Take the pain out of migraine
If there’s one thing guaranteed to rile my friend Hilary, it’s people referring to migraine as ‘just a headache’. A sufferer since her teens, Hilary, now 44, is painfully aware that it’s a complex condition with a number of debilitating symptoms – from a crippling one-sided headache and exhaustion to extreme nausea and sensitivity to light.
No single remedy is a guaranteed cure-all for the condition, which tends to run in families. As neurologist and leading expert Professor Peter Goadsby of the University of California points out, ‘Up to a third of adult women suffer from migraines and the same treatment won’t work for everyone, just as the same pair of shoes doesn’t fit everyone.’ As a first resort, he recommends ibuprofen for its pain-relief properties. Also, many migraine sufferers experience good results with drugs called triptans (including Imigran and Maxalt), which your GP can advise you about.
Although Imigran reduced Hilary’s head pain, it gave her uncomfortable side effects: ‘An odd spaceyness and a sensitivity to heat.’ After trialling non-pharmaceutical treatments and lifestyle changes, she’s found that a combination of the following reduces the frequency and intensity of her attacks.
Keep life on an even keel
Professor Goadsby’s key advice to migraine sufferers is to ‘even out the highs and lows in your life’. He highlights regular sleep, regular exercise, regular meals, and even ‘not too much stress, but not too little either’, as relaxation can be a trigger for some, leading to ‘weekend’ or ‘holiday’ migraines. ‘And give yourself time off.’ He believes the chief benefit of therapies such as massage, which some sufferers swear by, is that they’re relaxing.
Catch an emWave
Hilary’s attacks come mostly at the end of a pressurised week. ‘Too much stress often seems to provoke a “jagged” feeling, almost like static, in my head, which can presage a full-on migraine.’ She finds the portable emWave Personal Stress Reliever, ?140, which guides you into synchronising heart rate and breathing, a useful daily tool. ‘It helps me consciously reject anxious thoughts and stay calm.’
Relax tense muscles
Breathing ‘consciously’ and doing regular shoulder-rolls can help release tension; Hilary also takes an easily absorbed magnesium chloride and trace minerals supplement daily to relax muscles. Concentrated Mineral Drops by Mineral Resources International, ?12.95 for 57ml.
Beat sinus ache with a sniff of pepper
Hilary never goes anywhere without Sinol M – a nasal spray with capsaicin (a constituent of cayenne pepper) which appears to desensitise the nerves in the head
and reduce pain. ‘If I get that initial ache round my eye, I use this natural remedy straight away before taking ibuprofen and the symptoms often disappear in
20 minutes or so,’ she says. Sinol M, ?15.32 for 15ml.
Take note of food cravings
According to Prof Goadsby, there is no consistent evidence that food and drink are migraine triggers, except for foods containing nitrates (such as hotdogs and some cured meats) and alcohol. However, sufferers do sometimes crave specific foods, such as chocolate, in the initial stages of a migraine (before the actual head pain strikes), so they erroneously assume these are triggers. Such cravings can act as a useful warning. ‘As well as experiencing irritability, neckache and – oddly – frequent yawning, I find I crave sweet foods before I get a headache,’ says Hilary. ‘I then take measures to prevent a full-on attack, such as ibuprofen or some extra Concentrated Mineral Drops in a glass of water.’
Treat bad pain with good pain
Hilary swears by the pleasurable pain of the Shakti Mat (a yoga mat with around 6,000 tiny prickles on it – like a modern ‘bed of nails’ – which stimulates acupuncture points, to promote blood flow and release endorphins). ‘I lie on my back on my Shakti for 15 minutes before bed every evening – at first, it’s a little uncomfortable, but soon a lovely warm feeling and “buzz” kicks in. I then place the right side of my face, where the migraines come, on the mat for five minutes and the little spikes feel like they’re dispelling tension in my face, temple and scalp too.’ Shakti Original, ?50.
By Sarah Stacey