Homeopathic Relief For Migraine
Migraines are caused by dilation of blood vessels around the arteries of the brain that release chemicals causing inflammation and pain. Migraine attacks commonly stimulate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system controls responses to stress and pain, the “fight or flight” response, and causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. These headaches are usually described as an intense, throbbing or pounding pain that involves one side of the head. The heightened stimulation of these nerves also contributes to light sensitivity (photophobia), sound sensitivity and blurred vision.
Migraine Triggers
Sleep disturbances – such as waking up frequently or too much sleep or too little.
Skipping meals – may give rise to migraine headaches by causing the release of stress-related hormones and lowering blood sugar.
Bright lights – can cause headaches in healthy individuals as well as patients with migraine headaches. A new study at Harvard, states that even blind people who had migraines experienced an aggravation of their pain from being exposed to light. (BBC News 2010)
Caffeine – is contained in many food products such as cola, tea, chocolates, coffee and certain drugs. Caffeine in high doses can cause insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and headaches.
Tyramine, MSG, nitrites – chocolate and red wine contain these chemical as well as cheese, wine, beer, ham, bacon and sausages and can precipitate migraine headaches. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been reported to cause headaches, facial flushing, sweating, and palpitations when consumed in high doses on an empty stomach. This is commonly found in Chinese food.
Decreasing levels of oestrogen – at the onset of a period is likely to be the cause of menstrual migraines. This may also be the cause of migraines that develop among those taking birth control pills. Migraines occur more in women than in men.
Temperature – increases the risk of migraine in a study reported by BBC News 2009 by as much as 7.5% for every five degrees Celsius.
Homeopathic Medicine
For most patients it is a combination of these factors that bring about their migraine. There are also metaphysical factors such as stress and emotional upheavals that may play a part. During a migraine the digestion process is suppressed due to increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This means that allopathic drugs or food eaten during this time takes longer to pass from the stomach into the intestines for absorption. Taking homeopathic medicines involves placing the pill or tablet under the tongue to dissolve and so they are absorbed directly into the blood capillaries present there.
This means that homeopathic medicines can be more effective during such an episode (symptomatic relief) and in more long term treatment of migraine.
Usually patients report having warning symptoms before an attack like tiredness, yawning, visual disturbances and craving for salty or sweet foods.
Listed below are some homeopathic medicines used in treating migraines:
Bryonia alba – is made from wild hops and is prescribed for the migraine sufferer who is irritable and wants to be left alone. Worries about the future. Headaches are worse for any motion, stooping and heat. Pain over left eye. Headache if the period fails to appear.
Belladonna atropa – throbbing headache made worse by heat and noise. Photophobia. Flushed face.
Nux vomica – headache aggravated by alcohol, sunlight, coffee, disturbed sleep, noise and odours. Very irritable and impatient. Nausea and vomiting. Craves spicy and fatty foods.
By Vaish Sathasivam L.C.H. (UK)