The information on this page is dedicated to helping those, like me, who suffer from debilitating Migraine Headaches.

Here's to your success over Migraine pain!

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Common Migraine Myths

There are a good number of commonly held beliefs about migraines that make it hard for sufferers to get correct diagnosis and treatment.

1) Migraines are not real (all in the head, an overreaction to a normal headache, etc.).

Not true.  Migraines are a biologic primary headache disorder.  Even migraine pain is not confined to the head, though that is generally where it is worst.

2) Migraines have a known cause.

Sadly, no.  There have been several interesting theories put forward in the last decade, but no single, definitive biological cause of migraines has been identified thus far.

3) All migraineurs have the same symptoms.

No, they do not.  This is one of the things that makes migraines so hard to diagnose, particularly if a patient's doctor is only familiar with the most common symptoms.

4) Migraines are curable.

Again, no.  Once properly diagosed many migraineurs still have to devote a lot of time and energy to managing their condition through medications, natural and homeopathic remedies, and diet and lifestyle changes.  The various available coping methods work differently for each individual, so there is not even a single protocol of care.

5) A doctor can tell if itís a migraine or not.

Not always.  The wide spectrum of symptoms that can accompany migraine can make it difficult to diagnose, more so if the patient is not forthcoming with their doctor about all their symptoms.

6) Migraines are curable.

Again, no.  Once properly diagosed many migraineurs still have to devote a lot of time and energy to managing their condition through medications, natural and homeopathic remedies, and diet and lifestyle changes.  The various available coping methods work 7) Only adults get migraines.

Migraines have been diagnosed in adolescents, children, and even infants.differently for each individual, so there is not even a single protocol of care.

7) Migraines are a woman's headache.

Women migraineurs do outnumber the men 3 to 1, but there is no evidence the condition is sex-linked in any way.

8) Only adults get migraines.

Migraines have been diagnosed in adolescents, children, and even infants.

9) Every headache a migraineur is a migraine

Not true.  Migraine sufferers can have regular sinus, tension, or stress headaches just like anyone else.

It's always best to check with your personal physician or local medical care provider just to be certain.

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Stages of a Migraine Headache

Migraines develop in four stages.  Patients with migraines with aura, also known as classic migraines, are most likely to experience all four stages.  Patients who have common migraines, migraines without aura, will have the same stages, but are not consciously aware of them.  The interval between migraines is sometimes referred to as the fifth stage of a migraine.

Stage One - Prodrome

The prodromal phase usually begins one or two days prior to the actual migraine headache.  Many migraineurs call this the "premonition" phase.  Feelings during this phase are all over the map.  Each migraineur has their own personal prodrome profile.  Some are giddy, happy, and full of energy, far more so than usual.  Others feel a headache start with fatigue, weakness, and irritability.  Anything can herald a migraine and each person has to learn their own prodrome signs if they want to learn to stave off the migraine.

Stage Two - Aura

This phase is skipped by most migraineurs, since most migraineurs suffer from common migraine, migraine without aura.  For those who experience classic migraine with aura, auras can begin anywhere from five minutes to an hour before the headache begins.  Auras are visual effects migraineurs experience.  Objects appear to have bright auras or haloes around them.  Lightning flashes arc over the field of vision until sight is whited out just before the pain begins.

Stage Three -  Headache

This phase lasts anywhere from four to seventy-two hours.  Most common is a one-sided headache with a throbbing or pulsing characteristic.  The headache is frequently accompanied by stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or some combination of the three.

Stage Four - Postdrome

Coming away from a migraine can be as unpleasant as building up to one.  Postdrome is often characterized by tenderness of the head, neck, and stomach.  Weakness and fatigue are also common in this phase.

It's always best to check with your personal physician or local medical care provider just to be certain. Click on the link below for more information about a 100% natural treatment for your migraine pain...

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Migraine Headaches -
Relief Without Drugs?

Natural treatment methods for migraine headaches are usually harmless and also cheaper than traditional pain medications. Sure, it's possible you could experience a negative reaction or even increase your headache pain because of a natural treatment, but the odds are far less than with pain-relieving medications.

People are different from each other. A natural treatment that might relieve one person's migraine headaches may not relieve someone else's.  But on the same measure, just because one migraine headache treatment does not work for one person does not mean it won't work for you. There are many effective alternatives to taking medication when it comes to relieving migraine headaches. One of these alternative methods may be just what you have been looking for.

Chiropractic adjustments, or chiropractic manipulations, are a very popular natural treatment method for headache relief. Patients with migraine headaches have been visiting chiropractors for over 100 years, and with very good results. Studies have shown that over 80% of headache patients find relief with chiropractic care. Plus, chiropractic treatment has been shown to be extremely safe. Spinal problems do cause headaches and by correcting these spinal problems many headache sufferers find welcome relief.

Biofeedback is another form of treatment that is safe and can be effective in eliminating pain. Biofeedback is a training program designed to help a person develop the ability to control their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. Functions that are normally automatic can be controlled voluntarily. This technique makes it possible for a person to control their own heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, and of course, the relaxation of their tense muscles.

Stress can cause tension, which can lead to muscle tightness (muscle tension) and cause headaches. By relaxing these tense muscles, especially in the neck, it is possible to relieve the tension causing the migraine headaches. With biofeedback, once the technique is learned there is no longer any need for the biofeedback equipment. The patient with migraine headaches can now produce the desired effect at any. They can control certain bodily functions, such as muscle relaxation, which can help reduce and relieve their migraine headaches.

Most people are unaware that too much salt can cause headaches. And by simply lessening the salt intake headaches can sometimes be prevented.

Food allergies or sensitivities can also cause migraine headaches. Certain foods such as cheese, alcohol, monosodium glutamate (a food additive), nuts, beans, caffeine, chocolate and onions can cause migraines. Foods that cause headaches are called ìtriggers.î People who experience migraine headaches because of food sensitivities can eliminate their pain by simply eliminating the foods causing the pain.

However, itís not always easy to discover which foods are the culprits. One way is to keep a food diary. Get a small notebook, with each page representing one day. On each daily page make three columns. The first column will contain the hours in the day. The second column will be a list of the foods eaten that day. And the third column will list the symptoms that you experience.

As an example, if you had eggs and toast for breakfast at 8 AM you would write ìeggs and toastî in the food column that corresponds with 8 AM. Make a note of everything that is eaten on this list and at what time they were eaten.

When you eventually experience a migraine headache you write ìmigraine headacheî or ìheadacheî down in the symptoms column at the time it began. For example, if one of your headaches begins at 2 PM you will write ìheadacheî in the symptoms column for 2 PM.

It may take a few weeks or even a few months, but after experiencing a few migraine headaches, with the help of the food diary, you will be able to tell which foods cause headaches. Over time, by figuring out which ingredients in these foods are causing your pain, you will be able to eliminate these ingredients and relieve some pain.

Another very common cause of tension headaches and migraine headaches is just plain stress. People who experience tension can get headaches from their increased tension.

Relieving tension can often relieve migraine headaches. Tension can be relieved in many ways such as with biofeedback training (as explained above), taking a warm bath or shower, lying down and resting in a quiet dark room, putting something cold on the back of the neck (at the base of the skull) or having someone massage your neck muscles and possibly your temporal region to help relieve your tension and muscle spasms. Regular exercise can also, over time, reduce tension.

These are just a few of the many natural treatment methods that are available to migraine headache patients. They are all considered safe and are effective for many people. If you have headaches it may be beneficial to try some of these treatments or search out others on your own. But as always it is a good idea to talk with your doctor before attempting to treat yourself for a health problem.
                                                                                                                                                

It's always best to check with your personal physician or local medical care provider just to be certain. Click on the link above for more information about a 100% natural treatment for your migraine pain.



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Migraines and Caffeine -
Is There a Link?

Migraineurs have always had a love-hate relationship with caffeine.  For many, the vasoconstrictor helps alleviate their migraine pain.  For an equal number, the chemical is a migraine headache trigger.  The relationship between caffeine and migraines is anything but straightforward.

For caffeine addicts who discover that their daily cuppa is a migraine trigger the problem of caffeine is particularly challenging.  People who regularly consume large quantities of caffeine often experience withdrawal headaches if they do not get their regular java jolt.  If they are predisposed to migraines, the headache they get if they cut out the caffeine is going to be a doozy.  Many people think caffeine withdrawal alone can bring on a migraine.  Regular caffeine-aholics are advised to lower their caffeine intake slowly so they do not send their body into withdrawal.

A number of migraine pain relievers include caffeine.    The vasoconstrictive action of caffeine helps relieve migraine pain for some folks.  One current theory of what exactly goes on in the head during migraine proposes that arteries in the temple get inflamed during an attack and vasoconstriction would reduce the inflammation.  Another possible reason to include caffeine in a migraine medication is because it acts as a supplement to the main analgesic.  Studies have shown that many analgesics function more efficiently and pack a greater punch when paired with caffeine, though no one is sure exactly why.

Caffeine can show up in many unexpected places, so migraineurs who are sensitive to it (not all are) need to be vigilant label readers.  Everyone knows about beverages, things like coffee and colas.  Caffeine is also found in many clear or fruit-flavored sodas.  Caffeine can be found in chocolate; the darker the chocolate the more caffeine it contains.  Caffeine is in many over-the-counter analgesics, and not always clearly labeled.  Migraineurs should be especially warty of caffeine in over-the-counter migraine formulas of regular medications.

It's always best to check with your personal physician or local medical care provider just to be certain. Click on the book below for more information about a 100% natural treatment for your migraine pain.