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The Complete Guide to Migraine Headaches
PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND REMEDIES
By Alice Peart
Copyright 2006 All rights reserved
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The Complete Guide to Migraine Headaches by Alice Peart
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Disclaimer
The advice contained in this material might not be suitable for everyone. The
author provides the information only as a broad overview by a lay person about
an important subject.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical
advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or
other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition or anything which might affect your body or well-being in any
way.
The author obtained the information from sources believed to be reliable and
from her own personal experience, but he neither implies nor intends any
guarantee of accuracy.
Research is changing theories and practices in this area constantly and each
person needs to consult their own medical practitioner who knows their particular
details.
The author, publisher and distributors never give legal, accounting, medical or
any other type of professional advice. The reader must always seek those
Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart
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The Complete Guide to Migraine Headaches by Alice Peart
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services from competent professionals that can review their own particular
circumstances.
The author, publisher and distributors particularly disclaim any liability, loss, or risk taken by individuals who directly or indirectly act on the information
contained herein.
All readers must accept full responsibility for their use of this material.
Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart
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Table of Contents
5. Signs and Symptoms of Typical Migraine headaches..................................... 18
7. What is the Real Cause of Migraine Headaches? ............................................ 25
Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart
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11. Recent Research on Migraine Headaches ...................................................... 34
15. Natural Remedies to Prevent or Ease Migraine Headaches.......................... 46
16. Treating Migraine Headaches with Acupressure ........................................... 47
17. Treating Migraine Headaches with Massage Therapy ................................... 49
18. Treating Migraine Headaches with Detoxification.......................................... 50
Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart
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20. Treating Migraine Headaches with Acupuncture ........................................... 52
21. Treating Migraine Headaches with Biofeedback ............................................ 53
22. Treating Migraine Headaches with Exercise .................................................. 54
23. Treating Migraine Headaches with Vitamins and Supplements ................... 55
24. Treating Migraine Headaches with Traditional Chinese Medicine................ 57
25. Treating Migraine Headaches with Homeopathy ........................................... 58
26. Treating Migraine Headaches with Craniosacral Therapy............................. 60
27. Treating Migraine Headaches with Cognitive Therapy .................................. 61
28. Treating Migraine Headaches with Energy Healing ....................................... 62
29. Treating Migraine Headaches with Ayurveda................................................. 63
30. Treating Migraine Headaches with Environment and Lifestyle Changes .... 64
31. Treating Migraine Headaches During Pregnancy .......................................... 65
32. Herbs for Aromatherapy to Treat Migraine Headaches ................................. 66
33. Herbs for Cleansing Teas to Treat Migraine Headaches ............................... 67
35. Avoiding Foods that Trigger Migraine Headaches ........................................ 69
36. Treating Migraine Headaches with Relaxation Techniques .......................... 70
38. Can You Use Feverfew for Migraine Relief? ................................................... 72
39. Treatment Options for Migraine Headaches................................................... 73
Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart
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42. Myths and Misinformation about Migraine Headaches ................................. 82
43. Common Mistakes in Treating Migraine Headaches...................................... 83
45. How Do I Choose a Doctor for Headache Care? ............................................ 86
Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart
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Part-I: Introduction
1. Migraine headaches - An Overview
Migraine headaches are severe headaches which can happen suddenly. They
have distinct symptoms, such as tingling in the leg (or arm) or blind spots or
flashes of light across your eyes.
You then become very sensitive to light, which is called Photophobia, and sound,
which is called Phonophobia. You also feel nauseated or actually vomit.
Migraine headaches may prevail for few hours or few days. The pain is intense.
Migraine headaches are a common ailment among more than 28 million
Americans. Another interesting statistic is more women suffer from migraines
than men do. 8% of men and 25% of women suffer from a migraine at some or
other time of their lives.
A migraine is a vascular headache as it is due to compression of arteries and
their effects on veins. You may feel pain either on one side of the head or all
over your head.
‘Migraine’ comes from the Greek word, hemikranion, which means pain affecting
one side of the head.
What Causes a Migraine?
There is no single cause for a migraine. Contributing factors could include:
intake of alcohol
certain specific food items
the menstrual cycle in women
weather changes
bright light, and
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some genetic factors.
A migraine could lead to certain psychological problems, strokes and depression.
This is because of the narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain and head which
lowers the flow of blood to the brain and results in intense headaches and pain.
Time for a Migraine
Migraine headaches commonly occur between the ages of ten and forty-six.
Inherited genetic factors causing a migraine are due to skeletal imbalances.
Normally, your doctor conducts a detailed investigation into your family history
to analyze possible causes of your migraine.
Those suffering from sinus problems also suffer from severe headaches, albeit
different from a migraine. A thorough examination by a neurologist with an MRI
and a CT scan can clear all doubts of your headache being due to sinus, brain
tumor, or seizures.
Combating a Migraine
The main aim of any migraine treatment is to lessen and eliminate the pain. This
should also reduce the vomiting and nausea symptoms. Doctors recommend an
array of treatment methods and intake of various NSAIDs like Tylenol, Advil, or
Excedrin or other drugs like Topamax, Imitrex and some others.
However, none of these drugs can provide long-term relief from migraine
headaches.
A migraine is a neurological disease. There are many new medications available.
Although they may not offer a total relief, they can reduce the frequency of
occurrence of a migraine. Again, they can stop the pain sooner after your
migraine headache starts.
The Mechanism Behind A Migraine
Migraine headaches come from excessive pressure on the temporalis muscle and
trigeminal nerve. These are the primary centers for the cause of your migraine
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headache. It results due to excessive and abnormal muscular activity leading to
a change in the blood flow and electrochemistry within your head. Normally, you
associate headaches or an attack of a migraine to a very stressful day.
Normal headaches find relief in simple medications. However, migraine sufferers
do not find any relief from such medications.
Various dental problems are often the cause for your migraine. Crooked teeth
and disjoined jaws lead to excessive clenching and grinding. Abnormal
functioning of these muscles triggers abnormal blood flow. Lack of sufficient
blood supply causes headaches which persist.
Such intense contraction of muscles leads to chronic headaches. The pain is more
intense due to overuse and overexertion of muscles. Eventually, it can lead to
joint damage. Then, your muscles try to increase activity to make up for the
damage, leading to more pain.
This vicious cycle continues and you suffer from a migraine.