MIGRAINE | cause, Diagnosis & Homeopathic approach
a vascular headache of a severe and chronic nature. Low levels of serotonin activate some chemical changes, which causes dilation (expansion) of blood vessels in the brain and nerve irritation, hence causing the Migraine headache. It is generally centered above one eye or the other. It is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting and
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SOME FACTS ABOUT MIGRAINE
n
Migraine is one of the common causes of recurrent
headaches
n
According to IHS, migraine constitutes 16% of
primary headaches
n
Migraine afflicts 10-20% of the general population
n
More than 2/3 of migraine sufferers either have
never consulted a doctor or have stopped doing so
n
Migraine is underdiagnosed and undertreated
n
Migraine greatly affects quality of life. The WHO
ranks migraine among the world’s most disabling medical illnesses
Types of Migraine
Migraine can be classified into two categories:
1) Migraine without aura: This type
is more common and is associated with a slowly increasing headache which in due
course develops into a throbbing headache. This headache is mostly unilateral
and is accompanied with nausea, vomiting, and unusual sensitiveness to light
and noise
2) Migraine
with aura: This type is less common and is known as
classical migraine. This headache is unilateral too and is accompanied with nausea,
vomiting, sensitivity to light often causing momentary visual impairment,
double vision, numbness, tingling, vertigo, difficulty speaking, and weakness
on one side of the body. Some people may have
symptoms of migraine aura without a headache.
(Aura is a premonition, generally consisting of
visual disturbances or neurological symptoms occurring within the hour before
the onset of the headache).
Causes of Migraine
The correct cause of a migraine is not known. It has a tendency to
run in families and the vascular theory states that migraine is due to the
inflammation and dilation of the blood vessels in the head causing a disturbance
of blood flow and thus leading to pain. There are a number of factors that can
trigger an attack. Migraine ‘triggers’ can be categorized as follows:
·
Physical fatigue, due to over-exertion
or over-relaxation.
·
Psychological factors like stress, excitement,
worry, shock, and anxiety.
·
Sensitivity to certain foods and
beverages: Certain foods like cheese, chocolates, alcohol, caffeine, citrus
fruits, etc. can trigger a migraine attack.
·
Low blood sugar or Hypoglycemia can
trigger migraine too. Often, missing meals can trigger an attack, especially in
children.
·
Medical problems like high blood pressure, dental
problems, etc.
·
Hormonal: Migraine has a 75% rate among women,
mainly due to the hormonal relationship with estrogen that influences serotonin
levels. When estrogen levels fall, so do serotonin levels. This link between
estrogen and serotonin levels may also explain why some women suffer from
migraine shortly before their menstrual periods or during perimenopause (the
years leading up to menopause). Headaches related directly with the menstrual
period are referred to as menstrual migraine.
·
Lack of sleep or too much sleep can trigger
migraine attacks. A number of people find that they get migraine after
overindulging into a weekend sleep.
·
Other factors like loud noise, bright
lights, TV, strong smells, weather changes can also trigger the attack.
Signs and symptoms of Migraine
·
Pain that is more severe on one side of your head.
·
Throbbing or hammering pain.
·
Pain that interrupts with normal activity.
·
Pain aggravated by activity.
·
Nausea and vomiting accompanied by headache.
·
Unusual sensitiveness to light or sound.
·
Visual disturbances -- Hallucinations, Flashing
lights, Double vision, etc.
Diagnosis
The
migraine headache is mostly a clinical diagnosis, however there are certain
structural problems of the brain that can mimic this headache and they include;
AVM
(arterio-venous malformations)
Tumors
Other
growths
Aneurysms/
bleedings
Brain
infections etc.
The
commonly utilized investigations to detect these pathologies are;
CT (CAT
scan)
MRI of
brain
Angiogram
CSF
(cerebrospinal fluid) analysis etc.
Homeopathic approach to the Treatment
of Migraine
Looking for a safe, natural, effective,
and long-lasting answer for your migraines? Consider Homeopathy. The
Homoeopathic approach to the treatment of migraine patients is more
individualistic. Homoeopathy considers migraine as a personality disorder and
for this reason the treatment must be decided on the basis of a complete study
of the patients' personality.
With most of the patients the initial improvement
starts after 2-4 week treatment, reducing the frequency and interval of the
attacks. The attacks are almost terminated after 4-8 week treatment. But to
achieve the maximum and the most permanent result the patient has to undergo
8-18 month treatment.
Dos and Don’ts to help you deal with Migraine headache
·
Splash cold water on your
face during a severe migraine attack, and then lie down in a dark room and
rest.
·
Take adequate sleep.
·
Take a break from your
daily routine.
·
Set a regular and
organized routine for your life style.
·
Work in a pleasant
atmosphere. Avoid stress.
·
Avoid exposure to bright
lights, loud noises, cold drafts, being under the sun for a long time,
overstraining your eyes.
·
Avoid fried, too salty,
spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, canned foods, stop smoking. A vegetarian diet is
preferable.
·
Eat lots of raw fruits
and vegetables.
·
Don’t overwork yourself
physically or mentally.
·
Don’t overeat, eat small
and frequent meals.
Hence, every person suffering from migraine must
consider Homeopathy to provide relief and lifetime cure.
Homeopathic medicines
for migraine
Belladonna
It is one
of the acute remedy for migraine
It is Indicated
in migraines which come suddenly, very intense, throbbing exploding, pressing
outward, starts in the right back of the head and extends to the forehead and
eyes.
It’s
worse at 3 p.m., jarring, light, sun, washing the hair, stooping, menses.
It is a
right sided remedy.
It’s better lying in the dark quiet room,
binding the head, sitting up in bed, bending the head back.
Natrum muriaticum
Indicated
in migraines which are pounding like little hammers, worse in the sun, bursting
pain, worse on the right side, worse in the morning on waking, worse on reading
or straining the eyes, better cold
applications, sweat, pressure, closing the eyes, lying in a dark room.
Migraine
of school going girls.
Ill
effect of long-lasting grief
Generalities:-
Hot patient. Desires for salts.
Glonoinum
indicated
in intense pounding migraines as if the head would explode.
The pain increases
and decreases with the sun’s rise and fall.
Worse
from heat, alcohol, tight collars, shaking the head.
Better
from pressure, lying in a dark room, cold washing, getting into the shade,
wearing a hat.
Arnica
treats the onset of a migraine headache
following a blow to the head (accident or injury).
Sanguinaria
It treats
cluster headaches. The pain starts at the back of the head and extends to the
deltoid muscle. It may occur every seven days.
It is
known as the Sunday headache. It is a right sided remedy. A migraine headache
on the right side of the head during a menstrual period.
Sepia
In this,
headaches are hormone related. The migraine stops after exercising. The person
is pessimistic, she sees everything in black, she seeks the solitude.
Cimicifuga
It relieves
occipital pain which extends from the head to the nose.
Gelsemium
It treats
recurrent migraine headaches caused from emotional instability. Pain over the
left eye, with heavy eyelids.
Cyclamen
It is
indicated in the treatment of migraine headaches. Symptoms include throbbing
pain over the right eye spreading to the left eye, blurred vision, nausea, and
dizziness. The migraine gets worse after drinking coffee.
Iris versicolor
This remedy is indicated in periodic migraine
headaches caused from indigestion. Blurred vision with pain on the right side
of the head. The vomiting of bile.
Spigelia
It relieves
an intolerable migraine headache that starts on the left side of the head and
spreads to the other side. Motion makes the pain worse.
Silicea
It is
indicated for pain at the back of the head that spreads over the eye. The
migraine is alleviated by wrapping the head with a band. The patient is mild
and obstinate.
Lycopodium
It
relieves a throbbing pain on the right temple with dizziness. It is a right
sided remedy. The patient is hot thermally.
Ignatia
It can be
prescribed for migraine that occurs after an emotional upset, grief, or a
broken heart.
Pulsatilla
It treats migraine headaches during a menstrual
period. It is aggravated by eating fatty food.
Patient
id mild and yielding.
Lachesis
It is
indicated for left sided complaints of women at menopause. A migraine on
rising, feels better in the evening. The patient is suspicious.
Kali bich
It treats
a migraine that begins after drinking beer. Nausea is followed by vomit.
Symptoms are aggravated from light.
Thuja
relieves
left-sided migraine headaches. There is a sensation as if a nail is piercing
the head.
Medorrhinum treats chronic migraine headaches.
Nux vomica
It relieves
a migraine that occurs after drinking too much alcohol.
The
patient is very chilly and workaholic. Irritable and very hard to please.
Aurum muriaticum treats a nervous migraine. Stools alternate from
black to white.
Aurum metallicum is indicated for cerebral congestion. The person
is suicidal.
The pain
severe and thinks of suicide.
Article prepared by: -
Dr. Razak BHMS
Consultant homeopath
at Noor homeo clinic, Malappuram
Consultant homeopath
at Noor homeo clinic, Malappuram
Source
www.similima.com
NEJM
2002; 346(4): 257-269; XI Congress of the HIS
www.webmd.com
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