Positive Health Online

Recommended Homeopathic Remedies for the Emergency Treatment of Migraines

Specific remedies to be taken – hourly for up to ten doses, if possible at the first signs of an attack

• Blurring of vision before headache comes on, tight feeling in scalp, headache right-sided but less insistent if person moves around, vomit mostly bile Iris 6c

• Headache worse on right side, feels as if temples are being screwed into each other, trying to concentrate makes pain worse, dizziness Lycopodium 6c

• Throbbing, blinding headache, warmth and moving around makes headache worse, head feels over-stuffed and congested, attack preceded by numbness and tingling in lips, nose and tongue Natrum mur 6c

• Headache worse in evening or during a period, aggravated by rich, fatty food, head feels as if it is about to burst, person easily bursts into tears Pulsatilla 6c

• Headache worse in morning, bursting pain which is right-sided and seems to start at back of head, with pain extending into right shoulder, some improvement later in day Sanguinaria 6c

• Pain starts at back of head, then shifts and settles above one eye, aggravated by cold, alleviated by wrapping head up warmly and tightly, person prone to head sweats Silicea 6c

• Sharp, darting, severe pain over left eye, pain seems to pulse with every heartbeat, stooping or moving suddenly makes pain worse Spigelia 6c

• Left-sided headache, as if head is being pierced by a nail Thuja 6c

Extract taken from The Family Guide to Homoeopathy by Dr Andrew Lockie. Reproduced with kind permission of Hamish Hamilton

An Exclusion Diet for Migraine

Cut out the following:

• smoking

• the Pill

• tea, coffee and other foods containing caffeine such as cola drinks,cocoa and chocolate

• alcohol, especially red wine

• sugar.

The above may be all that is necessary in a significant percentage ofpatients. If not, then the following should also be avoided:

• foods containing tyramine, such as chocolate, yeast extracts and yeastproducts (e.g. Marmite), liver, sausages, broad beans, pickled herrings and cheese

• foods containing histamine such as cheese, sauerkraut, salami andsausage meat

• foods containing other natural chemicals likely to precipitate migraine,such as oranges and bananas

• food additives – tartrazine (E102), benzoate (E210-219), butylatedhydroxytoluene (E321), monosodium glutamate (E621)

• wheat

• milk.

These are the major foods associated with migraine and this diet,preferably in whole, should be followed for four weeks or at least for long enough to beable to judge whether there is a clinical response in the frequency or severity ofmigraine attacks.
If you find you do not have migraines while on this programme, then introduce individualfoods at three to seven day intervals to see if you can determine which foods on the listtrigger your attacks. If a migraine headache is triggered, it is pointless to try afurther food in the next three or four days as platelet abnormalities may not be apparentduring this period, and the precipitation of migraine, even if you are eating anothercausative food, will be most unlikely.

Extract taken from Nutritional Medicine by Dr Stephen Davies & Dr AlanStewart.

Reproduced with kind permission of Macmillan Publishers

Herbs for Headaches and Migraines

     Headaches and migraines may be warning signs of stress or fatigue, but they are also related to women’s hormonal problems, allergy, pollution, candidiasis, nutritional deficiency/poor diet, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, liver and digestive problems, alcohol, eye strain, and back problems. A warm herbal bath with strong infusions or oils of either lavender, peppermint, or marjoram will relax muscles and soothe pain. Massage, particularly of the head and neck, and feet, and inhalations can bring swift relief. As a preventative take, either as a mixture or individually, teas or tinctures of feverfew, meadowsweet, wood betony, and rosemary three times daily. For tension, especially in the neck and shoulders, add either rosemary, valerian, or cramp bark. For menstrual problems add devil’s bit/false unicorn root, or vitex. For stress and anxiety add either chamomile, vervain, skullcap, wild oats, or pasque flower. At the first signs of pain take teas or tinctures of passionflower, feverfew, rosemary, or wood betony and repeat as necessary. Inhale lavender or rosemary oils or massage them into the temples.
     Warning Headaches may indicate potentially serious, albeit uncommon problems.

Extract taken from Herbs for Common Ailments by Anne McIntyre. Reproduced with kind permission of Gaia Books Limited.

Nutritional Approaches

     The American nutritionist Dr. Melvyn Werbach cites a case of a migraine sufferer forced to go on a bland diet to heal his gastro-intestinal bleeding caused by a high intake of aspirin. A scrupulous diary-writer, he found that in the previous year he had taken 1,316 aspirin. He had had a headache on 326 days!

So if you are a headache or migraine sufferer it is well worthlooking at your diet or nutritional status to see if they can help.

Are your headaches or migraines caused by caffeine withdrawal?

This is a very common cause. Hospital Doctors have recently found that severe headaches previously thought to be caused by general anaesthetics given for operations were, in fact, caused by caffeine withdrawal. 18-20 hours after the first cupof tea, coffee or cola is when they strike.

Are they caused by hypoglycaemia?

The key question here is “if you usually eatat regular mealtimes what happens if you miss one or two meals?” If the answer isfaintness, weakness, undue fatigue, irritability or headaches, then you have a degree ofreactive hypoglycaemia.

Reactive because it is a reaction to the increase in blood sugar produced by a meal. If that meal is especially large, or contains too much sugar or refined carbohydrate then your blood sugar will rise more than it should and will be followed by a fall to below the normal level, and some or all of the symptoms mentioned. Many headaches are caused by this and some migraines, so make sure you eat at least once every four hours and avoid foods that have a high glycaemic index (ones thatraise your blood sugar too quickly).

Are they caused by foods high in tyramine?

Tyramine is a brain chemical in high concentrations in certain foods such as chocolate, red wine, aged cheeses such as stilton or camembert, Marmite or other yeast extracts, salami, broad beans. Avoid these foods.

Are they caused by food intolerances?

A 1983 study at Great Ormond Street hospital reported in the Lancet found that 93% of children suffering severe frequent migraine recovered completely once the offending foods were omitted. So be especially wary of the foods you eat most often such as wheat or dairy products or citrus or eggs, as these are the ones that are the most common offenders. If you are eating any food more than four times a week, cut it out for 14 days along with the high tyramine foods mentioned above. Then reintroduce the healthy foods you have eliminated slowly and carefully, no faster than one every two days, and see which, if any, provokes a headache or migraine.

Liver congestion can be a contributory factor so takethe herb silymarin (milk thistle) or the amino acid L cysteine, that is important for adetoxification (best taken as N: acetyl cysteine 500 mg 3 x a day at least an hour beforemeals). Constipation can also play a part so eat a high fibre diet, take linseeds soakedovernight in water, eat lots of raw vegetables and salads, avoid too much meat or alcohol,drink plenty of water, get lots of fresh air and exercise.

Nutritional supplements

     A recent study found high doses, 400 mg a day of vitamin B2 to be helpful. But this is very high so make sure you take a B complex containing at least 50 mg of the other vitamins. Magnesium is known as the calming mineral because it curbs irritability and muscle spasms. Anyone with low magnesium is liable to be headache-prone, but women are especially prone at the time of their period. 400 mg a day is a good preventive dose or 100 mg per hour in acute attacks (no more than 6-8 doses). Chromium is the most important supplement if hypoglycaemia is a cause of your headaches. Best taken as chromium polynicotinate, the liquid form is the most absorbable.

Michael Franklin is a registered nutritional therapist. He sees patients in Oxford (01865 511357) and also operates a postal/telephone consultancy for those living in remote areas.

Aromatherapy for Headaches

Tension headaches resulting from stress or overwork are common and respond well to aromatherapy treatments. Symptoms usually include muscular tension, particularly of the scalp, shoulders and neck. Headaches may also stem from factors such as sinus congestion, menstruation, a deficient diet, food allergy, and certain disorders of the eyes, ears and teeth. The discomfort experienced may also give rise to tension and can similarly be eased through use of aromatherapy.

A migraine is a type of headache, typically felton one side of the head only, that can last for two to three days. Eyesight can beaffected and you may experience some nausea. Stress or an irritant substance in your dietor environment may trigger an attack. While you may be sensitive to touch in the form ofmassage, inhalation can bring welcome relief.

Caution: Headaches can have more serious causes.Consult your doctor if the pain is sudden or severe, or if it recurs frequently.

Useful Oils

Lavender and Sweet Marjoram will both help to relieve pain, while Roman Chamomile is generally soothing. For sinus congestion, add Eucalyptus and/or Peppermint for their decongestant properties. Sweet Marjoram is particularly useful for headaches association with menstruation, while True Melissa or Rosemary can help to relieve a migraine.

Treatment

Diet It is wise to seek the advice of a professional nutritionist if you think that your headache or migraine may be related to food allergy, but you can begin by excluding foods, such as coffee, chocolate, cheese, and red wine, that are commonly linked with migraine attacks.

Inhalation This method can bring relief toheadaches and migraines if used as soon as symptoms begin. Sprinkle 2 drops each ofSweet Marjoram, Lavender, and Peppermint onto to a tissue; for a migraine, add 1drop of True Melissa. Inhale deeply three times.

Application To relieve a tension headache, moisten your forefinger with 2 drops of Lavender and rub gently over your temples, behind your ears, and across the back of your neck. Apply twice more, if necessary. Caution: Keep your fingers away from your eyes. To reduce the intensity of a headache, add a total of 12 drops of your chosen blend to 1fl oz (30ml/5tsp) of carrier oil, andapply the mix to your face and neck.

Massage Dilute 3 drops each of Lavender andEucalyptus in ½ fl oz (15ml/2½ tsp) of carrier oil and use the mix to massage yourforehead and behind your ears, pausing to apply gentle pressure around the hollows on theouter corners of the eye bone. Work along your shoulders and neck or ask a friend tomassage these areas.

Bath Add 3 drops each of Sweet Marjoram,Roman Chamomile, and Lavender to a bath to help relive tension headaches.

Extract taken from Aromatherapy for Common Ailments by Shirley Price. Reproduced with kind permission of Gaia Books Limited.