Helping Migraine Sufferers with Acupuncture
Migraines as a health issue, have been recognised for over 2,000 years, however the first full description of Hemiplegic Migraine that I have been able to find, dates from 1597. In around 3,000 B.C. in “Meso-potamian poems”. Hippocrates provided an account of severe pain in one half of the head associated with disturbance of sight as follows;“He seemed to see something shining before him like a light, usually in part of the right eye; at the end of a moment, a violent pain supervened in the right temple, then in all the head and neck…. vomiting, when it became possible, was able to divert the pain and render it more moderate.” The Shorter Oxford Dictionary (SOED) cites under “MEGRIM” which is the late Medieval English spelling;“l.b. = vertigo 1595. 2. A whim, fancy, fad 1593. 3. pi. ‘Vapours’; low spirits 1633. 4. pl. The staggers 1639. “Hee is troubled with a perpetual migrim; at sea hee wisheth to bee on land, and on land at sea 1631”. The first appearance of “Hemicrania” (Greek, halfskull) is cited by the SOED as 1597. Thus even before The Plague and the Great Fire, it was used to describe a far wider constellation of symptoms than headache alone; the associations with disturbed balance and sea-sickness, the emotional changes and depression implied by “the vapours” and “low spirits” were evidently well understood. AN increasing number of neurologists believe that there are direct links between the four main groups of epilepsy; Grand Mal, Temporal Lobe, Petit-Mal and Migraine. All of these are due to either genetic abnormalities or minor brain damage due to trauma, vaccination, childhood illness and other things, and have similarities thus: Migraine is one of the most distressing conditions and not only affects the sufferer but also their whole family. Migraine occurs when a damaged part of the brain is overloaded, so, therefore, an effective treatment needs to reduce the load on the damaged part of the brain. Migraines are normally characterised by an acute one-sided headache and frequently include visual disturbance, nausea, and vomiting. So, how do we deal with it? Well, migraine is simply the name of a syndrome (group of symptoms) and there can be many contributory reasons that build a migraine. The best approach is to become a demolition expert by removing the common denominators: Teeth A faulty bite can contribute to migraine, so if your client hasn’t had a dental check in the last 6 months, encourage them to do so and tell their dentist that they suffer from migraine. The Skeleton Neck and other spinal misalignments can be a contributing factor, encourage the client to get a check-over from a therapist that deals with alignments, e.g. a Tuina Therapist or Osteopath. Childbirth Interestingly, many women experience the onset of migraine within 12 months of giving birth, this tends to be referred to as Post-partum Headache. Eyes If the client hasn’t had an eye test for more than 1 year, or has just got new spectacles, get them to get a check-up. An incorrect eye correction can overload one side of the brain and trigger off the problem. Eye Strain Continuously looking at a particular point can cause eye fatigue, which can further lead to tiredness, double vision, and sadly, migraine. Eye strain is the most common source of migraines. Usually, eye fatigue occurs because of excessive exposure to bright screens like computers, televisions, and even mobile phones. If your client stares at a computer screen for the majority of the work day and are suffering from migraines, ask them to consider the purchase of anti-reflective glasses or a special screen to place over their monitor. Food Allergies can trigger Migraine, so if Migraine results every time an orange is eaten; stop eating oranges!!! However, I tend to find that if Migraine is caused by food, it is far more frequently the result of certain foods that contain tyramine (a product from the breakdown of tyrosine that regulates blood pressure and can cause spikes in blood pressure that trigger noradrenaline and subsequent vasodilation, these can, therefore, trigger off migraine). Foods containing tyramine should be avoided by a migraine sufferer, and include: Cheese, Chocolate, Broad Beans, Yoghurt, Yeast, Marmite, Bovril, Oxo, Pickled Herrings, Ripe Bananas and Textured Vegetable Protein. Alcohol Alcohol in moderation is not normally a problem, but alcohol in combination with sugar can be very problematic. However, it’s best to avoid heavy red wines, Brandy, Rum, Port, Sherry and Alcohol combined with non-slimline mixers. Smells Clinical studies report that nearly half of all people who experience a migraine struggle with enhanced sensitivity to smells, and these odours may bring on a migraine in the same population. One of the more common triggers is a pungent odour, such as perfume and cologne. Though the exact reason for a migraine attack is unknown, the symptoms are quite real for those suffering from it. Researchers have suggested that amongst men, strong odours are the second most common cause of a migraine attack. The most common (smelly) offenders resulting in a migraine attack are cigarette smoke, cleaning products, and even petrol. Blood Sugar Many people wake with migraine because low blood sugar can be a trigger. If the person has a “normal” modern diet, recommend they try to eat little and often and, unlike The Hay Diet, try to always combine proteins with carbohydrates. Protein slows the demand for insulin and stops blood sugar levels from seesawing. (Remember the ploughman’s Lunch? = Cheese (protein) & wholemeal bread (carbohydrate). Likewise, pizza in Italy and sushi in Japan combine proteins and carbohydrates. They can try to have something to eat just before going to bed to reduce the chance of waking with low blood sugar levels, but get them to make sure it’s easily digested and won’t lie heavy on the stomach. Disturbed Sleep Another leading cause of a migraine attack is due to disturbed sleep. With our lives becoming faster by the day, we are lucky to get eight hours