Dublin based
Acupuncture & Shiatsu
Specialist

Headaches + Migraine Advice

Headaches + Migraine Advice

October 23rd, 2013 | Posted in 2 Pain, Injuries, Sports, 3 Various Specific Problems

 

‘Common’ Type headaches which can benefit from acupuncture include—

  • Tension headache
  • Chronic Daily Headache, (Analgesic Rebound) which fluctuates throughout the day.  It can be the result of over-use of pain-killers—a vicious cycle of taking pain-killers to get rid of a headache that is itself caused by taking medication.  Withdrawal may result in worsening headaches, nausea and anxiety for 1-2 weeks, but is the only ‘conventional’ cure.   
  • MOH. Medication Overuse Headache   in the British Press Sept 19th 2012  Medication Overuse Headache received a considerable amount of coverage in the media due to guidelines published by the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) stating that painkillers can actually make headaches worse. Chronic migraineurs are particularly susceptible to MOH or Analgesic Rebound Headache and the guidelines highlight the vicious cycle that can occur when pain relieving medication actually causes further pain. The MAI issued a press release in response to highlight the prevalence of MOH amongst patients presenting at the Migraine/Headache clinics in Ireland.
  • Migraine Headaches

 ‘Secondary’ headaches may be due to more serious problems such as infections or malignancies.

Migraine Headache  is the most common neurological (related to the brain) condition in the world affecting 1 in 10 people. It is 3 times more common in women and is usually inherited. It is very individual in its frequency and symptoms. Attacks can last from 4 to 72 hours.     Cause   The exact cause is still unknown but it is accepted that it is a neurological condition affecting how the brain processes normal information such as pain, light and sound. There can be alteration in blood flow and levels of serotonin in the brain. Genetic factors can act to lower the ‘migraine threshold’.   Long Term Care: seek professional help from: –   

  • (a) your doctor 
  • (b) Acupuncture  Acupuncture treatment has been long recognised as very successful in the prevention, or at the least a reduction, of the intensity of migraine pain and an increase in the period of time between migraine attacks.

Migraine in Detail:-  

1. Migraine without Aura—the most common type.  The most common symptoms are:—

  • intense throbbing headache, usually on one side of the head
  • nausea, sometimes vomiting
  • sensitivity—to light, noise, smells.
  • stiffness of the neck and shoulders
  • blurred vision

2.Migraine with Aura—About 1 in 4 migraine sufferers experience ‘aura’— S

  • neurological disturbances, usually visual,— which occur before the headache begins and usually lasts about 20-60 minutes. 
  • blind spots
  • flashing lights or zig-zag patterns.
  • pins and needles on one side usually starting in the fingers or arm, sometime spreading to the face.
  • slurring of speech
  • muscular weakness
  • loss of co-ordination
  • confusion.

3. Other rare types include, aura without headache; basilar; hemiplegic; childhood.

Triggers

  • menstruation
  • stress at work
  • late night
  • missed meal
  • HBP
  •  Atmosphere and temperature

Phases of a Migraine Attack: (not necessarily applicable to each individual).

  1. build up of trigger factors.
  2. early symptoms:—tiredness, yawning, mood changes, food  cravings, fluid retention, hyperactivity.
  3. aura phase—visual distortions, hearing or speech problems, disorientation.
  4. headache phase, accompanied by sensitivity to light, noise and smells.
  5. resolution phase, easing of the headache.
  6. post headache phase—similar to pre headache cms.

It may take hours or even days to fully recover.

During an attack

  • retreat to a quiet, dark room.
  • sleep
  • use a cold or hot pack
  • apply pressure to the temple

Prevention

  • avoid your trigger factors—you need to learn your own individual triggers daily routine, hormonal changes, sleep related, stress/anxiety, certain  foods and drinks, lack of food/dieting, glare, smells, weather, etc.
  • Avoid:
  • alcohol-especially red wine;
  • chocolate; coffee
  • dairy food-especially cheese,
  • all refined sugar,
  • citrus fruit-orange juice;
  • spices;
  • animal food,
  • Watch your lifestyle, do more relaxation therapies, meditation, deep breathing.  get enough good sleep; eat a well-balanced diet;  manage your time and take proper breaks at work.
  • ## Take ‘feverfew’ or ‘Oil of Evening Primrose’ drops to help