Migraines

Migraine is a common, painful and distressing complaint that can destroy a person’s quality of life.

Migraine is a severe headache that usually lasts between 4-72 hours. Sufferers often experience nausea and vomiting. Often there is a painful sensation of throbbing that is worse on movement, combined with great sensitivity to light and sound – people with migraines are often bed ridden.

In some people migraines are associated with auras, which occur before the migraine and act as a warning that one is coming - this can be visual disturbances with flashing lights, colours and changes in perception.

Studies have shown the incidence of migraine to be around 3 million people worldwide. More women suffer from migraines and that is thought to be due to hormonal factors. Onset of migraine can be from childhood onwards, but most often sets in the 20’s and 30’s and relatively less often in the 40’s and then onset declines.

The International Headache Society classifies a headache as a migraine when:

A) The pain can be classified by at least two of the following:

Moderate to severe
One sided
Aggravated by movement

B) There is at least one of the following associated symptoms:

Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Phonophobia (sensitivity to noise)
Nausea
Vomiting

C) The headache lasts between 4 to 72 hours.

Other symptoms may include:

Osmophobia (sensitivity to smell)
Aura (visual disturbance such as flashing lights, zig zags, difficulty in focusing or blind spots)
A feeling of being very unwell
Problems in concentrating, confusion
Difficulty with co-ordination
Speech disturbance
Diarrhoea
Stiffness of neck and shoulders
Tingling, pins, needles or numbness or one-sided limb weakness
Paralysis and loss of consciousness (rare)

Migraines may occur over many years or even decades - some people Suffering from them a few times a year, others a few times a week.

The immediate cause of migraine is constriction, then swelling of the arteries which supply the brain, but why the arteries suddenly behave this way is not understood – stress, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and certain foods are often seen a s triggers for this painful and debilitating complaint.

Each person’s migraine presents somewhat differently – Here at The Hormone Clinic after a through consultation a Homeopathic remedy is selected as for each specific case based upon your symptoms and triggers. Your symptoms are studied in detail and the appropriate remedy selected and any dietary and lifestyle factors addressed.

In a brief snapshot here are some of the remedies we use at The Hormone Clinic for migraines. Remember if you are in New Zealand, UK, USA or Canada we can arrange to have the remedy posted to you locally – if you are consulting us online.

Belladonna – for migraine which is largely characterised by its pulsating or throbbing nature.

Cyclamen – for some migraines that start with visual aura or disturbances

Epiphegus – often used for migraine triggered by mental or physical exertion

Iris Versicolor – frequently very useful for migraine with nausea, vomiting of bile, blurring of vision before migraine, tight feeling in scalp, often right sided, less painful if the person moves around.

Glonoinum – for migraines that are very congestive.

Kali Phos – for migraine triggered due to stress.

Lycopodium – for migraines where temples feel as though they are being screwed into each other, trying to concentrate makes the pain a lot worse and dizziness.

Natrum Carb – often for migraines brought on by sun exposure.

Natrum Muriaticum – for migraine attacks during menstruation or where migraine is very throbbing in nature, warmth and moving around make pain worse, head feels congested, attack preceded by numbness, tinging in the lips, nose and tongue.

Nux Vomica – often used for migraine with digestive troubles.

Pulsatilla – migraine worse in the evening, during menstruation, head feels as if it will burst, person cries easily.

Sanguinaria – for some migraine cases of the right side, worse in the morning, bursting pain and seems to start back of the head with pain extending to right shoulder.

Sepia –often used for migraine in women around menopause.

Silica – pain starts at the back of the head, then shifts and settles over one eye, made worse by cold, bit better by wrapping head warm and tight, person prone to head sweats.

Spigelia – well indicated for some cases of left-sided migraine. Sharp, darting severe pain over left eye, pain seems to pulse with every heartbeat. Bending or moving suddenly markedly makes the pain worse.

Thuja – left sided migraine where it feels as though head is being pierced with a nail.

For chronic complaints such as migraine - the remedy needs to be selected and dosage managed by a Professional Homeopath.