Migraine

Migraine is a specific type of severe
headache caused by alternating dilation and
constriction of the blood vessels on the
surface of the brain; typically lasting
4-72hours, accompanied by visual
disturbances and/or nausea and vomiting.
Another name for migraine headaches is
hemicrania (literally, “half head”),
introduced into modern medicine by Galen
(A.D 131-201), which reflects the fact that
they usually affect one side of the head.
Unilateral headache is still regarded as the
cardinal feature of migraine, although the
diagnosis may be made in the absence of
headache.
What actually causes the changes in the
blood vessels that produce migraines is not
known. Sufferers from migraine are more
prone to allergies. In susceptible people, a
wide variety of factors will trigger this
psychological response, including emotional
stress, hormonal changes, chemicals or
additives used in foods, specific types of
foods, caffeine, drugs, cigarette smoke,
alcohol, strong odours, strong light, air
pollution and even sudden changes in the
weather.
Classically, a migraine starts with visual
disturbances. Jagged brilliant streaks of
light (fortification figures) may be seen on
one side, bright spots may obscure the
vision, which may become blurred or even
completely lost.
This may be followed by numbness or
pinching sensations or pins and needles in
the hands or face, and possibly transient
weakness of a limb or of half of the body.
After 15 to 30 minutes these symptoms
give way to a boring pain on one side of
the head, which typically reaches peak
intensity after an hour or so and may
persist for days. The headache becomes
throbbing in character and is often
accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
The characteristic feature of migraine is that
it occurs in attacks, separated by intervals
of freedom. In addition, the headache
tends to last for several hours and may
persist for days.
In holistic lifecare, it is strongly advocated
that the best way to prevent or control
migraine is by going back to nature in
terms of dietary intake, exercise and socio-
psychological life styles.
Notable among the natural remedies for
effective control and total cure of migraine
is a combination of natural extracts of
herbs such as a Viscum album, Allium
cepa, Allium sativum, Ginkgo biloba and
Zingiber officinale.