Migraines are a common, painful and distressing complaint that can destroy a person’s quality of life. A migraine is a severe headache that usually lasts between 4-72 hours. Sufferers often experience nausea and vomiting. Frequently there is a painful sensation of throbbing that is worse on movement, combined with great sensitivity to light and sound – people with migraines are often bed ridden. Some migraines are associated with auras, which occur before the migraine and act as a warning that one is coming - this can be visual disturbances with flashing lights, colours and changes in perception.
Who gets Migraines?
More women suffer from migraines and that is thought to be due to hormonal factors. The onset of migraines can be from childhood onwards, but it most often sets in the 20’s and 30’s and relatively less often in the 40’s and from then onset declines.
The International Headache Society classifies a headache as a migraine when:
A) The pain can be classified by at least two of the following:
· Throbbing
· Moderate to severe
· One sided
· Aggravated by movement
B) There is at least one of the following associated symptoms:
· Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
· Phonophobia (sensitivity to noise)
· Nausea
· Vomiting
C) It lasts between 4 to 72 hours.
Other symptoms may include:
Osmophobia (sensitivity to smell)
Aura (visual disturbance)
A feeling of being very unwell
Problems in concentrating, confusion
Difficulty with co-ordination
Speech disturbance
Diarrhoea
Stiffness of neck and shoulders
Tingling, pins, needles or numbness or one-sided limb weakness
Paralysis and loss of consciousness (rare)
Migraines may occur over many years or even decades - some people suffer from them a few times a year, others a few times a month or even several a week!
What Causes Migraines?
The immediate cause of migraine is constriction, then swelling of the arteries which supply the brain, but why the arteries suddenly behave this way is not understood – stress, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and certain foods (such as aged cheese, chocolate, tomatos, MSG and other food additives) are often triggers.
Each person’s migraine presents somewhat differently – here at The Hormone Clinic after a consultation, an appropriate homeopathic remedy is selected based upon your particular symptoms. Any dietary and lifestyle factors are also addressed.
To illustrate this, Vicki consulted us about her migraines which where characterised as being very pulsating and throbbing in nature, she was given a homeopathic remedy Belladonna. While Megan had migraines that had severe visual disturbance before the onset of her migraine, so she was given homeopathic Cyclamen. Both had significant reduction in and resolution of their migraines, but they needed the homeopathic remedy that matched with their particular symptoms at the dosage that suited them.
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