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MIGRAINE
HEADACHES
The
term migraine refers to a class of headaches sharing certain
characteristic symptoms. Migraine pain may be preceded or
accompanied by visual changes or other symptoms, such as severe
sensitivity to light or sound, heart palpitations, faintness,
nausea, or vomiting.
In
migraines, headache pain usually occurs in the forehead or
temples, often on one side only and typically accompanied by
nausea and a preference for a darkened room. Headache attacks
last for several hours up to a day or more. They are usually
separated by completely pain-free intervals. Headaches often
begin in late morning or afternoon, and may be worst around
three p.m. The face may be flushed and red, and the skin feels
hot, although the feet and hands are often cold. The pupils may
be dilated, with sensitivity to light, and the person may either
feel delirious or drowsy. In some cases, headache pain is
accompanied by a visual (or occasionally nonvisual) disturbance
known as an aura. Migraines are classified as migraine with aura
and migraine without aura.
Physical triggers of migraines include over-exertion, fatigue and alignment
problems, while psychological ones are stress, worry, shock and
anxiety. Some dietary triggers can include consumption of
certain foods, alcohol, or missing meals. Medical reasons may
consist of blood pressure and dental problems. The hormonal
reasons can include menstruation, menopause or the contraceptive
pill, and finally the environmental ones can be changes in
weather and barometric pressure.
Just as no two fingerprints are alike, no two migraine headaches
are felt or expressed the same way. One patient suffering from
migraines may have visual disturbances and nausea, while another
may experience numbness. Some headaches are “stabbing” while
others are “throbbing”. Some start on the occiput and travel
upwards, settling over the right eye, while others start around
the sinuses then shoot down one shoulder. In order to help you,
a homeopath needs to know how you are different; the triggering
cause, the location and quality of your pain, the direction it
travels in, the sensations felt, symptoms that accompany your
migraine, what makes the headache better or worse, your moods,
appetite and sleep patterns, and many more details about who you
are.
The obvious cause of migraine headaches is constriction then
swelling of the arteries supplying the brain, but why the
arteries behave this way is a bit of a mystery. It is thought
that a chemical substance is released into the bloodstream,
which may affect them. Homeopaths believe that all causes of
illness stem from a central disturbance in the person’s energy
field, or vital force. This disturbance manifests in various
illnesses and conditions, according to each individual’s
inherent physical and psychological weaknesses. Thus the
“target organ” expresses the disease when we are under
stress. Some new science suggests that anti-oxidant supplements
can help by reducing the blood vessel constriction and swelling.
“KICK-START” THE HEALING PROCESS
In homeopathic medicine, healing of migraines is constitutional,
as is the healing of any other chronic ailment. This means that
your homeopath will find one remedy that is exclusive to you and
your unique expression of your headaches. Aside from the myriad
of questions regarding the specifics of the migraines, you will
be asked questions that seem irrelevant to the condition;
questions such as your favorite position to sleep in, your fears
and phobias, how you express anger, or whether you like
consolation when you’re upset. There is a method to the
madness. By combining all your unique symptoms, feelings,
phobias, circumstances and behaviors, your homeopath will come
up with the one substance, one homeopathic remedy, that can help
cure your migraine headache.
Actually, it is not the homeopathic remedy that provides the cure.
The correct remedy simply acts as the catalyst to kick-start
your body’s own healing powers. Then the body takes care of
the rest. Symptoms of a given disease are not the disease, but
rather manifestations of the body's attempt to heal itself and
restore its balance. It’s the body’s cry for help. However
due to stresses in life (self-inflicted or otherwise) the body
is often unable to heal itself and requires a gentle push, from
time to time, to overcome the obstacles in its way. Homeopathic
remedies provide this gentle push.
Incidentally, the remedy that will ultimately cure your migraine,
will also positively impact your emotional well-being. This
often motivates people to relinquish destructive and
self-sabotaging patterns and start creating a more fulfilling
life. One patient, who initially came to me seeking help with
her severe PMS symptoms, was pleasantly surprised when her
overall physical and emotional health also improved. Her
menstrual problems disappeared along with her migraine
headaches, her sex drive improved and she described herself as
being a “happier person”.
For a permanent solution to your migraine headaches, a
constitutional assessment and prescribing is required. If
you’re ready and willing to let go of your
pain, homeopathy can help you make this transition.
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