|
From the desk of Richard
Penfounde, your Naturally Healthy Lifestyle specialist. THE toughest headache of them all -the
migraine - affects up to
25% of adults in the West. Some suffer attacks weekly, and some only
three or four times in their lives. But those who've suffered even
one speak about it as the "headache you can never forget". More women than men suffer, because of hormone-related migraines,
and those taking the Pill have a higher than average susceptibility. Some
migraines are preceded by visual flashing lights, and bands of
white or coloured light at the edge of the visual field.
Irritability, confusion and high sensitivity to any noise sets in.
Once there, the intense aching and pounding is usually only on one
side of the head. What is actually happening is that the arteries in the head are
going through an excessive contraction, reducing oxygen supply. This
can be set off by any of the following.
Food allergy; blood sugar movements; fluid retention; a history of
constipation; lower back problems; sub-clinical nutritional levels;
hypothyroidism; under active liver; high
stress levels: hormonal
changes; neck problems. The most commonly quoted "trigger" foods are: Processed cheese;
chocolate; red wine; coffee; too much salt; port; MSG (monosodium
glutamate); processed meats; wheat; gluten; fried foods; processed
oils; citrus fruit: bread; refined cereals
Individual sufferers need to test for their own "triggers" as these
may differ from this list. Attention to the following points on diet can help both halt the
onset of a migraine, and prevent the next one occurring (if you are
able to predict it): Keep to regular meal times; consume complex
carbohydrates, particularly raw vegetables and their fresh juices,
between meals to help keep blood sugar levels optimal; drink herbal
diuretic teas such as Dandelion, Alfalfa, Rosehip, without sugar or
milk. Other preventive measures to explore are: Tai Chi; yoga;
Transcendental Meditation; bouncing (to clean lymph); frequent
walking (to increase oxygen supply); body stress management (to
clear muscle spasms and knots); acupuncture (to balance liver and
gallbladder energy). Some herbs can be helpful - ask a good herbalist. Feverfew is the
favourite herb for migraine, and peppermint tea settles the stomach.
An aromatherapist and reflexologist can also help. You can also rub
a couple of drops of lavender oil onto your temples 2-3 times daily. Since migraine attacks can be mental as well as physiological, look
in to using Bach Flowers.
Finally, nutrition supplements worth taking in anticipation of,
during, and just after an attack are: Goldenseal (to control
tyramine - a "trigger" chemical in the blood); B Complex (with
Niacin) (to open up artery blood flow); Chromium Picolinate (to
stabilise blood sugar levels); OLA capsules, Dong Quai / Chasteberry
(for hormonal balancing);
Magnesium Citrate,
calcium citrate (for
calming nerves); Acidophilus capsules.
Bifido capsules (for colon
cleansing); Bioflavanoids, calcium ascorbate powder (for controlling
inflammation).
Doses will differ from one individual to another so take
professional advice before self-medicating.
|
