Migraine Stages

Migraines develop in four stages. Patients with migraines with aura, also known
as classic migraines, are most likely to experience all four stages. Patients
who have common migraines, migraines without aura, will have the same stages,
but are not consciously aware of them. The interval between migraines is
sometimes referred to as the fifth stage of a migraine.

Stage One -- Prodrome

The prodromal phase usually begins one or two days prior to the actual migraine
headache. Many migraineurs call this the "premonition" phase. Feelings during
this phase are all over the map. Each migraineur has their own personal
prodrome profile. Some are giddy, happy, and full of energy, far more so than
usual. Others feel a headache start with fatigue, weakness, and irritability.
Anything can herald a migraine and each person has to learn their own prodrome
signs if they want to learn to stave off the migraine.

Stage Two -- Aura

This phase is skipped by most migraineurs, since most migraineurs suffer from
common migraine, migraine without aura. For those who experience classic
migraine with aura, auras can begin anywhere from five minutes to an hour
before the headache begins. Auras are visual effects migraineurs experience.
Objects appear to have bright auras or haloes around them. Lightning flashes
arc over the field of vision until sight is whited out just before the pain
begins.

Stage Three -- Headache

This phase lasts anywhere from four to seventy-two hours. Most common is a
one-sided headache with a throbbing or pulsing characteristic. The headache is
frequently accompanied by stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to
light, sound, smell, or some combination of the three.

Stage Four -- Postdrome

Coming away from a migraine can be as unpleasant as building up to one.
Postdrome is often characterized by tenderness of the head, neck, and stomach.
Weakness and fatigue are also common in this phase.

Migraine Prodromes

A migraine prodrome is a premonition or advance warning that a migraine is
coming on. Prodromes can occur anywhere from a few minutes before the onset of
a headache to days prior. While no one knows the specific cause of migraine
prodromes, the prevailing theory is that they are part of neurochemical change
in the brain that occurs before an attack. Approximately 60% of all migraineurs
(people who have chronic migraines) experience some type of prodrome.

Migraine Auras

Migraine auras are a specific type of visual prodrome in which people see
things that are not there, like flashes of light or haloes around object. This
type of prodrome is rare and experienced by less than 25% of all migraineurs.

Emotional Changes

Many migraine sufferers describe mood alterations preceding an attack. Some
people are euphoric, others fall into a profound despondence, and still others
experience uncharacteristic irritability or impatience.

Metabolic Changes

Some migraineurs describe their prodrome experience as an enormous spike in
energy levels during the day preceding the headache itself. Others say that
they know a migraine is coming because they get fatigued or listless or find
themselves constantly yawning prior to onset.

Appetite Changes

Some migraine sufferers lose their appetite before a headache. Some sufferers
find themselves ravenous the day or night before an attack. Still others have
noticed that specific cravings tend to precede their migraine.

Sleep Changes

Insomnia is a frequent prodrome symptom for many migraineurs, as is difficulty
falling asleep. Others experience lassitude and difficulty waking prior to a
migraine.

Migraines are often difficult to diagnose and treat because no two migraine
patients experience the same prodromes, if they experience one at all. Many
migraineurs experience all of the prodrome symptoms at different times before a
single headache, or different ones prior to different attacks.

Migraine Myths

There are a number of commonly held beliefs about migraines that make it hard
for sufferers to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

1) Migraines are not real (all in the head, an overreaction to a normal
headache, etc.).

Not true. Migraines are a biologic primary headache disorder. Even migraine
pain is not confined to the head, though that is generally where it is worst.

2) Migraines have a known cause.

Sadly, no. There have been several interesting theories put forward in the last
decade, but no single, definitive biological cause of migraines has been
identified thus far.

3) All migraineurs have the same symptoms.

No, they don't. This is one of the things that makes migraines so hard to
diagnose, particularly if a patient's doctor is only familiar with the most
common symptoms.

4) A doctor can tell if it's a migraine or not.

Not always. The wide spectrum of symptoms that can accompany migraine can make
it difficult to diagnose, more so if the patient is not forthcoming with their
doctor about all their symptoms.

5) Migraines are curable.

Again, no. Once properly diagosed many migraineurs still have to devote a lot
of time and energy to managing their condition through medications, natural and
homeopathic remedies, and diet and lifestyle changes. The various available
coping methods work differently for each individual, so there is not even a
single protocol of care.

6) Migraines are a woman's headache.

Women migraineurs do outnumber the men 3 to 1, but there is no evidence the
condition is sex-linked in any way.

7) Only adults get migraines.

Migraines have been diagnosed in adolescents, children, and even infants.

8) Every headache a migraineur is a migraine

Not true. Migraine sufferers can have regular sinus, tension, or stress
headaches just like anyone else.

Migraine Criteria

The Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society (IHS)
publishes and revises the "International Classification of Headache Disorders",
now in its second edition. This book offers specific diagnostic criteria for
diagnosing migraines and is currently used worldwide.

According to IHS, a common migraine headache, also known as a migraine without
aura, is defined by the specific criteria found below.

Frequency

The patient must have at least five of these headaches.

Duration

The headache, excluding attendant symptoms or prodromes, must last a minimum of
four hours, up to seventy-two hours. Headaches that last over seventy-two hours
generally require immediate medical attention in order to rule out other, more
dangerous conditions.

Pain Descriptors

In order to be classed as a migraine a headache must include at least two of
four different qualities of pain:

1) The pain is one-sided; the headache is primarily on one side of the head. 

2) The pain is not constant; it throbs, pounds, or pulsates. 

3) The pain must be of moderate or severe intensity, to the point where the 
sufferer is inhibited in daily activity, potentially to the point of being 
temporarily disabled. 

4) The pain is increased, sometimes only slightly, by routine physical activity 
like bending over, climbing stairs, or moving quickly.

Side Effects

Headache pain must be accompanied at least one of four common side effects:

1) Nausea 
2) Vomiting 
3) Photophobia -- sensitivity to light 
4) Phonophobia -- sensitivity to sound

Secondary Exclusions

Appropriate medical testing, such as a MRI or CAT scan, and/or a physician's
exam must be conducted to rule out other conditions that may have caused the
headache.

These criteria have helped simplify the diagnosis of migraine for many.
However, because migraines are historically associated with extremely high
levels of pain, people suffering from moderate migraine may not realize that is
what they are experiencing.

Migraine Auras

A migraine aura is a specific type of prodrome, or premonition, that heralds a
migraine. It is a symptom or series of symptoms that let migraineurs, people
who suffer from chronic migraines, know in advance that a migraine headache is
about to make itself felt.

Aura effects develop over about five minutes and generally occur from twenty
minutes to an hour prior to the start of a headache. They are a symptom of what
used to be called "classic migraine". Recently, medical practitioners have moved
to a more scientifically accurate term, migraine-with-aura. Only about 15-20% of
migraineurs consistently experience any kind of aura before a headache begins.

Aura Effects

Most migraine auras are visual. These auras are called positive visual
phenomena because, rather than their vision fading or going dark, people who
experience them see things. Examples include:

- Auras or Haloes: a nimbus of light or haze surrounding objects, particularly
light sources

- Flashing or Floating Lights: colored or white (rarely dark) spots that appear
to move

- Lightning Bolts: a jagged or zigzag line that sparkles and/or arcs over the
field of vision; with the frequency or severity increasing over time until the
person can no longer see (a whiteout); This effect usually stops with the onset
of headache pain.

- Photophobia: an extreme sensitivity to light; this effect frequently lasts the
duration of the headache

Most auras last less than an hour. Migraineurs who experience auras that last
more than an hour are said to suffer from migraines with prolonged aura. In
some cases a migraineur may experience aura effects without a headache
developing, but it is still considered to be a symptom of chronic migraines. At
various times the same person may experience all three variations, migraine with
aura, migraine with prolonged aura, or typical aura without headache.

Exercise to Ease Migraines

The relationship between exercise and migraines is quixotic. Science says that
exercise, by promoting the regular release of endorphins, the body's natural
pain controllers, should help ease the frequency and severity of migraines.
Many migraineurs claim that their attacks are triggered by physical exertion.
Who is right?

Like many other aspects of migraines, the answer is contradictory because both
groups are correct. Strenuous exercise can cause migraines in people who are
prone to them. Regular exercise can reduce the frequency and severity of
migraine headaches as well as increasing overall health and wellness.

Regular exercise reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like
high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also helps improve sleep patterns
and relieves stress. All of which can subtly affect the likelihood of migraines.

Migraineurs who gave up exercise as a headache trigger should try again. Common
exercise migraine triggers are things like:

* Not eating properly before exercising and causing a dramatic drop in blood
  sugar to occur 
* Not taking in enough fluid and becoming dehydrated while exercising 
* Starting a new eating plan and a new exercise plan at the same time 
* Attempting strenuous exercise without warming up properly

To pinpoint exertion-related migraine triggers, migraineurs should keep an
exercise log. It should include specific information:

* Time of day when exercising 
* Last meal prior to workout 
* Fluid intake 
* Medication details 
* Whether or not a headache occurred during or after the workout

The best type of exercise for migraineurs is regular, moderate aerobic
exercise, at least 30 minutes three times a week. Recommended activities
include:

* Power Walking 
* Jogging 
* Cycling 
* Swimming 
* Dancing

Any new exercise plan needs at least six weeks to discover if it has a
beneficial effect on migraines.

Common Migraine Food Triggers

No one knows for sure what causes migraine headaches. The most likely to answer
to-date is that a serious of small irritations or reactions pile up until,
finally, a migraine headache is triggered. Migraine triggers are different for
each individual, but many migraineurs claim that a particular food or
combination of foods will push them over the edge into a headache.

Keep in mind that most science disagrees with migraineurs when it comes to food
triggers. There are no conclusive studies indicating a link between certain
foods and migraine headaches, so all information is anecdotal. The thing is
there is a lot, tons in fact, of anecdotal evidence for the link.

While a migraine trigger food can be, quite literally, anything, some foods
come up on the trigger list for enough people to merit discussion.

Cheese

Cheese is a major trigger for many migraineurs. Particularly likely to cause an
attack are hard or aged cheeses. Soft cheeses like cream cheese and new cheeses
seem to be fine and unlikely to cause problems.

Processed Meats

Nitrates are believed by many to be a major migraine trigger. For most people,
the most common source of nitrates is processed meat, items like hot dogs,
sausage, bacon, processed lunchmeats, etc.

Condiments

Salad dressings are a trigger for many. The reason is not known, but is
probably tied to a combination of other triggers all coming together in one
place.

Spices and Additives

Any spice can be a trigger. Spices as triggers may be tied, at least partially,
to scent sensitivity, since many spices have a pungent odor. Seasonings that
seem to give migraineurs the most trouble include monosodium glutamate (MSG),
common in Asian foods, artificial sweeteners, food dyes, and vinegar.

Migraineurs who suspect a food trigger should consider trying an elimination
diet to pinpoint the trigger food(s).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Migraines

Some migraineurs are fortunate enough to experience prodromal symptoms that let
them know a migraine is coming. It isn't much, but it allows them to plan for
the down time they know they are about to enter into. A migraineur who has
learned cognitive behavioral therapy can utilize the same prodromal symptoms to
short circuit their migraine headache.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for migraineurs is aimed at recognizing at
consciously manipulating the role that a patient's behaviors play in the
development of their headaches. Together the patient and therapist will
determine how the patient behaves when they feel a headache coming, or when the
pain starts for those who do not experience prodromal symptoms. They then
develop alternative behaviors to try in the same situation in hopes that
changing the behavior will change the migraine.

In cognitive behavioral therapy, the doctor or therapist works with the
migraineur to:

* Identify the problem behavior to be modified. This is often done by having
the patient maintain a headache diary. 

* Establish a treatment goal. This is usually not the total elimination of the 
migraine, but a step along the way, such as learning to relax around potential 
migraine triggers. 

* Create a new behavioral pattern to try to affect change. 

* Monitor the patient's reaction to the new behavior and check for environmental 
factors that may be influencing the behavior.

Common behavioral therapy techniques include:

* Desensitization 
* Positive Thinking 
* Reframing 
* Role-Playing
* Self-Talk

Cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful by itself, but is especially
helpful to patients who are also on preventive drug therapies. A 1989 study
found that clinic-based and minimal-therapist contact behavioral therapy had
roughly equal success rates, both initially and upon follow-up six month later.
Minimal contact therapy is therefore an effective, affordable treatment
alternative for migraineurs.

Finding a Migraine Doctor

You have severe, debilitating headaches that cause you to vomit and huddle in a
dark room for hours waiting for them to go away. Chances are they are migraines.
The only way to know for sure, and start on the path to managing your condition
if they are migraines, is to be properly diagnosed.

The first step should always be your regular doctor. One out of every eight
people suffers from migraines, so chances are good that your doctor has seen
someone who has migraines before. If your regular doctor does not feel
qualified to properly diagnose the source of your headaches or discounts your
pain, it may be time for a specialist.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a headache specialist. If they do not know
anyone, check with your insurance company to see if they have any specialists
listed. If that doesn't work (or even if it does), contact your local medical
board. You can also try one of the major headache organizations for
professionals, not patients, and ask for the name of three or four specialists
in your area.

Check with friends and family. The odds are good you know someone with
migraines and they may just have a doctor they love. Another good place to ask
for a referral is at a local teaching hospital or university.

When you have a few names, call and find out more about the doctor. Some good
screening questions to ask the doctor are:

* How long have you been specializing in headache treatment and how often do
you treat headache patients?

* Are you certified in your specialty (for doctors in the U.S. and Canada)? 

* Do you belong to any headache-oriented professional
organizations? 

* Do you participate in any kind of continuing education program to stay 
apprised of the latest research on headache diagnosis and treatment?

The High Price of Migraines

Migraines are expensive. Recent studies show that the chronic, debilitating
headaches have a high cost not just for the sufferer, but for their family,
and, surprisingly, their employer as well.

Migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches) pay an enormous quality
of life cost. Their wallets suffer as well. Health care costs for families with
a migraine sufferer are, on average, seventy percent higher than those of
families without a migraineur. Migraine sufferers also pay for their pain in
lost income. Sometime this is due to unpaid time away from work. Sadly, at
other times it is because raises and promotions are not made available to them
because they are deemed unreliable due to their condition.

The costs to employers are high, too. In the United States, it is estimated
that migraines cost employers over twenty-four billion dollars each year. Half
of that amount is indirect costs, things like absenteeism, short-term
disability, and worker's compensation. It is estimated that these costs would
be even higher if "presenteeism" were included. Presenteeism is the estimated
cost of lost productivity that employees with migraines experience while on the
job.

Of the estimated twelve point seven billion dollars migraines cost employers
directly each year, the number one expense contributor is outpatient care.
Outpatient care for migraines costs employers an estimated $6.2 billion
annually. It is followed closely by prescription drug costs at $5.2 billion per
year, and the remaining percentage is split between inpatient care and emergency
costs.

This is not just a U.S. problem. In the United Kingdom, an estimated
twenty-five million working or school days are lost annually due to migraines.
Costs of absenteeism and lost productivity have gotten so high that employers
are being asked to encourage migraineur employees to seek treatment as a
cost-saving measure.

Abdominal Migraines

Anyone who has ever had a migraine will say they do not just happen in the
head. The headache is usually the worst and most painful part of a migraine,
but there's more. Most migraineurs (people who suffer from migraines) will talk
about photosensitivity (sensitivity to light), phonosensitivity (sensitivity to
sound), scent sensitivity, gastric pain, cramping, and vomiting.

Sometimes the abdominal symptoms show up without the other typical migraine
symptoms. When they do, a patient is said to be experiencing an abdominal
migraine. An abdominal migraine is pain, usually varying from mild to medium,
in the abdomen. The pain is either along the midline or unspecified and is
frequently accompanied by abdominal tenderness, cramp-like spasms, bloating,
vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Since abdomen pain can be caused by a wide variety of conditions other causes
need to be ruled out before a diagnosis can be made. In a classic abdominal
migraine, no gastric cause for the pain can be identified. Migraineurs need to
let their doctors know about their migraines when they experience unspecified
abdominal pain so that the doctor knows abdominal migraine may be a possibility.

Abdominal migraines are most common in children. Children who experience
abdominal migraines frequently grow up to be migraineurs. While abdominal
migraine is not unheard of in adults, it is rare. Like most other types of
migraine, it is also more common in females than in males.

While the exact cause of abdominal migraines is unknown, it is highly likely to
be related to serotonin deficiency. Serotonin deficiency has been linked in
several studies to migraines, and 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in
the gastric system. Serotonin deficiency causes cascading waves of nerve
reaction in the brain when triggering a migraine and a similar process may be
in effect in the abdomen.

Yoga for Migraines

Stretching, breathing, bending -- none of these activities sound good to a
migraineur in the throes of a headache, but they should.

Yoga is a physical and psychological discipline originating in India. Most
modern yoga practiced in the West is hatha yoga, which is primarily concerned
with asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), and meditation. Yoga
is an excellent way to relieve stress, a common migraine trigger, and tone the
body. Being active in a regular, low impact fitness program helps many
migraineurs reduce the frequency and severity of their headaches. This makes
yoga a good fit for migraineurs who want both less headaches and less pain
medication in their lives.

As with any fitness plan, migraineurs need to consult their doctor before
beginning a yoga regimen. Home fitness videos and books are great resources for
beginners, but should not be the only resources a migraineur uses when starting
yoga. Many poses may actually increase the likelihood of headaches. Migraineurs
who are seriously planning to take up yoga as a complement to their migraine
treatment plan should make an appointment with a skilled yoga instructor to
discuss their condition and what poses are appropriate. If they have a book,
they should bring it to the appointment to review with the instructor.

For migraineurs who are thinking about taking up yoga to help ease their
symptoms, but are not ready to commit to spending money on it there are some
great free resources on the web relating specifically to yoga for migraines.
The ABC-of-Yoga has a great article on migraines with an illustrated list of
poses, and directions on how to achieve them, on their website at
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-and-health/yoga-for-migraine.asp. Yoga Today
has a video archived on their website of a yoga class specifically for
migraineurs available for online viewing or download at
http://www.yogatoday.com/archive/video.php?id=1268.

Using White Noise to Treat Migraine Symptoms

Phonophobia, an extreme sensitivity to noise is one of the most unpleasant side
effects of migraine headaches. Doctors can't help with this sensitivity, but
there is hope. The phonophobia most migraine patients experience is
particularly sensitive to very loud noises or sudden noises. White noise can
help.

What is white noise? If you've seen Pollyanna, you know that white light is
actually composed of light from every color of the spectrum. White noise is a
combination of all audible frequencies. The sounds are spread evenly across the
frequency band so that no one single sound or frequency stands out. When the
frequencies are mixed they cancel each other out and create a deadening effect.

This deadening effect has helped some migraine sufferers by masking other, more
painful sounds during a headache. One of the best natural ways to relieve
migraine pain is to sleep through it. Migraine pain makes it hard to fall
asleep, especially when you add in the photo- and phonosensitive elements. A
white noise machine or recording can help soothe the sensitivity long enough to
allow a migraineur to fall asleep.

For migraineurs who experience prodrome symptoms, symptoms that let them know a
migraine is coming, white noise can help stave off a headache. For many migraine
sufferers, noise is a headache trigger and the noise canceling properties can
help stop a headache by removing the noise trigger from the environment. One
article even suggested that white noise machines be made available to
migraineurs at work as a prophylactic measure to reduce lost time due to
headache.

Some people find relief from migraines by staring at the static--visual white
noise--on a television screen set between channels or with the cable unplugged.
Some report that the migraine disappears completely. Those who use visual white
noise recommend doing so with the sound off.

Transformed Migraine

Migraine headaches bring some of the most excruciating pain a person will ever
know. Many migraineurs say the only good thing about a migraine is the relief,
sometimes even euphoria, they feel when the headache is over. Knowing that a
good feeling is waiting on the other side is the only thing that helps some of
them get through the pain.

People who live with transformed migraine (TM) do not have anything to look
forward to. Transformed migraine is the name of a condition some migraineurs
develop after years of migraine episodes. Most people develop transformed
migraines in their 20s or 30s.

Migraineurs report less severe headaches suddenly, but they come more often
until they turn into chronic daily headaches (CDH). The daily headache is less
intense than a migraine episode, but still painful, and most transformed
migraine patients still have occasional full-blown migraine episodes.

Not all migraineurs will develop transformed migraines. In fact, most won't.
Those who do are predominantly women and approximately 90% of them previously
had migraine with aura (classic migraine). Migraine with aura is relatively
rare, affecting less than 20% of all migraineurs.

The exact cause of transformed migraines is, like all migraine types, unknown.
Many transformed migraineurs are heavy users of pain-relievers, both over the
counter items like acetaminophen and naproxen and prescription medications like
Vicodin or Darvon. Some even take them daily, whether they have a migraine or
not, thinking they may help prophylactically.

TM patients of this type are particularly hard to treat because of a developed
tolerance for pain medication. The first step in treating these patients is to
wean them from their daily medications. Sometimes this step alone will stop the
chronic lesser headaches. Once weaned, like non-medication dependent TM
patients, their migraines are manageable with a regular treatment regimen just
like any other migraineur.

Toradol -- When Migraine Pain Won't Stop

Doctors give migraineurs medications to reduce the frequency or duration of
their headaches, and some to stop the pain when they feel a headache coming on.
Sometimes, though, the pain is resistant and heavy-duty pain medications are
needed.

Non-prescription NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, help a lot of
people relieve their migraine pain, but when they are not enough doctors may
offer a prescription version. Toradol (ketorolac) is a prescription-strength
NSAID doctors can dispense to migraineurs with moderate to severe pain that is
resistant to other pain relievers. It is available in a tablet form, but is
usually dispensed in emergency rooms and injected for migraines

Toradol has a host of potentially dangerous side effects patients need to be
aware of and should be used with caution. It can cause nausea, drowsiness,
dizziness, itching, diarrhea, fluid retention, and perforation or bleeding of
the gastrointestinal tract.

It should not be taken by migraineurs who are allergic to other NSAIDs or
aspirin. Patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, high blood
pressure, or a history of kidney and liver problems should avoid ketorolac. It
should be avoided by pregnant women and the elderly as well.

Patients who have been unsuccessfully trying to treat their migraine at home
with over the counter NSAIDs need to let their doctor or emergency room staff
know. Ketorolac should not be administered until other NSAIDs have cleared the
body to avoid potential overdose-related complications.

Due to potentially dangerous drug interactions, patients need to let their
doctors about all their medications, not just ones taken for migraines. Toradol
should not be given to anyone currently taking blood thinners, tranquilizers,
diuretics, lithium, and particular types of antidepressants, methotrexate, or
ACE inhibitors for blood pressure.

Toradol may offer relief when no relief from the pain can be found, but should
be taken with extreme caution.

Migraines and Insomnia

A bout of insomnia will often bring on a migraine in someone prone to them.
Having a migraine will often lead to insomnia. It sounds like a vicious cycle,
and, for some migraineurs, it can be.

Insomnia is characterized by the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or fall
back to sleep if awakened unexpectedly. Head and abdominal pain from a migraine
may exacerbate the inability to sleep in people already inclined to sleep
disorders. A 2005 study published in Headache, the journal of the American
Headache Society, discusses the links between poor sleep and migraines. Most of
the study participants reported some form of sleep trouble and over 50%
attributed migraine onset to sleep disturbances at least some of the time.
Almost 40% of participants admitted to sleeping six or less hours a night.
These "short sleepers" experienced more frequent and severe migraines than
other migraineurs. Short sleepers were also more likely to wake up with daily
headaches, a condition known as transformed migraines. Over 85% of the study
participants said they chose to sleep or rest because of headache pain and 75%
said the pain forced them to sleep. Insomnia and migraines have something in
common. Serotonin deficiency is linked to a number of disorders, including
migraines and insomnia. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter thought to be an
important part of the body's regulation of sleep, mood, appetite, vomiting, and
body temperature. It is manufactured in the gastrointestinal tract, where 90% of
it is produced, and the central nervous system, and then stored in the blood.

Insufficient serotonin levels are also associated with several gastric
disorders. This may explain why so many migraine sufferers experience stomach
problems prior to or during a headache. Lack of serotonin is also likely to be
a major component in the phenomenon known as abdominal migraines.

Migraines and Depression

Being in pain so fierce that the only recourse is to hide in a dark, quiet room
until it is over several times a year would make anyone sad. Migraineurs,
though, are five times more likely to develop clinical depression than people
who do not have these debilitating headaches. Conversely, people who are
depressed are three times likelier than happy people to become migraineurs.

Many scientists view the intertwining of migraine and depression as a chicken
or egg situation. They are patently comorbid, but does one cause the other? If
so, which one starts the process, the migraine or the depression? The answer is
not that simple. Migraines, depression, and, unsurprisingly, insomnia, a state
associated with both conditions have something in common. All three are
associated with neurotransmitter deficiencies in the brain.

Doctors believe that while they are related, depression and migraine headaches
have distinct causes with a similar neurobiology. For years, doctors blamed
depression in migraineurs on their resultant loss of quality of life due to
headaches. Now it looks as though the link is a biologic shared mechanism
rather than psychology.

One danger for clinically depressed migraineurs is possible drug interaction
between their depression medication and their migraine drugs. In July 2006 the
FDA recognized one such danger, that of mixing triptans for migraines with
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), used to treat depression and mood
disorders. Combining the drugs can lead to a condition called serotonin
syndrome.

Serotonin syndrome occurs when there is too much serotonin in the body.
Symptoms include hallucinations, increased heart rate and body temperature,
fast changes in blood pressure, and gastrointestinal upset. Sometimes a patient
has no choice but to take these medications together, but they need to weigh
their options with their doctor and be monitored closely for serotonin syndrome.

Migraines and Caffeine

Migraineurs have a love-hate relationship with caffeine. For many, the
vasoconstrictor helps alleviate their migraine pain. For an equal number, the
chemical is a migraine headache trigger. The relationship between caffeine and
migraines is anything but straightforward.

For caffeine addicts who discover that their daily cuppa is a migraine trigger
the problem of caffeine is particularly thorny. People who regularly consume
large quantities of caffeine often experience withdrawal headaches if they do
not get their regular java jolt. If they are predisposed to migraines, the
headache they get if they cut out the caffeine is going to be a doozy. Many
people think caffeine withdrawal alone can bring on a migraine. Regular
caffeine-aholics are advised to lower their caffeine intake slowly so they do
not send their body into withdrawal.

Many migraine pain relievers include caffeine. The vasoconstrictive action of
caffeine helps relieve migraine pain for some people. One current theory of
what exactly goes on in the head during migraine proposes that arteries in the
temple get inflamed during an attack and vasoconstriction would reduce the
inflammation. Another possible reason to include caffeine in a migraine
medication is because it acts as a supplement to the main analgesic. Studies
have shown that many analgesics function more efficiently and pack a greater
punch when paired with caffeine, though no one is sure exactly why.

Caffeine shows up in many unexpected places, so migraineurs who are sensitive
to it (not all are) need to be vigilant label readers. Everyone knows about
beverages, things like coffee and colas. Caffeine is also found in many clear
or fruit-flavored sodas. Caffeine can be found in chocolate; the darker the
chocolate the more caffeine it contains. Caffeine is in many over-the-counter
analgesics, and not always clearly labeled. Migraineurs should be especially
warty of caffeine in over-the-counter migraine formulas of regular medications.

Migraine Trigger Elimination Dieting

Science can't explain why so many migraineurs claim that there is a link
between certain foods or beverages and their headaches, but they do. Sadly, the
food triggers are different for each migraine sufferer -- it's not like someone
who needs to lower their cholesterol and the doctor tells them to eat egg
whites and lose the bacon, migraineurs have to figure out their triggers on
their own. The best way to do this is with an elimination diet.

The first step in any elimination diet is to put together a suspect list. A
migraineur has had a headache the day after every football party for years.
What is served? Who hosts? What items never change from party to party? If it
doesn't happen every time, what was different? Did someone else make the potato
salad this week? List the suspects and move to step two.

This is the hardest step in an elimination diet. Until a suspect is identified,
everything from the meal that seems to trigger a headache must be eliminated.
Then the dieter can add items back into their life, one at a time, until they
identify a trigger. Once the trigger is identified, it can be avoided.

Do not stop with the first trigger identified. Most migraineurs have multiple
triggers. If an elimination diet is going to help someone, he or she needs to
identify all the triggers.

For many migraineurs, the trigger is not a single food, but a combination of
foods. For example, avocados trigger migraineur A and B is okay with them.
However, when B eats guacamole he gets a headache every time. Why? Guacamole is
made up several common triggers including avocado, citrus juice, seasonings, and
vinegar. B may be okay consuming any one of these alone, but combine them and
its sure formula for a headache.

Fewer Migraines with Feverfew

Migraineurs (people who suffer from chronic or episodic migraine headaches) are
looking for headache relief that doesn't come from a drug lab. All too often
pharmaceutical migraine solutions have unpleasant side effects, including,
ironically enough, headache.

Some migraine sufferers have found help from feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), a
common flower that grows all over Europe and North America. Feverfew plants
resemble daisies. They have flat yellow centers with slender white petals on
lightly furred stems and small yellow-green leaves. Medical texts going as far
back as Ancient Rome list dried and crushed feverfew leaves as a palliative for
headaches.

Feverfew is best used in a preventive program. Several clinical trials, all in
the past decade, have shown that feverfew, taken two to three times a day, can
reduce the frequency of migraine episodes by up to 50% for some people. Several
study participants who experienced chronic daily headaches (CDH) plus migraine
episodes reported that their daily headaches stopped completely after four
weeks of feverfew treatment.

Feverfew, while helpful to some, has a significant amount of potential side
effects. Few people experience them, but they can be serious. Any patient
wanting to add feverfew to their migraine prevention regimen should consult
with their doctor and a licensed herbalist.

Feverfew is available in many forms. It can be homegrown and the migraineur can
chew two to three leaves from the plant each day. It is also available in tea,
tablet, capsule, and tincture forms. Feverfew in any form can cause mouth
ulcers, but they are most common among those that chew the leaves or drink the
tea. If mouth sores develop, discontinue use immediately.

Pregnant or nursing women should take feverfew. Do not give feverfew to
pediatric migraineurs without consulting a doctor. Feverfew can trigger an
allergic reaction in patients with common pollen allergies and should be used
with caution.

Chiropractic Care for Migraines

Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive way to relieve migraine suffering
without the use of medication. Chiropractic migraine treatment is not for
everyone, but it may be particularly useful for patients who cannot use
prescription medication due to other risk factors.

Migraine headaches are idiopathic. This means that despite the last century's
advances in medical science their cause is still unknown. A number of theories
exist to explain migraines. They include a possible serotonin deficiency in
migraineurs, genetics malformations, and arterial swelling in the cranium.

A common chiropractic theory is that subluxations in the muscles at the base of
the skull and the neck cause, or contribute to, the formation of migraine
headaches. Subluxations are tense areas in the muscles adjoining the small
bones of the upper spinal column. On an x-ray, the bones appear to be in the
correct place and medical doctors often miss the tension in the muscles. A
chiropractor gently manipulates the spine to relax these subluxations.

Chiropractors offer two varieties of care for migraine patients, straight
chiropractic and mixed chiropractic. Straight chiropractic only involves
manipulation of the spine and spinal subluxations. Mixed chiropractic care
combines traditional manipulation with other complementary techniques. The
focus in mixed chiropractic is to reduce overall neck strain and tension.

Researchers at Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Minnesota recently
compared chiropractic care with drug therapies for migraines and chronic
tension headaches. The study was published in the Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Therapeutics. Two hundred eighteen headache patients were given
either drug therapy or regular chiropractic care. Both groups reported a 40-50%
reduction in headache pain at the end of the study.

Follow ups four weeks after discontinuing all care showed only the chiropractic
group still enjoying the pain reduction the treatment initiated. Only 20-25% of
the drug therapy patients were still benefiting from their treatment at this
follow up.

Butterbur for Migraines

Migraineurs would prefer not to have migraines at all. If headache cannot be
eliminated, reducing the number of migraine episodes they experience would
certainly be an improvement. It would be even better if it could be done
without synthetic pharmacologicals.

Migraineurs, meet butterbur (Petasites hybridus). Butterbur is a shrub native
to southwestern Asia, Europe, and northern Africa. It is not what's above
ground that makes it interesting though, it's the root. Several studies have
shown that daily doses of extract of butterbur root reduced the frequency of
migraine episodes by approximately 50% in almost 80% of the participants.

Butterbur is used in Europe and Asia, but only in the last decade have American
doctors looked at it as a viable herbal preventative for migraineurs. Double
blind, placebo-controlled studies conducted in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005
all confirmed the herb's efficacy.

Migraine frequency reduction ranged from 37% -- 62% among study participants,
with almost no side effects. The only side effect reported was minor
gastrointestinal upset, and that was in a small portion of both the herb and
placebo groups. Butterbur is currently considered to be safe, as of this
writing, to take with other migraine medications. A healthcare professional
should always be included in the decision to add herbal products to any
treatment regimen.

Crude butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These alkaloids are
known to be toxic in humans, particularly to the liver. When choosing
butterbur, make sure the product is labeled PA-free.

The amount of alkaloids in butterbur root is minimal, less than 0.01%
concentration. Most butterbur treatment regimens recommend taking the
supplement for a maximum of for to six months. If migraine frequency increases,
it is safe to take again for another 4-6 months, but at least a month needs to
separate each course of treatment.

Basilar Migraines

Migraines can be more than just a pain in the head. Basilar migraines, once
known as basilar artery migraines or BAMs, are an extraordinarily rare but
potentially life-threatening variant of the classic migraine with aura.

Basilar migraine symptoms are caused by constriction of the basilar artery,
which supplies blood to the brain stem. BAMs were originally thought to affect
only young women and adolescent girls, but research shows that while they are
primarily a problem for these groups they can occur in people of all ages and
genders.

During the aura phase, basilar migraine symptoms may include loss of balance,
double vision or partial vision loss, lack of coordination, numbness on one or
both sides of the body, weakness, dizziness or confusion and severe vomiting.
The symptoms typically last an hour or less and disappear when the headache
begins, but may last as long as days after the headache pain has disappeared.
Some basilar migraine sufferers pass out or lose consciousness during the aura
phase as well.
In extremely rare cases, they may even slip into a coma that can last hours or
days.

The danger of basilar migraines is that they can lead to a transient ischemic
attack (TIA) or stroke. A transient ischemic attack is essentially a miniature
stroke resulting from a temporary interruption of the flow of blood to the
brain. Unlike strokes, TIAs have not been shown to cause permanent damage to
the brain and most neurological problems that arise from them, like slurred
speech or weakness on one side, clear up within twenty-four hours of the attack.

The basilar artery is located at the back of head. The headache associated with
basilar migraines is usually a severe throbbing ache on both sides of the back
of the head, as opposed to the unilateral temple throbbing more commonly
associated with migraines.

Balancing Chakras to Soothe Migraines

The word chakra is Sanskrit for wheel. The chakras are the seven primary
distribution points for the energy in the body that run from the base of the
spine to the crown of the head. They are also called the psychic centers of
consciousness. Migraines may be a side effect of a blocked chakra or unbalanced
chakras. Migraine can be eased, and possibly cured, without the aid of the
prescription drugs by clearing and balancing the migraineurs chakras.

Each chakra is the energy focal point for a different part of the body or body
system and affects the energy flow of both physical energy and emotions. The
two chakras most concerned with migraines are, naturally, in the head.

Ajna, Sanskrit for command, is the sixth of the seven primary chakras. It is
also known as the brow chakra or the third eye. It is in the center of the
forehead between the eyes. This chakra is linked to psychic ability as well as
the more mundane pineal and pituitary glands. Migraines are considered, by
some, to be a sign of a weak or blocked Ajna chakra. When balanced the Ajna
chakra is a deep indigo color.

Sahasrara, or the thousand-petalled lotus, is the seventh of the primary
chakras. It is also known as the crown chakra since this chakra is on top of
the head and includes the entire crown area. This chakra works with the root to
balance energy throughout the body. Stress, fatigue, sleep problems and
migraines are all associated with an unbalanced crown chakra. When balanced the
Sahasrara is violet.

Meditation, visualization, and color therapy are all excellent ways to balance
the chakras of the head. Many people find crystals and semiprecious stones
helpful in focusing and balancing their chakras. Check your local library for
more information about healing through chakra balance.

Hemiplegic Migraine

There are a number of different types of migraine headaches, including both the
classic and common migraine. One particularly rare type of migraine is the
hemiplegic migraine.

Hemiplegic migraines are migraine headaches with very particular symptoms. They
include:

* A sudden attack unilateral (one-sided) weakness and/or paralysis, typically 
during the aura phase of migraine. 

* The weakness frequently involves a migraineur's face, arm, and leg. 

* When the right side of the body is the affected side, the migraineur may be 
speech impaired. 

* A mild head trauma can trigger a hemiplegic migraine. 

* A migraine headache follows the paralysis. 

* The paralysis lasts from an hour to days, but usually clears up within 24
hours. 

* Dizziness, vertigo, double vision, and difficulty in walking or
balancing may all be part of a hemiplegic migraine. Hemiplegic migraines are
predominantly genetic and sufferers usually have at least one first or
second-degree relative (parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, first cousin) who also
suffers from hemiplegic migraines. Since many hemiplegic migraines are brought
on by minor head trauma, people with a propensity for this type of migraine are
encouraged to avoid contact sports. In families where the condition is common,
onset frequently occurs in childhood, so the no-contact rule is particularly
important for children in hemiplegic prone families. Several genetic markers
have been identified for hemiplegic migraine specifically. It is not a
condition that screening is normally offered for, but screening is available
for it upon request. This type of migraine is particularly disturbing because
its symptoms so closely resemble a stroke. Fortunately, the stroke-like effects
usually reverse completely within 24 hours. They are also problematic because
hemiplegic migraines do not respond to most migraine medications and often have
to be treated more like epilepsy with more dangerous medications than regular
migraineurs take.

Genetic Research into Migraines

Migraine headaches are a huge health problem. In a 2004 report, the World
Health Organization (WHO) called migraines and headache disorders a global
public health calamity. Migraines and other chronic headache conditions are
disabling. In the same report, the WHO ranked migraine as one of the top twenty
conditions in the world to cause years of healthy life lost due to disability.
Migraines and all other headache disorders combined rank in the top ten causes
of disability. As a result of the increasing global recognition of migraine as
a health threat, genetic research into the condition has multiplied
exponentially in the last ten to fifteen years.

Doctors have long known that a child with two migraineur parent will likely
have migraines. A 2000 Danish study using primarily twins indicated that
migraine without aura (common migraine) is approximately sixty-one percent
genetic. The other thirty-nine percent was attributed to genetic factors,
making migraines a partially genetic disease. Family history studies and the
Danish study both suggest that migraines are a multi-genomic condition, meaning
that several genes or combinations of genes are required for the condition to be
inherited.

In a study published in June 2003, Dutch doctors revealed that a particular
sub-type of migraine, familial hemiplegic migraine, follows a conventional
Mendelian inheritance pattern (simple inheritance) in seventy-five percent of
all cases. The same study indicated that common migraine is considerably more
complex. Several potential genetic loci have been looked at.

The Genomics Research Centre at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia,
reports progress in locating genetic loci for migraines. Researchers have been
studying multi-generational migraine sufferers within the same family for
years. According to their website, the researchers have identified three
different genetic regions on the chromosomes 1, 19, and X that harbor genes
which increase migraine susceptibility. This type of research may eventually
lead to a genetic treatment for migraines.

Hypnotic Migraine Relief

Hypnosis is not just an entertainer's trick to please and amuse crowds.
Hypnotherapists are helping migraineurs ease their pain. Sometimes they are
even able to relieve other migraine symptoms like vomiting and sensitivity to
light and sound, too.

The hypnotist's goal is to relax patients into a trancelike state in order to
access their subconscious mind. A good therapist will then place gentle
suggestions in the subconscious that will help migraineurs deal with their pain
by changing how they perceive it.

Rather than focusing on pain perception, some hypnotherapists work with
patients to learn to identify and avoid their personal migraine triggers. This
can be doubly effective for migraineurs who smoke if it is one of their
triggers. Hypnotherapy has been a recognized smoking cessation technique for
decade.

Some patients enjoy this type of therapy so much, since it usually very
relaxing, that they decide, either on their own or with the aid of a therapist,
to learn self-hypnosis. Oxford Hypnotherapy has a free downloadable book and
audio course available on their website for people who would like to learn more
about self-hypnosis. You can find it at
http://www.hypnos.info/pages/freeselfhypnosis.html.

Hypnotherapy is an excellent option for patients who do not respond to
traditional migraine therapies. It is a great alternative for those who are
either sensitive to migraine medications or are unable to take them for medical
reasons. Hypnotherapy is highly recommended for migraineur women trying to avoid
medications during a pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Hypnosis is not magic. Patients are not under a spell or in the thrall of the
person who puts them into the trance. Hypnotherapy is an interactive process
between therapist and patient.

Hypnotherapy should only be undertaken with a certified hypnotherapist. To find
a good one, check with the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapist
(online at www.aaph.org) or the National Board for Certified Clinical
Hypnotherapists (www.natboard.com).

Home for Headaches

When a migraine strikes, many migraineurs head for home and settle in to wait
out the excruciating headache. This may be the problem. While current genetic
studies of rare migraines types show the condition to be about sixty percent
inherited, the other forty is environmental. If someone already prone to
migraines is exposed to an environmental trigger, fireworks, or at least a few
prodromal symptoms, will ensue.

How can migraineurs make sure their homes aren't giving them headaches? Clear
out known offenders, one at a time. Things to look out for:

* Common household allergens, things like mold, mildew, and dust and dust
mites. Changing the air filter and switching to cotton sheets both help with
these household horrors. 

* Tobacco smoke. Whether it's a cigarette or a pipe, ask smokers to take it 
outside. 

* Carbon monoxide. This odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas can come from 
poorly ventilated fireplaces, furnaces, gas appliances, or cars running in the 
garage. Installing carbon monoxide detectors near possible carbon monoxide 
sources and checking the batteries regularly may not only prevent migraines, 
it may save a life. 

* Water-borne impurities. Eliminating potential chemical trouble from the 
faucet can be as simple as purchasing a small water filtering pitcher for 
drinking water. For extremely sensitive people a household filtration or 
softener system may be the answer. 

* Pesticides. No one wants to share their home with insects and rodents, but 
the chemicals used to repel them may be inviting in migraines. Temporarily
eliminating pesticide use or switching to organic pest control may help. 

* Pet dander. Migraineurs who are allergic to their pet may want to consider 
allergy treatment to help them live with the problem. 

* Cleaning solutions. The number and variety of harsh chemicals found in 
cleansers is boggling. Switching to all-natural cleansers may clean up 
migraines.

Thermal Biofeedback and Migraines

Thermal biofeedback is an effective technique used by many migraine patients to
reduce the pain intensity and frequency of their headaches. This is especially
true of pediatric migraineurs, particularly those who have entered puberty.

Pregnant migraine sufferers can doubly benefit from biofeedback. It enables
them to avoid potentially dangerous medication during their pregnancy. Second,
a 1996 study showed an 80% reduction in headache frequency and intensity among
pregnant migraineurs.

Thermal biofeedback, sometimes referred to as psycho-physiological feedback, is
a treatment modality used to instruct people in the conscious control of their
body temperature. Patients achieve control through a combination of
visualization (guided imagery), voluntary relaxation, and mechanical feedback.

A 1983 study tested the effects of three different medication-free techniques,
thermal biofeedback, frontalis EMG biofeedback, and relaxation training, on
migraineurs. Patients using each technique experienced improvement in their
migraines, but the thermal feedback patients appeared to experience the
greatest success rate and were more able to sustain the effect long term.

Patients are attached to a temperature sensor, usually on the hand, during
instruction in thermal biofeedback. This sensor allows them to see the effect
of their attempts to consciously control their temperature and change their
methodology as needed to achieve the desired result.

Training in thermal biofeedback is usually provided by a psychologist or an
alternative medicine provider in an office setting, and then practiced by the
individual alone. Patients interested in learning this technique should screen
instructors thoroughly since there is currently no licensing requirement for
those who provide it.

At-home thermal biofeedback practice is frequently more successful in children
because they tend to be more imaginative than adults. To utilize this treatment
successfully, patients must be very motivated and diligent in practicing it.
Some adults can only achieve thermal control when guided by an instructor and
are unable to practice the technique alone.

Smoking and Migraines

Is there a connection between smoking and migraines?

The correct answer is "maybe" to "probably". There is currently no study data
specifically addressing this issue. Studies of smoking and chronic headaches in
general (not all chronic headaches are migraines) are available, but their
application to migraines is limited.

A study of smoking and patients with chronic cluster headaches yielded some
telling results. Smoking patients who decreased their smoking by less than a
half of a pack daily reduced their headache frequency by an amazing 50%. This
study just asked patients to cut down n their smoking, not to eliminate it.
Imagine the results that might have been achieved if the smokers quit entirely!

In another study, 53% of migraine patients who eliminated smoking in
conjunction with the elimination of personally identified food triggers
experienced a complete cessation of migraines. By contrast, only 13% of
non-smoking patients who eliminated their food triggers became migraine-free.

Many migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches) are sensitive to
strong smells, like perfume, food odors, and, yes, tobacco smoke. Others are
specifically sensitive only to the scent of tobacco smoke. Still others are
allergic to cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke.

All of these people report having smoking or secondhand smoke trigger a
migraine. Sometimes the smoke is the only trigger, sometimes it is part of a
combination of triggers. Experts and sufferers agree there must be a link
between smoking and migraines, somewhere, waiting to be uncovered. Many of the
commonly known effects of smoking are particularly detrimental to those prone
to headaches and head pain. These side effects include elevated blood pressure,
inflammation or irritation of the sinus cavities and nasal passages, and higher
risk of stroke. Health officials all agree on one thing, smoking is
contraindicated for everyone in every situation and migraine sufferers are no
exception.

Running into Migraines

Exercise is good for you. Being fit will help your whole body feel better,
including your migraines, right? So why did your headache specialist just tell
you to drop out of this weekend's 10K if you want to be able to go to work on
Monday?

A regular exercise program is a great migraine deterrent, but it needs to be
the right kind of exercise. Many workout types put a real strain on the
cardiovascular system and scientists have linked migraines to vascular problems
in the temporal artery, among other potential causes.

Migraineurs who want to sweat need to warm up, slowly, for about fifteen
minutes prior to any strenuous exertion, whether it is exercise or home repair.
Skipping this warm up is nearly a guarantee that a migraine will be interrupting
your plans later in the day.

While any exertion can be good or bad and each migraineur is different, there
are a few types of exercise that are notorious for bringing down the head.

* Aerobics: high-intensity aerobics classes are a trigger for many women,
especially when the cardio-pounding workout is paired with loud music. 

* Biking: Whether it is competitive cycling or spinning class at the club, this
is a major trigger for many. 

* Running: Any kind of running that involves hard-core exertion, especially 
endurance events like marathons and triathlons.

You may be able to keep doing these things, especially if you really enjoy
them, but you need to think about toning down the endurance aspect. Cycling
should be for pleasure and exercise but not competitive. Replace high impact
aerobics classes with dance, yoga, or free weight aerobics. Reduce the distance
you run and see if it helps with the migraines. There is no reason a migraineur
cannot be fit, just do not run yourself into a migraine.

Riboflavin for Migraines

Correcting dietary insufficiencies may help reduce headache frequency for
migraineurs. Many migraineurs find relief by adding vitamin supplements to
their daily regimen.

Taking vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, has been shown in numerous studies
to help reduce the number of migraine attacks people suffer from. Initial
studies involved a high dosage of 400mg. This is two hundred times the amount
of B2 in a typical diet. The high dosage involved caused a rare side effect of
vitamin B2 supplementation to show itself; diarrhea.

In 2005, a new study measured the effectiveness of B2 at much lower doses, only
25mg a day. This lower dose was just as effective at reducing migraine frequency
as the higher dose used in earlier studies.

Riboflavin has the potential to enhance energy production in brain cells.
Migraine sufferers tend to have impaired energy production in cells in their
brains and supplementing with riboflavin may help.

Magnesium, another nutrient important to energy production, is also proven to
reduce migraine frequency among sufferers. Diuretics, alcohol, and chronic
medical conditions all deplete magnesium in the body. Adding magnesium-rich
foods to their diet, things like spinach, bananas, nuts, and whole-grain
cereals, helps many migraineurs restore this vital mineral to their system.

If dietary changes don't help, a dose of up to 400mg of magnesium per day may
help. Migraineurs should be careful not to overdo it with both dietary changes
and supplementation. Signs of magnesium overdosing include drowsiness,
lethargy, and diarrhea.

Another potentially helpful supplement is vitamin E. Vitamin E aids in
circulation and 400 IU (international units) daily helps many migraineurs
reduce the frequency of their headaches. Fish oil pills with the right balance
of omega-3 fatty acids are believed to lessen the intensity of an existing
migraine and help stave them off.

Consult with a doctor before adding any supplements to your regular treatment
plan.

Reflexology for Migraines

Say the word migraine and most migraineurs will reflexively cringe in
remembered pain, their last headache still vivid in their memory. Say the word
reflexology to them and you will likely get a blank stare. A recent (2006)
study in Denmark indicates that migraineurs who get more familiar with
reflexology are less likely to cringe reflexively at the mention of migraines.

What is reflexology?

Reflexology is a massage technique based on the idea that every part of the
human body has a corresponding point on the sole of the foot. Reflexologists
believe that massage and stimulation of these points on the foot can relieve
tension, pain, and stress in the corresponding parts of the body.

In the Danish study involved a mix of migraineurs and people experiencing
chronic tension headaches. Approximately 90% of the people who participated in
the study admitted to taking prescribed medication in the month prior to the
study specifically for their headaches. After the study, 19% of participants
said they were able to stop taking medication for their headaches thanks to the
treatment.

The study involved a course of six to eight treatments with monthly follow-up
treatments thereafter for a period of six months. At the conclusion of the six
months 23% of the study participants said they were completely cured and no
longer having headaches. Fifty-five percent of the participants noted marked
improvement in their condition -- headaches were less frequent and less severe.
A remarkable 78% of the study participants saw an improvement in their condition.

At a follow-up check three months after the conclusion of the study 23% of the
migraineurs stated they were cured. About 41% said they felt their quality of
life was improved.

The treatments were most effective on younger patients and those who had been
experiencing migraines for a shorter period of time.

Prophylactic Migraine Medications

Doctors sometimes prescribe a daily medication to reduce the duration and
frequency of migraine attacks. These medications are called prophylactic or
preventive therapy. There are several classes of drugs approved for use as
prophylactic migraine treatments.

Beta Blockers

No one knows how beta blockers prevent migraines, but they seem to. Beta
blockers commonly used in migraine therapy include propranolol (Inderal),
nadolol (Corgard), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), atenolol (Tenormin), and
timolol (Blocadren).

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) prevent migraine headaches by altering two of
the neurotransmitters, nor epinephrine and serotonin, that the nerves in the
brain use to communicate. Since migraines and depression are considered
comorbid conditions they are a particularly good fit for many migraineurs. TCAs
that have been used in migraine therapy include amitriptyline (Elavil),
imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), and imipramine (Tofranil).

Side effects of TCAs include increased heart rate, blurred vision, difficulty
urinating, dry mouth, constipation, and weight change.

Anticonvulsants

Antiseizure medications, also called anticonvulsants, have been used to prevent
migraine headaches. Like many prophylactic migraine treatments, it is not known
how they work to prevent migraines, simply that they do. The anticonvulsants
gabapentin, valproic acid, topiramate, and phenobarbital have all been used in
migraine therapy.

Calcium-Channel Blockers

Calcium-channel blockers (CCBs), in addition to blocking calcium from entering
the muscle cells of the heart, appear to block a serotonin uptake. It is the
latter that has caused their occasional use in preventing migraines. The CCBs
used in preventing migraines are verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem
(Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), and nimodipine.

Antiserotonin Agents

The antiserotonin agents methysergide and methylergonovine can be used in
migraine prophylaxis, but their potential side effects are so severe, including
retroperitoneal fibrosis (scarring of tissue around the ureters that carry urine
from the kidneys to the bladder) and scarring around the lungs, that they are
rarely used in this capacity.

Poison the Pain -- Botox for Migraines

Botox can make you look better. Did you know it could also make you feel
better? Moreover, we are not just talking about self-esteem here. Migraineurs
looking to smooth out some wrinkles in their foreheads discovered a happy side
effect of the cosmetic treatment -- fewer migraines.

Botox, botulinum toxin type A, is a neurotoxin most famous for its use in
smoothing wrinkles. The FDA originally approved it in 1989 as a treatment for
eye muscle disorders, and the cosmetic use came later.

Botox is thought to work by weakening or paralyzing the muscles by stopping or
slowing the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). ACh transmit
the signal from nerve to nerve to cause muscle contraction. When ACh production
is inhibited muscles relax, including those that cause wrinkles.

Acetylcholine is also a neuromodulator. This means it affects how other
neurotransmitters function. ACh alternately excites and sedates nerve endings,
and it is this ability to suppress excitability that may help migraine
patients. One theory on migraine causes is based on the idea of a cascade of
nerve excitement in the brain that agitates the arteries in the brain. This in
turn stimulates nerve sensitivity, which further inflames the artery, in a
vicious circle.

Botulinum toxin is the same agent produced by spoiled food that causes
botulism. When used medically, the toxin is injected straight into the muscles
and not absorbed into the bloodstream. The dose of toxin required to cause
botulism is significantly larger than used in medical applications.

Like most prophylactic migraine treatments, Botox injections may take several
weeks to become effective. Depending on the study, Botox has proven effective
at reducing migraines for 60-90% of study participants. Injections should be
given at least three months apart and the effects should last ten to thirteen
weeks. Botox is not currently FDA approved as a migraine treatment.

Pediatric Migraines

Children get migraines, too, they are not a condition confined to adulthood..
Studies have even indicated that infants may get migraines, but this is hard to
verify.

Current estimates indicate that up to 10% of children between 5-15 years old
suffer from migraines, increasing to 28% in the 15-19 age range. Migraine
headaches have a real impact on quality of life for children. The high
percentage of children that experience migraines makes them a top childhood
health problems.

Diagnosing pediatric migraine is similar to diagnosing adult migraines with a
few notable exceptions. The International Headache Society's criteria states
that the headache must last 4 to 72 hours. Children's migraines are generally
shorter and this fact needs to be taken into account when attempting to
diagnose them. Adult migraines are frequently one-sided, but children's
frequently involve pain on both sides of the head. These headaches should not
be dismissed just because they are not one-sided.

For most child migraineurs (people suffering from migrainous headaches) the
headaches begin between 5 and 11 years of age. Prior to puberty, the number of
male and female children with migraines is roughly equal. After puberty, girls
are considerably more likely than boys are to have migraines, most likely due
to the same hormonal issues that make the number of adult women migraineurs
three times that of the men.

Many child migraineurs are fortunate enough to have their condition disappear
during puberty or upon reaching adulthood. However, people who have migraines
as children are much more likely to become adult migraineurs than those who did
not have them as a child.

Adult migraine sufferers should watch for migraine symptoms in their children,
particular if the other parent also experiences migraines. A child with two
migraineur parents has a 70% chance of becoming a migraineur.

Migraines and Rebound Headaches

A rebound headache, also known as a medication overuse headache, is one of the
most unpleasant side effects of migraines for many sufferers. These headaches
are often blindingly painful, and are sometimes migraines in their own right.

How do people get rebound headaches? Put simply, they try just a little too
hard to find relief from their migraine pain. The migraineurs is in pain and
takes medication. They are still in pain later and take a little more. That
does not help, so they try more medicine to relieve their suffering.

A rebound headache is when a migraine (or other severe headache) spins off into
another headache as a result of medication overuse. A rebound headache is
basically the original headache, which is only temporarily masked by all the
drugs. When the body is finally clear of all the medications, the headache pain
returns or rebounds.

Sometimes the rebound is a migraine or a continuation of the previous migraine.
Others it is a blindingly painful new headache in its own right. The new
headache is excruciatingly painful but without the additional symptoms, like
nausea and photosensitivity, that often accompany migraines.

The overuse of any over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever can cause a
rebound headache, but the two most frequent culprits are aspirin and
acetaminophen. Other drugs often involved in the rebound cycle include
caffeine, opiates, prescription combination medications like Midrin, codeine,
ergotamine titrate, and drugs that contain barbiturates.

While all really painful, chronic headaches should be discussed with a doctor,
there are a number of indicators that someone is probably suffering from
medication overuse headaches. These include:

* daily or every other day headaches 
* medications no longer provide the relief they used to 
* prophylactic medication use

With the help of their doctor, rebound headache patients can break the cycle.

Migraines and PMS

No one knows exactly what causes migraine headaches, or even what happens in
the body and brain when someone has one. One thing that is known, however, is
that three times as many women as men have migraines. Many female migraineurs
will also confess that their headaches are likely to coincide with the period
just before their menstrual period.

A whopping sixty percent of women migraineurs have migraines during their
period and during the rest of the month. Fourteen percent only have a migraine
headache during their period. Look at the numbers; seventy-four percent of all
women migraineurs associate their period with their headaches, and while
medical science does not deny the connection, the reason for it is still
unknown.

In addition, many women who become migraineurs later in life say that their
pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms became much more acute since the
headaches began. A study published in the January 2006 issue of Headache
confirmed the apocryphal evidence. Women participating reported that bloating,
weight gain, breast tenderness, mood swings, back pain, and abdominal cramps
all became more severe during a migraine.

The women in the study were given a medication to induce a temporary artificial
menopause by halting the action of the ovaries. Even with the hormonal ups and
downs of regular periods eliminated, they still reported worsened PMS symptoms
during a migraine attack.

The fourteen percent of women who only have migraines during their period are
said to have "menstrual migraines". There is hope, though. For some lucky
women, taking a brief course of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medicines, like ibuprofen) for several days prior to their period as well as
the first few days of it can stave off a menstrual migraine. Women who want to
try this type of prophylactic treatment should discuss the option with their
doctor.

Migraines and Obesity

Are you more likely to have migraines if you are obese?

The simple answer, for adults, is no.

The more complicated answer is sort-of. Obesity does not cause migraines in
adults -- the jury is still out on how obesity affects pediatric migraine

That's the good news. The bad news is that migraine and obesity can have a
devastating affect on each other.

While obesity does not cause migraines, migraines, especially for people with
migraines plus chronic daily headaches, can lead to obesity. People with
migraines are likely to spend more time being sedentary, forced to inaction by
the pain in their head. Additionally, many medications given to migraineurs
cause weight gain directly, others cause it indirectly by increasing appetite.

Weight gain leads to depression in many people, which leads to more unhealthy
behaviors (compulsiveness, hopelessness, increased inactivity, etc.) Inaction,
weight gain, and increased appetite -- a road that begins in migraine may well
end in obesity.

Recent studies have divided migraineurs into different categories by their body
mass index (BMI). The higher the body mass index, the more overweight the
patient. The majority of the study participants were women, and median age was
approximately 38 years.

Obese migraineurs, those with a BMI of 30 or higher, are far more likely to
have extra problems with their migraines than people with a lower BMI are.
Patients with higher body mass indexes reported more frequent headaches that
lasted longer and were more severe than those experienced by lower BMI patients
were.

There have been several studies on weight and headache prevalence, especially
migraines, in children and teens. The initial results are a little frightening
since almost all of them saw a correlation between a high BMI and incidence of
migraines and other types of severe headaches (tension headaches, cluster
headaches). All agreed, however, that more research is needed.

Migraine Abortive Medications

Doctors prescribe two types of migraine medications. One type is designed to
help stop a migraine that has already begun. This is called abortive therapy
and these drugs work best when taken as soon as the headache begins. The other
type is a daily medication designed to reduce the frequency of migraine
attacks. This type of medication is called prophylactic or preventive therapy.

There are two common classes of migraine abortive prescriptions, triptans and
ergots.

Triptans (sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, et al.) work by attaching to
serotonin receptors on the blood vessels and nerves in the brain. By blocking
these receptors, inflammation is reduced and the vessels are able to constrict.
This effectively ends the migraine for many. Triptans are available as
injections, tablets, and nasal sprays. When used early enough triptans can
abort up to 80% of migraine headaches within two hours of taking the medication.

Common triptan side effects are facial flushing, tightness in the chest and/or
throat, and skin tingling. Less common, though still not considered serious,
are dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue. The biggest danger of triptans is heart
attack or stroke in people with previously undiagnosed heart disease or risk
factors like obesity and high blood pressure.

Ergots (ergotamine or dihydroergotamine preparations), like triptans, abort
migraines by constricting of blood vessels. Ergots are not as targeted as
triptans, however, and cause constriction of vessels throughout the body, not
just in the brain. They are not considered to be as safe as triptans and are
generally only recommended for patients who are unable to find relief with
safer alternatives.

Ergots cause prolonged contraction of the uterus and can cause a pregnant woman
to miscarry. Ergots are also much more likely than triptans to cause nausea and
vomiting. Ergot brand names include Cafergot, Wigraine, Migranal, and Ergomar.

Lifestyle Change for Natural Migraine Prevention

Migraine sufferers are turning to non-pharmacological options to reduce the
number of headaches they have. Prophylactic drugs aimed at migraine prevention
can have many unpleasant side effects and do not work at all for some
migraineurs (people who have chronic migraines).

A migraineur's lifestyle impacts the severity and frequency of the attacks and
lifestyle changes, like those mentioned below can prevent migraine recurrence.

Sleep:

Migraineurs need to learn how much sleep they need and make sure they do not
get too little sleep or too much more than they need. Patients who do not get
enough sleep during the workweek who try to make up for it over the weekend may
trigger a headache.

Exercise:

Physical exertion in moderation is good for everyone, including migraineurs.
Establishing a regular exercise routine, at least 20-40 minutes of physical
activity a minimum of three times a week, relieves stress that triggers
headaches and exercise-induced endorphins are a natural analgesic.

Stress Management:

Migraineurs are susceptible to attacks during periods of high stress. If stress
is unavoidable, they should build time for stress relief into their routine to
prevent a headache. Good stress management techniques for migraineurs are
massage, exercise, adequate sleep and a healthy diet.

Eating:

Migraineurs should eat regular meals at roughly the same time daily and not
skip a meal unless it is an emergency. A good, healthy breakfast goes a long
way in preventing headaches.

The most important thing is to be consistent with any lifestyle change.
Migraineurs need regular behavior patterns and they must be applied on weekends
and holidays, not just during the week. Getting out of sync two days a week by
sleeping in, skipping meals, or staying up late defeats the purpose of
lifestyle changes and upsets the balance created by having a pattern the rest
of the week.

Neurostimulator Implants and Migraines

One out of every eight people suffers from migraine headaches. There is
currently no treatment available to eliminate the condition; doctors merely
help patients manage the symptoms. A new treatment is being tested that may
offer more pain relief than any other method to date for migraine sufferers.

In September 2006, reports began surfacing about a surgical procedure that may
help migraineurs. Dr. Sandeep Amin, an anesthesiologist at Rush University
Medical Centre in Chicago, Illinois, is pioneering a radical new treatment.

Dr. Amin is studying the potential of a treatment he calls "occipital nerve
stimulation". The treatment calls for the implantation of a small
neurostimulator in the neck. This device sends electrical impulses to nerves
under the skin at the base of the head at the back of the neck.

The device being used Dr. Amin's nationwide, double-blind study is the Boston
Scientific Precision neurostimulator. The Precision neurostimulator is the
smallest rechargeable, implantable neurostimulator on the market (as of 2006)
and is already FDA-approved for spinal stimulation for chronic pain treatment.

If the study is successful, it offers new hope to migraineurs, particularly
those who have found their pain resistant to currently available treatment
modalities.

Dr. Amin's study is not the first. In 2004, Medtronic, Inc., a medical
technology company, conducted a study of occipital nerve stimulation for
migraines using one of their own devices. The study was initiated after a
Dallas doctor successfully used the experimental treatment to relieve pain for
a migraineur. A review of the company's website, www.medtronic.com, showed no
information on the study, making it likely that, for whatever reason, the 2004
study was unsuccessful.

Dr. Amin states that his treatment is not for everyone, and, if it is
successful, recommends it only for patients who have been unable to achieve
pain relief through medication or other, more common, treatment methods.

Aromatherapy and Migraines

Most physicians agree that aromatherapy makes an excellent complementary
therapy for migraineurs. Aromatherapy has not been shown to eliminate migraine
headaches, but when used to complement traditional therapy and medication it
can reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

Aromatherapy is a natural healing methodology that uses plant-derived essential
oils to achieve a desired therapeutic affect. It is not known precisely how
aromatherapy works, whether it is the scent or a chemical action of the
essential oil itself that provides relief. Because of this unknown factor some
doctors worry about potential essential oil interactions with standard drugs
used in treating migraines.

When trying aromatherapy to relieve migraines, keep in mind a few safety
precautions:

* Always talk to a doctor before trying anything new. 

* Speak to an experienced aromatherapist, if possible. 

* When combining aromatherapy with other medications, watch for adverse 
reactions and report them to a doctor immediately. 

* Buy real plant-derived essential oils designed for aromatherapy. Good ones 
will be sold in dark containers and stored away from direct sunlight.

* Use a carrier oil or aromatherapy diffuser. Essential oils can be powerful
irritants and should not be applied directly to the skin.

Essential oils can be used in a number of ways. They can be used in an
aromatherapy diffuser and inhaled two or three times daily. Oils can added to a
large bowl of hot water and the aroma inhaled with eyes closed. While essential
oils can also be added to carrier bath, face, or massage oils and applied to
the body or bath, this should only be done after consulting with a
knowledgeable aromatherapist to make sure the oils used are safe for this
purpose.

Some of the essential oils commonly recommended for migraine aromatherapy are
lavender, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, sandalwood, clary sage, ginger,
ylang-ylang, basil, marjoram, and chamomile.

Are You In or Out?

You have a migraine. You have a job. Now what do you do?

Deciding if you are able to go out when you have a migraine is a tough
decision. You are in pain, you do not feel well, and more likely than not you
are not thinking clearly. The ability to determine when you are okay to leave
home when you have a migraine is a big part of learning to manage your
condition. Here are a few things to take into consideration when deciding if
you are in or out for the day.

How do you feel?

Yes, you have a migraine, but can you function? Only you know your personal
headache pattern, is it likely to get better or worse from where it is now?
What's your mood? Are you sufficiently enthused about the day to be willing to
function while in pain?

What did you take?

Stop and think about your pain relief for a minute. Did you take an
over-the-counter remedy, or something a little stronger? If it was a
prescription medication, go read the label and see what it says about driving
and operating heavy machinery. If you aren't supposed to do those things, it's
probably a good idea to hang out at home. This is not a hard and fast rule
since only you know how you react to a medicine, particularly one you are
familiar with. If you don't think you'll be impaired by your medications,
great, but really think about it first.

Why?

Why are you going out? Basically, you have to decide how important it is that
you go out. Work is important, but not if you have a job where potentially
impaired function can be dangerous. Errands can always be run later. The class
play? That might be worth it, if you can handle it.

Applying Heat or Cold for Migraine Relief

Many migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches) relieve the pain
of a migraine with the judicious application of heat or cold. This type of pain
abatement is particularly popular with people trying to minimize or avoid
prescription medication use, especially among pediatric patients and their
families.

Below are a few techniques that can help ease the pain of a migraine. Not all
techniques work for all patients. While some migraineurs find comfort in cold,
at least as many are more uncomfortable in the presence of cold. The same is
true of heat used for pain relief -- for some it helps, for others it makes the
pain worse.

Apply a compress, hot or cold, to point on the head where pain is most severe.
This is frequently on the temple where a large artery runs, or in front of the
ear, another arterial locale.

For patients who feel their migraine pain "stabbing into the back of the eye" a
damp cloth (warm or cool) laid over the eyes often provides relief. As a side
benefit, covering the eyes in this manner also eases the discomfort of
photosensitivity for many patients.

Taking a hot or cold shower with the water directed at the head and neck is
another method to try, as is taking a warm (neither hot nor cold) bath. The
latter is further enhanced with the use of appropriate aromatherapy techniques.

Some patients find relief in by alternating hot and cold cloths at the point
where the migraine pain is most intense. Sometimes hot and cold used
simultaneously can ease the pain. A migraineur may apply a cold compress on
their forehead while at the same time soaking their feet in a container of warm
water.

Rarely are patients simultaneously sensitive to both hot and cold, but it
should be watched for.

Aging and Migraines

Aging is a fact of life. Getting older means increasing frailty and
susceptibility to illness, but it can also be a boon to migraineurs (people who
experience migraine headaches). Only 2-10% of the elderly population experiences
migraines (as opposed to up to 28% of adults under 65), and elderly women are
still more likely to have them than their male counterparts.

Migraines can happen at any age, but they peak around age 40. The frequency of
migraine attacks after 40 decreases for most people. Many migraineurs who have
suffered with this condition for years experience a reduction in the frequency
and severity of attacks after age 55.

About two thirds of migraineurs stop having attacks altogether by age 65.
Patients over 65 who still have migraines report drastically decreased
severity, duration, and frequency in their attacks. They are also less likely
to experience the gastrointestinal upset that accompanies migraine in younger
people.

The downside to all this good news is that adults over 65 who suffer from
migraines are more likely than younger patients to experience disability
because of their affliction. Many physicians are uncomfortable with treating
senior citizens for migraines because therapeutic methods used on younger
people are often not tested for safety in an older patient.

Additional conditions and the medications used to treat them complicate the
problem. Seniors are more likely to be on one or more prescription drugs and
each new medication increases the risk of adverse drug reactions. This
possibility makes some doctors reluctant to offer senior migraineurs
pharmaceutical assistance.

The onset of migraines after age 50 is very rare and should be investigated
with a doctor to rule out the possibility of secondary causes. Late onset does
not rule out migraine (only one third of senior headaches are due to secondary
conditions) but it makes it less likely.

Acupuncture for Migraines

Acupuncture is one of the oldest medical techniques in the world, practiced in
China for over 2,000 years. It is a FDA-approved treatment modality for a
number of illnesses, especially pain management and chronic pain, and is
particularly effective in treating migraines.

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment that involves
stimulating some of the over 800 vital energy points in the human body with
fine, hair-thin needles to release chi and encourage the body to heal itself.
The vital energy points are on the meridians that run through the body from
head to toe.

Chi (pronounced chee), or life energy, flows through these meridians and energy
points. The obstruction of the flow of chi leads to illness and is considered
the source of many bodily aches and pains. The flow of chi along the meridians
can be obstructed by illness, poor diet, the weather, and other outside factors.

Most acupuncture practitioners work with patients to form a treatment plan that
addresses both the blockages themselves and the things that cause them. These
treatment plans, like those of Western Medicine, often include diet and
lifestyle changes to enhance the patients' well-being.

Migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches) need to tell their
acupuncturist exactly where they hurt when seeing one for pain mitigation. The
location of pain is important due to the large number of acupuncture points in
the head, face, and neck. Where to apply pressure depends on where the migraine
pain is most acute.

Migraineurs can find long-term relief from their migraines by working with an
acupuncturist who specializes in headaches. These specialists do an
individualized assessment of the patient to create a long-term treatment plan.
Many people who undergo an acupuncture program like this experience relief from
migraines for years afterward. For some the headaches stop completely.

Acupressure and Migraines

Acupressure is a completely non-invasive treatment option that has a high
success rate among migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches). It
has a proven track record as a successful pain abatement technique. Acupressure
is also efficacious in reducing both the frequency and intensity of migraine
attacks.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are over 800 vital energy points in the
human body. These points lie along meridians that run throughout a person's
body. Chi, or life energy, flows along the meridians and through the energy
points in healthy people. Chi that is blocked or overabundant near particular
energy points causes illness and pain. Acupressure massage applies pressure to
these energy points in order to release chi and stimulate the body's own
healing mechanisms. The energy points are massaged with the fingers, thumb, or
occasional blunt object with medium pressure in a circular pattern. The
simplest acupressure a migraineur can learn is an all-over head massage. This
technique just requires the practitioner to massage the scalp as though they
were washing their hair. Sit with the elbows resting on a table to prevent arm
strain and the head resting lightly in the hands to perform head and neck
acupressure.

Moderate pressure applied to the GB20 points offers the best relief for
migraine pain. They are on either side of the neck, approximately one inch to
each side of the spinal column just below where the skull and neck muscles
connect. GB20 also goes by the more romantic-sounding Chinese name "The Gates
of Consciousness".

Migraineurs seeking to relieve their headache and neck pain should practice
deep breathing while using the thumbs of both hands to press firmly on the GB20
points for one to two minutes. If this is painful at first, home practitioners
can start out by pressing and releasing the points in five to fifteen second
intervals.

Online Resources for Migraineurs

Many migraineurs feel very alone in their still misunderstood suffering, but
they are not alone. There are a number of support groups where migraine
sufferers can find understanding, information resources, and encouragement.

The American Council for Headache Education (ACHE)

You can find ACHE online at www.achenet.org. Their mission is to educate
patients and health care providers about headaches, including migraines. Their
website has a wealth of information about migraine diagnosis and research as
well as an "Ask the Expert" section staffed by physician volunteers, all of
whom are headache specialists.

The World Headache Alliance (WHA)

The WHA's home on the web is at www.w-h-a.org. The WHA is a truly international
organization, bringing together the efforts of 38 headache organizations in 26
different countries. This is one of the best sites on the web for current
research information and innovative news about migraines and other headache
conditions.

Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs (MAGNUM)

Find MAGNUM on the Internet at www.migraines.org. This site has a lot of good
information and is an excellent resource for people wanting to get involved in
migraine activism.

The Migraine Trust

The Migraine Trust is an excellent, United Kingdom-based resource that can be
found online at www.migrainetrust.org. They are particularly devoted to
workplace migraine awareness and activism and put out a newsletter packed with
good information.

The Migraine Action Association (MAA)

The MAA's website at www.migraine.org.uk gives visitors a look at the history
of one of the oldest migraine support and advocacy groups in the world,
established in 1958. The site also has a very inclusive list of local chapters
and support groups throughout the UK.

Headaches and Migraines at About.com

A wealth of information and links to lots of other good resources are at
http://headaches.about.com. As of March 2007, the site had no guide but the
archives are full of good articles.

Non-Drug Treatment for Pediatric Migraine

The last thing most parents want to do is give their child a drug. Yet, when
that child is a migraineur (a person with chronic migraine headaches), as are a
reported 10-28% of children under the age of 19, many feel they have no choice.

This is simply not true. In fact, most pediatric neurology specialists will
recommend alternative treatments before medication for safety reasons. A number
of non-drug therapies are available for pediatric migraine sufferers. As with
any complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) treatment, the patient's
physician must be a part of the team making the decisions and overseeing care.

One of the most common non-drug treatment options is temperature therapy. The
application of a warm or cool compress eases pain for many. Apply the hot or
cold pack to the area of greatest pain, taking care to insulate it so no damage
to the child's skin occurs.

Sleep frequently eases the suffering of adult migraineurs. The duration of
children's migraines is usually shorter than that of an adult. A nap taken in a
dark, quiet, area can eliminate some migraines altogether.

Scheduling can be a factor in reducing the frequency of pediatric migraines.
Unlike adults, who experience stress in an acute, episodic manner, children
usually experience a constant stress level, particularly during the school
year. Establishing a regular routine, including time to relax and an
age-appropriate sleep schedule, helps many young migraineurs.

Relaxation training, including instruction in self-hypnosis and guided imagery,
is becoming the treatment of choice for recurrent pediatric migraines. Studies
on the subject show that over half of the pediatric patients who learn these
relaxation techniques experience less frequent migraines, but with no reduction
in pain intensity when they do have one.

There are many options for pediatric migraine therapy, do not be afraid to ask
the doctor about drug alternatives.

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