained aromatherapist ingnites a Biosun and holds this candle next to a person’s ear. This art was probably practiced by ancient Egyptians as part of their medical treatments (using reeds instead of candles), and was used by the Native American Indians just a few centuries ago.
Insurance companies have flatly refused to cover such treatments. However, there are a growing number of testimonials that support the validity of Thermo-Auricular Therapy® to treat migraines by Sue Maunsell and Linda Stokes of the United Kingdom.
Sue Maunsell and Linda Stokes both claim to have tremendous success in using this therapy to treat patients suffering from colds, influenza, tinnitus, dulled hearing and balance-related conditions. Furthermore, this therapy has purportedly also been successful in treating headaches and migraines.
What type of candle is used?
The Biosun candle is made of the finest ingredients. Linen comprises the base of the tube. This base is marinated in a mixture of Sage, Chamomile, St. Johns Wort, along with honey and oils. Once this base is rolled up, it is sprayed lightly with beeswax to hold it together.
Practitioners of Thermo-Auricular Therapy® have noticed that their patients seem to be calmer and more relaxed after each session. They believe that this helps balance the traditional energies emanating from each person.
Can Thermo-Auricular Therapy® help relieve your migraines? You are welcome to try it and let us know.
Tags: ancient egyptians, aromatherapist, Auricular, auricular therapy, Biosun, Egyptians, linda stokes, person, st johns wort
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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Your doctor will want to know the details of your migraine symptoms. You can help your doctor treat you for your specific set of symptoms by answering the following ten questions on paper:
One: How frequently do you have headaches?
Two: Do you have combinations of different types of headaches, such as frequent mild headaches with occasional intensely painful ones?
Three: How many years have you been suffering from headaches? How old were you when the headaches first began?
Four: Where does the pain set in? Does this pain spread over several areas or is it limited to one spot?
Five: How long does the headache pain last? Does the pain have a duration of one hour, several hours, a full day or longer?
Six: How intense are the headaches that you experience? Can you still perform your daily routine, or are you totally incapacitated?
Seven: What words would you use to describe the pain?
Eight: Does the pain increase as a result of physical exertion? Likewise, does the pain decrease when you lie down?
Nine: Do you experience anything about twenty minutes prior to the onset of the migraine? Do you see lights or any extraordinary visual hallucinations? Do you experience numbness in your arms or legs?
Ten: Substances: Are you taking any prescription medications? Do you smoke or drink alcohol? Do you eat foods containing MSG?
There are many different treatment options for various kinds of migraines. Your doctor should be able to tailor a plan based on the answers given to the questions above. Hopefully, by providing the information to your doctor, you will no longer suffer unnecessarily from migraines.
Tags: following, Migraine, migraine symptoms, migraines and symptoms, mild headaches, Symptoms, visual hallucinations
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Monday, June 14th, 2010
Emotional Freedom Techniques (a.k.a. EFT) can serve as effective method of achieving migraine relief. The EFT method consists of tapping along ten various points along the meridians outlined by acupuncturists. As a person taps, he recites specific statements related to his feelings.
This EFT method was founded by Gary Craig. At the age of 13, he realized that his thoughts greatly affected his quality of life. He developed the EFT method based on the belief that the source of all negative emotions is a breakdown in the energy system. This energy system consists of pathways used in acupuncture, known as meridians. A disturbance in the energy meridian causes feelings of anxiety, hurt and shame to develop. These negative emotions can all trigger migraines.
Utilizing this EFT method helps chase away the negative feeling, and thus help relieve the migraine or prevent new ones from occurring.
The way it works is this: You think about a negative feeling or memory. As you think about it, you make a statement relating to this. An example of a statement would be, “I am angry at my boss for yelling at me.” Then, you rate the intensity of this feeling or memory on a scale of 0 to 10.
The next step is to state that you accept yourself. “Even though my boss yelled at me, I fully accept myself.”
You should repeat this affirmation while you tap three times on all the 10 EFT points. Some of these points include the chin, the collar bone, top of head, under the eye, beginning of eyebrow etc.
At the conclusion of this, you then rate the intensity of this feeling a second time. Then, you are supposed to repeat all these steps until the negative emotion is completely gone.
Since anxiety is one of the triggers of migraines, it follows that people with migraines should find Emotional Freedom Techniques helpful in obtaining migraine relief.
Tags: anxiety, boss, collar bone, EFT, EFT and migraine relief, emotional freedom techniques, Emotional Freedom Techniques and migraine relief, gary craig, intensity, negative emotion, negative emotions, tapping and migraines, Techniques
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
There is clinical evidence that demonstrates that birth control pills may not be safe for women with migraines. Most contraceptive methods contain estrogen, a hormone. The estrogen has been shown to increase the odds of blood clot formation. These blood clots occur more frequently in the legs, but sometimes the clots may form in the heart, causing heart attacks or strokes.
By definition, a stroke is damage to the brain, which causes braincells to die. This, in turn, may lead to paralysis or death. Only 4 to 5 women out of 100,000 women ages 20 to 44 have strokes each year. Unfortunately, women who suffer from migraine headaches are more likely to suffer a stroke. These women with migraines are four times as likely to suffer a stroke as their peers who don’t have migraines.
Worse, women who suffer from migraines who also use estrogen-containing contraceptive methods are seven times as likely as their peers to suffer a stroke. For women who have migraines and use birth control pills, the patch or the ring, the rate is 28 to 35 out of every 100,000 women each year.
Women who smoke and suffer from migraines who also use estrogen for birth control are at an even greater risk. These women are 34 times as likely to suffer a stroke. In other words, in women who have migraines, smoke and also use estrogen-containing birth control, there are about 170 strokes per 100,000 women each year.
Therefore, women who suffer from migraines are strongly encouraged to use alternate methods of birth control that don’t contain estrogen.
Tags: birth control pills, blood clot formation, clot, contraceptive methods, estrogen, evidence, heart, methods of birth control, migraine headaches, migraines and birth control, migraines and blood clots, migraines and contraception, migraines and estrogen, migraines and strokes, migraines and the patch, Safe
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Monday, May 24th, 2010
According to a study done in China, acupuncture relieves migraines in some people. This study was published in the journal, Headache in 2009.
Originally, the study involved 218 patients suffering from migraines from admitted to several hospitals in Sichuan, China. Unfortunately, 14 of these were fearful of needles and therefore chose not to participate.
The remaining 75 patients were divided into three groups. One group was given a single session of acupuncture at specified points for treatment of migraines. The other two groups were given a single session of acupuncture at other areas of the body. Pain measurements were taken before treatment and over several hours following treatment.
Within the first few hours following treatment, all groups experienced significant reduction in pain. The first group had the greatest pain relief, as measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS).
Within 24 hours after the treatment, 41% of the first group obtained complete migraine pain relief , in comparison with only 17% of the second control group and 16% of the third group.
For people who are not afraid of needles, it can be concluded from this study that those suffering from migraines may benefit from immediate treatment with acupuncture.
Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncture and migraines, body, China and migraines, journal headache, migraine pain relief, Pain, scale, sichuan china, third group, treatment, visual analogue scale
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Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
There are numerous studies that demonstrate that food allergies cause migraines. In one such study, sixty patients were given controlled diets to see which foods trigger their migraines. Since it was suspected that they had food allergies, they were placed on elimination diets.
For the first phase of this study, the patients were restricted to lamb, pears and spring water. Their migraines disappeared by the fifth day.
In the second phase, common foods were introduced one at a time to see what kind of reactions they would get.
The food that triggered migraines and an increased pulse most frequently was wheat. The second most common trigger was orange, followed by eggs, coffee, tea, chocolate and milk.
Some patients turned out to be allergic to corn, cane sugar, yeast, mushrooms or peas.
Patients were then told what foods to avoid. In response, most of their migraines disappeared.
Many doctors are not aware of this and do not test for food allergies in patients who suffer from migraines. This is unfortunate, because many people can avoid medication if they would only be tested for food allergies.
If you are suffering from migraines, you may want to eliminate the foods mentioned above from your diet for a few days. Then, introduce them back into your diet one at a time to see how your body reacts to each one.
Tags: migraines and chocolate, migraines and coffee, migraines and corn, migraines and eggs, migraines and food allergy, migraines and milk, migraines and mushrooms, migraines and peas, migraines and sugar, migraines and tea, migraines and wheat, migraines and yeast
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Compact florescent lights (CFLs) in your home or at work may be contributing to your migraines. These bulbs use 30 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. However, new research shows that the use of CFLs cause many problems.
First of all, Dr. Robert Sarkany, a photodermatologist at St. John’s Institute of Dermatology in London, has stated that he has seen patients with skin rashes as a result of their exposure to these energy-saving florescent bulbs. These rashes may take on the form of eczema or other skin reactions that may lead to skin cancer.
Furthermore, the light from these compact fluorescent lights have been known to trigger migraines, disorientation, epilepsy and fatigue.
It is also possible that the light from these bulbs may exacerbate existing symptoms in people with arthritis, fibromyalgia pain or muscle stiffness.
If you are currently suffering from migraines, try to use incandescent bulbs and turning off lights when not needed.
Tags: bulbs and migraines, CFL and migraine, CFLs and migraine, compact florescent light and migraine
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