A Migraine is a throbbing, intense headache which afflicts 26 million people in our country. In this article we will discuss the typical features of Migraine headaches, causes, and treatments.
Features of Migraine Headache:
In the first stage of the Migraine, before the pain starts, there is vaso-constriction of the blood vessels and reduced blood flow to the eyes and brain. Symptoms during this phase may suggest you are having a stroke with visual disturbances such as zig zag lines or flashing lights, and nausea and vomiting. The second stage of Migraine is associated with dilatation of the blood vessels and severe pain which may last for many hours.
Causes of Migraines: Food Allergies
While the causative mechanism of Migraines are not fully understood, the medical literature has clearly documented that Migraines are triggered by food allergies. In 1930, Dr. Balyeat reported 90% of patients improved with removal of the offending foods from the diet.
In the food allergy scenario, the immune system is activated by an offending food, which then attacks the blood vessel walls causing the pain. Gluten sensitivity has also been implicated in Migraines, as well as causative for other more serious neurological disorders. Gluten is a substance found in wheat and bread. Elimination of gluten will lead to improvement for many Migraine sufferers.
There are two ways to identify the offending food allergies. The first method is the process of elimination. Remove the suspected food and observe improvement. Follow this by re-introducing the offending food and observe worsening of symptoms. However, this method may be tedious and time consuming for testing a large number of foods. Another more rapid method is to use food allergy blood testing. Several blood tests are available which measure antibodies to individual food extracts. Immunolabs in Fort Lauderdale, for example, offers a blood test in which they check for antibody reactivity to a large list of food substances. Their web site is http://www.immunolabs.com/ and their phone number is:
800-231-9197.
Causes: Fluctuating Hormone Levels
If the Migraine headaches tend to recur 4 to 5 days before the end of the menstrual cycle, this is called a Pre-Menstrual Migraine and is caused by rapidly dropping estrogen levels. Dr. Uzi Reiss, in his book, "Natural Hormone Balance for Women ", advocates treating Pre-Menstrual Migraines with sublingual bio-identical estrogen drops and natural progesterone which stabilizes hormone levels. Dr. Broda Barnes points out that frequent Migraines can also be associated with low thyroid function. Even low blood sugar can be a causative factor.
Current Drug Treatment for Migraines:
Mild over-the-counter pain pills combined with a cup of coffee may all that is needed to abort a Migraine attack. If this is ineffective, stronger prescription medication is available in two major categories: the older ergot derivatives (Ergotamine, Migranal) and the newer triptans such as Imitrex, Relpax and Zomig. These medications are designed to abort a Migraine attack at its onset. As usual, they do have dangerous interactions with other drugs as well as adverse side effects. For example, the triptans cause vasoconstriction which can cause heart problems.
Pain Medications may actually Cause the Headache:
Paradoxically, the same pain medication taken for the Migraine headache can itself be the cause of frequent repeated headaches. This condition is known as Medication Overuse Headache (MOH). According to the International Headache Society, this may be your problem if your headache occurs daily, and you have been taking pain pills or Migraine headache medications for more than 10 days per month. Spontaneous improvement of the headache occurs a few days after discontinuation of medication. (This is best done under a physicians supervision).
Natural Treatment with Feverfew:
Feverfew is an ornamental flower and herb which was first described as a headache remedy two thousand years ago by the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides. Feverfew is useful for decreasing the severity and incidence of Migraines. However, it is not effective treatment once an attack has started.
In a study published in Phytotherapy Research in 1997, Dr. Palevitch found that Feverfew gave a profound reduction in the severity of symptoms of Migraine attacks, such as vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to noise and light.
Look for a Feverfew supplement which contains feverfew leaves and 0.2% or higher parthenolide. The usual dosage of Herbal Feverfew in capsules or tablets is 250 to 600 mcg. of parthenolide per day It may take four to six weeks before benefits are noticed. Feverfew may cause minimal side effects such as gastrointestinal upset and nervousness. No drug interactions have been noted.
Natural Treatment with Magnesium and Riboflavin:
Dr. Peikert reported in the June 1996 issue of Cephalalgia that oral magnesium supplements (600mg/day) reduced migraine attacks by 40%. Dr. Demirkaya reported on the efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute Migraine attacks in the Feb 2001 issue of Headache in which he effectively ended Migraine attacks in 14 of 15 patients with this natural and safe mineral. In a controlled study published in 1998 in Neurology, Migraine patients who took 400 mg daily of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) reported 40 % fewer Migraines.
Dr. Dach Office Address: 4700 Sheridan, Suite T, Hollywood, Fl 33021
954-983-1443