Natural Migraine Alternatives

2011-01-30T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have produced an ebook which includes many ways to prevent and treat migraine, without the use of medication and drugs. The video below tells you more about it.

To learn more about the book, and sign up for a short mini-course on one aspect of migraine prevention, visit: http://stopthemigrainemadness.com/

Health risks of migraine

2010-03-08T15:25:00.001-08:00

Health risks of migraine: If you want to annoy a migraine sufferer, the fastest way to do it is to make li.. http://bz9.cc/0egO

Stop the Migraine Madness

2008-11-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

This blog will be continuing on a new site I've added! Do join me....

Stop the Migraine Madness Blog

The Economic Impact of Migraines

2008-10-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

A recent study conducted by IM Consulting in Falls Church, VA, USA considers the burden of migraine in the US. There is a major economic impact made by migraines, and it affects everyone in the country on some level. Millions of Americans are migraine sufferers, usually during what should be the most productive period of their lives. This in turn has an impact on the value or quality of daily life, and works its way out to impact the workplace and economy as well(1).

Under-diagnosis and use of nonspecific medications keep migraine from being taken seriously as a chronic health condition, and employers as well as individuals pay the price. The average yearly cost of treatment for a migraine patient is $2,571 - and the employer has to carry not only some of that burden but take into account the lost productivity of the affected employee. The consequences for self employed individuals are even more severe(2).

Migraines disrupt not only the lives of the migraine sufferers, but the lives of the people around them; the employers, families, friends and many others. It has been suggested that migraines can be considered a never-ending and even possibly an evolving disease.

Consider the wasted time that the migraineur has to deal with—not only work time, but personal, too. Not only is their work efficiency shot—and this affects their relationships with their employer and their co-workers—but any downtime that they might have scheduled is also lost.

As the migraines continue to occur an unsympathetic employer may view the affected worker’s dependability in an extremely poor light. This affects their desire to keep the employee on, or even give a decent reference in good faith, knowing of the difficulty.

In the meantime, the sufferer fights an uphill battle just for diagnosis and treatment - which can be costly, and without insurance may be impossible to obtain. Even with the newer treatments available, many victims of migraines still are out of commission a large amount of the time.

Doctors and hospitals having to write off bad debts because of high unreachable costs is a prime example of why migraines, diagnosis, documentation, treatment and the ability to work can turn into a vicious circle. Finding reliable ways to diagnose, treat and control migraines of all types is the only way to help minimize their economic impact.

References:
1) Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, Medscape 572401_5
2) Hazard E, Munakata J, Bigal ME, Rupnow MF, Lipton RB. PubMed 18671771.

Homeopathy for Specific Migraine Symptoms

2008-10-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Migraine sufferers can experience a wide array of symptoms associated with their headaches. Many of these are not addressed by conventional prescription medications, and some may even be made worse by ingesting the strong drugs commonly recommended for headache.

Homeopathy covers treatments for a much broader range than just pain, and delves to the very root of the cause aiming to eradicate the reason for the condition rather than masking the outward effects.

Many people with migraines report very distinct symptoms outside of the standard ones investigated by medical professionals. Nausea, dizziness and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound and extreme pain are commonly associated with headaches, but other less common indicators that occur in conjunction with your specific migraine can point the way to more specific treatment.

Over the next few weeks I'll be including some symptoms that may respond best to specific homeopathy remedies.

The first of these is that if you usually experience chills when a migraine is starting, cannot seem to get warm, feel sick and experience pain that settles over one eye, silica may be the best choice of homeopathy for you.

But rather than taking a hit-and-miss approach yourself, consider the advantages of an on-line / telephone consultation with our qualified and registered homeopath. For more details, visit: http://www.natural-migraine-alternatives.com/homeopathy.html

Research provided by Grace Alexander

Acid/Alkaline Diet

2008-10-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

My ebook mentions the importance of the acid-alkaline food diet, without going into extensive details. Here I just found a great site with an extensive acid-alkaline food chart, recipes and guide. The site explains how a high alkaline foods diet works and why eating alkaline foods is recommended.

If you don't know much about an alkaline diet, it is highly recommended for giving you a dramatic increase in energy levels along with restoring radiantly good health. It's well worth a try if you suffer from migraines.

If you haven't tried this yet, I highly recommend you do now. Download everything here:

PS. The recipes are delicious ;-)

Migraine and MicroLactin(TM)

2008-10-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

In my researches to bring you different, drug-free, methods of preventing migraines I've come across a supplement, MicroLactin(TM), that some of you might like to try, particularly anyone suffering from menstrual migraine.

I found the interesting case study on a 41-year-old female with severe menstrual migraines while investigating migraines and milk / dairy intolerance for an article on my website.

As it's not a supplement I've personally tried, and don't believe I suffer from a dairy intolerance anyway, I can't give a personal recommendation. However, it's an inexpensive supplement and could be worth a try.

Its not a new supplement, the US patent having been issued in 2004, but it was new to me and possibly to some of my readers.

If anyone tries it, please post your experiences (good or bad) up here for other readers.

Migraines and Blood Clots

2008-09-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Migraines appear to have a correlation to blood clots, according to study results just released.(1) 574 people in Italy age 55 and up were evaluated for migraine history as well as venous thrombosis, commonly known simply as ‘blood clots’. Blood clots are potentially fatal, as they occur in the vein and can dislodge and travel to the heart or lungs.

Of the 574 participants, 111 had history of migraine, and of those, 21 also had instances of venous thrombosis (19%). In contrast, out of the 463 without migraine, 35 had the condition (only 8%).

This is a significant percentage, and seems to prove conclusively that the migraines and blood clots are related - though researchers admit they have no idea why this might be so.

It is theorized that the blood of migraine sufferers clots more readily, but this has yet to be proven. The current theory that people with migraine were more likely to have hardening of the arteries was actual disproved by this test, said study author Stefan Kiechl, MD, of Innsbruck Medical University in Austria.

Obviously more studies need be done, but it will do no harm for migraine sufferers to be aware of a danger of blood clots, and ensure they minimize the risk.

(1) September 16, 2008, issue of Neurology®

COL 144 - Could This New Drug be the Answer for Migraines?

2008-09-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

The results of a double blind trial for a new migraine drug were released at the European Headache and Migraine Trust Conference in London earlier this month.

The new drug, COL 144, is a non-vasoconstrictor 5HT1F receptor agonist. It is hoped to be a highly effective non-triptan agent for the relief of migraines. It is being developed by CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The result of the study are very promising. 130 patients were given between 2.5 to 45 mg of either the COL 114 or a placebo on an intravenous infusion, and a majority of those on 10 mg and higher dosage of the drug experienced relief within 20 to 40 minutes; from severe migraine down to little or no migraine at all.

According to the study parameters, the drug was determined to show results in 50 - 75 % of patients. The most common side effect was paresthesia, or tingling / numbness of the skin, which was usually mild and transient and resolved rapidly after cessation of the infusion. EEG scans showed no changes from baseline.

This is very good news, and more trials are expected to begin to determine maximum efficacy of the drug, and development of an oral vehicle is planned as well.

Focus will be in dosing from 20 mg and up, as lower doses were less effective. The higher the dose in the study, the faster and more effective it was.

Hopefully COL 114 will continue to hold up under further testing and provide a safer way to treat severe migraines without severe side effects.

Source: Co Lucid Pharmaceuticals, Medical News Today

While waiting for further tests and an oral administration of COL114, readers may like to consider some of the drug-free, natural alternative methods of treating and preventing migraine in my ebook.

Migraine Awareness Week!

2008-09-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is Migraine Awareness week, and there have been a few great things going on around the world in regard to migraine research, awareness and treatment!

Far and away the best if you live in the UK was the free public talk sponsored by the Migraine Trust in London on Saturday 13th September 2008! The Migraine Trust is dedicated to spreading information about migraines and treatments as well as providing support and tips for migraine sufferers.

On September 8^thRoyal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow hosted the 2008 Symposium on Childhood & Adolescence Headache, and we are awaiting release of minutes from that event.

The European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress 2008 in London also just finished, and there is a non-vasoconstrictor drug just coming out of Phase II clinical trials that shows promise; COL 144 will be the subject of next week’s blog post, as data is still coming in!

Last but not least, a product alert. Patients with any condition that could be worsened by high levels of uric acid (gout, stones in the urinary tract, etc) should use caution when taking Topomax (topiramate) as it can cause the levels of uric acid in the body to rise. No huge alarms going off yet, but a study of 97 patients, the 53 with migraines who were taking Topiramate had significantly higher levels of uric acid than the 44 healthy controls. Do not stop taking any drugs that your physician has prescribed, but do check with him/her if you are concerned! (1)

(1) Headache, July/August 2008.

Gulf War Syndrome Due to Diet Drinks?

2008-09-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

An interesting note caught my eye in my research on aspartame and migraines - as we have seen, the relationship between aspartame and many different ailments seems extremely suspicious.

The main complaints to the FDA concerning aspartame include:

headache (far and away the most common complaint)

unexplained fatigue

dizziness, loss of equilibrium

neurological symptoms, including vision problems and memory loss

seizures, convulsions

stomach complaints, intestinal problems

The number one product type receiving the most complaints (by a margin of well over 2 to 1) is aspartame sweetened drinks, or diet cola.

Something that had jumped out at me in my studies was a statement that aspartame containing beverages must be kept under 86 degrees Fahrenheit, or the chemicals break down into even more dangerous compounds. This is actually information from NutraSweet themselves.

Alarmingly, I then noticed this nugget of information. During the Gulf War, aspartame sweetened sodas were passed out on a regular basis to American troops - beverages which were repeatedly exposed to heat well over 86 degrees.

These are the same troops that returned home complaining of what came to be known as Gulf War Syndrome - of which the symptoms include:

headache

unexplained fatigue

dizziness, loss of equilibrium

neurological symptoms, including vision problems and memory loss

seizures, convulsions

stomach complaint, intestinal trouble

Sound familiar? Other complaints which mirror each other in both instances are also apparent:

rashes, itching

fevers

labored breathing

irritability, mood swings

This is alarming to say the least - and would bear looking into - if the FDA and the US government weren’t intent on blocking any investigations into either issue.

Of course, in the meantime, if you have concerns about aspartame, there's nothing to stop you conducting your own, unscientific trial, and just excluding aspartame from your diet to see if any unexplained symptoms clear up. If you have found benefits from excluding it, or any other additive, please comment here to share the results with other readers.

References and further information:
Information on Gulf War Syndrome symptoms
Information on complaints to the FDA on aspartame
Warning of Aspartame Dangers

Occipital Nerve Stimulation for Migraine and Cluster Headaches

2008-08-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Handheld occipital nerve stimulators and implants have been in and out of the news for several years.

(From Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia: The occipital nerve innervates the scalp at the top of the head, over the ear and over the salivary glands.)

Several patients have had stimulator implantation with amazing effects, but the practice has yet to gain widespread recognition and approval.

At the time of writing (summer 2008) a study is ongoing at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan to determine the efficacy of occipital nerve stimulation to treat chronic headaches.

The idea is to temporarily reverse the polarity of nerves exiting the brain at the base of the skull, causing them to stop sending pain signals and relieving pain by tricking the brain.

Wires are run under the skin at the base of the skull, and attached to an implanted stimulation device. A remote can adjust the charge, and headaches can be stopped at the first sign of pain.(1)

Occipital nerve stimulation is currently recommended only for those for which every other avenue of treatment and investigation has failed. Early results of clinical trials show a marked improvement for many patients, so there is hope that the effect for long term migraine sufferers will be substantial.(2)

Most doctors agree more research is needed to rule out any negative long term effects, but for many migraine patients the notion of a quick zap fix to their constant pain is highly appealing. A trial of occipital nerve injections is often given to determine if a patient is a good candidate for the implant.

Currently this form of treatment is not covered by health insurance as the FDA has not approved the device for migraine treatment. Many doctors are thought to have been forging medical records to show a diagnosis for an approved condition to obtain this treatment for their patients.(3)

References:
(1) Dodick, David W., MD. "Occipital Nerve Stimulation." Platform Presentation. American Headache Society's 50th Annual Scientific Meeting. Boston. June 27, 2008.
(2) Goadsby, Peter J., MD. "Neurostimulation in primary headache syndromes." Expert Rev. Neurotherapeutics 7(12), 1785-1789 (2007).
(3) Interview with Sheila Brown, FDA Center For Devices and Radiological Health. June 10, 2008

Locust Comas Provide Insight into Migraines?

2008-08-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

When a locust, or cicada, is stressed or overheated, it reacts a lot like a person about to experience a migraine or a stroke. Stress and oxygen deprivation combine to cause a surge in potassium ions (which is a huge oversimplification) which in turn triggers a type of coma in the locust. When the insect cools down, it recovers.

It is hoped that study into the locust to learn how to prevent the coma might teach researchers how to prevent migraines in humans. The team found that they were able to condition the locusts to be more stress tolerant.

The human brain shows similar symptoms at the onset of a migraine, and curiously enough during surgery. The coma in the locust appears to be a survival mechanism - unfortunately, we humans get migraines or even have a stroke.

This makes sense to me, as many studies have shown that migraines are often triggered by oxygen deprivation! The Cochrane Library reports that although there is some indication that oxygen taken normally or in a hyperbaric chamber can help, it is slim and not enough to warrant sending patients for oxygen therapy when there are plenty of drugs available to manage headaches.

In light of the cicada study, I might be tempted to take a quick whiff of Grampa’s canister next time I feel one coming on - but that’s just me. Drugs seem ineffective on my migraines, and a little oxygen certainly seems like a more natural way to treat if it’s actually oxygen deprivation causing it.

Looking forward to more study in this area, that’s for sure!

Bennett MH, et al. Normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for migraine and cluster headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 3.

Rodgers CI, Armstrong GAB, Shoemaker KL, LaBrie JD, Moyes CD, et al. (2007) Stress Preconditioning of Spreading Depression in the Locust CNS. PLoS ONE 2(12): e1366. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001366

Gene Variant Linked to Migraine with Aura

2008-08-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

Possible Connection to Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease Risks

A recent study found correlation between a combination of a gene variant plus migraines with aura, and risk for stroke or heart disease. The study, published in the July 30, 2008, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, focused on the presence of a variant of a certain gene.

The study followed 25,001 Caucasian women for twelve years, watching for occurrence of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and ischemic stroke. All of the women were tested for a gene variant of the methyleneterahydrofolate reductase gene (commonly referred to as the MTHFR gene), which is carried by an estimated 11% of the study population.

18% of the women in the study had a history of migraine. 40% of the women with active migraine experienced aura, a neurological symptom associated with migraine attacks that normally lasts about 30 minutes and often causes visual disturbances.

During the 12 year study, 625 cardiovascular events were reported. Women with both the gene variant and migraine with aura were found to have more than three times the risk of heart disease driven by four times the chance of stroke compared to women with neither migraines nor the gene variant.

Tobias Kurth, study author and MD, ScD, with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, said:

"Doctors should try to reduce heart disease risk factors and advise young women who experience migraine with aura not to smoke and to consider alternatives to the birth control pill as these increase the risk of ischemic vascular problems.”

Kurth pointed out that the study did not conclusively prove that the gene alone increased the risk for overall and specific cardiovascular disease. Since men were not tested, it is not known if the results would be the same for males or not.

The MTHFR gene, referred to in the study, codes for an enzyme that regulates homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is harmful to the body; with a plentiful supply of vitamin B12 and folic acid, homocysteine can be converted to a useful compound known as SAM. Many health problems have been associated with high homocysteine levels. Plentiful supplies of B-vitamins are necessary to keep homocysteine at a safe level. It also increases with age, smoking and excess coffee.

You can read an excellent book on homocysteine by Kilmer McCully, who first discovered the health implications, much to the (initial!) scorn of his colleagues. You will find "The Homocysteine Revolution" on my migraine products page.

http://www.nutrition4all.co.uk/books_mig.html

I read a lot about homocysteine at college, and it's fascinating to now discover a link between migraine and homocysteine.

Migraine Headache and Food Intolerance

2008-08-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

It isn't news that certain foods can be implicated in migraines. As long ago as 1979, a study on migraine and food intolerances was published in the prestigious Lancet. (Food, Allergies and Migraine. Grant ECG, Lancet, May 5, 1979;966-969. 37344)

What some people will be surprised by, is the inclusion of a wider variety of foods than you might have expected.

In 60 migraine sufferers (52 women and 8 men) who completed a 5-day period of withdrawal from their normal diet (subjects consumed lamb, pears and bottled water), the most common reactive foods were wheat in 78%, orange in 65%, eggs in 45%, tea and coffee in 40% each, chocolate and milk in 37% each, beef in 35% and corn, cane sugar and yeast in 33% each upon challenge. With the avoidance of 10 common foods, there was a dramatic reduction in the number of headaches per month, with 85% becoming head-ache free; and 25% of the subjects with hypertension became normotensive.

This is an excellent article for many reasons. One common test for food sensitivities is for the sufferer to consume just lamb, pears and bottled spring water for a period of time that varies depending which practitioner you see. On reintroduction of classic allergic foods, results show clearly if there are true food sensitivities. But when people participate in such restrictive elimination diets they often complain about the regime and probably don't adhere to it strictly enough. Likewise, wary of clients' complaints, practitioners may not conduct a strict enough elimination diet.

At least in this study, when the subjects removed:

wheat products
oranges
eggs
tea and coffee
chocolate
milk
beef
corn
cane sugar
yeast

from their diet they could still have fairly varied meals using the remaining foods. Another point is that subjects only had to eliminate the foods for five days before reintroduction, making the diet more tolerable to them. (Source: Clinical Pearls News, October 2001, p164)

No migraine website and blog would be complete without covering migraine and food intolerances, so I've been working on a series of articles on food intolerances, which I hope you'll find interesting. More articles to come, so please bookmark the site to check back.

If you have experienced a reaction to a particular food, please post a comment for possible inclusion.

Migraine and the Serenity Prayer

2008-07-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

I came across a great blog post the other day, and recommend you to read it. It's about:

Migraine and the Serenity Prayer.

The Prayer is: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

This was so appropriate when I found it, as I'd just discovered that my long awaited holiday had been canceled, by the organizers, without bothering to tell us - and without returning the money for the tickets we'd already bought.

If ever there were circumstances designed to provoke a stress migraine these were they, but thanks to Natalia for her uplifting and well-timed post, I escaped!

I'm delighted to report that although we couldn't change the fact that the holiday had been canceled, we could change the venue. My lovely friends who were going with me, rushed about and made alternative arrangements for a few days together at an alternative venue. We had a great time, and despite a scandalously wicked plate of chocolate deserts I remained migraine free.

Whether the ticket money will ever be returned or not is unclear at the moment - but our holiday, although not what we'd planned, was just as enjoyable.

I was going to say that this post is something of a digression, but in fact it's not. Because remembering the lovely Serenity Prayer is just another natural tool for coping with the stresses and strains of everyday life that can sometimes get on top of any of us, bringing on another migraine.

I hope you'll find it helpful in your life.

My ebook also contains a section on migraine and prayer.

Migraine Relief From Oxygen

2008-07-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Science Daily reports, for today's news snippet, how oxygen therapy might ease migraine pain.

The study, carried out at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, reviewed the content and quality of nine existing trials and found a significant increase in the proportion of patients who had relief with oxygen compared to sham therapy.

This is a far more complicated (but none the less welcome) version of my own personal study into the use of oxygen to relieve migraine.

My simple tip is merely to open your windows wide if you feel a migraine looming. It sounds so simple, but how many people forget simple tips for migraine prevention?

If I feel a migraine coming on, I merely open both windows in the room to create a through draft, and this can often be effective in nipping the problem in he bud.

I'm writing this in what passes for summer here in the UK, and it must be admitted that sometimes the impending migraines I've treated in this way have been the product of sultry weather. Opening the windows in such conditions may be far more beneficial than opening it on a freezing cold winter's day. You'd be well-advised to experiment on this one, but in warm weather I do recommend some good old-fashioned "fresh air".

Migraines and the Weather

2008-07-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned a new article on my website about a sufferer's experiences of
Migraines and the Weather

So I was interested to find another article on the same subject:
How to handle the dreaded barometric pressure headache

Read the article above for more information and to learn about a scientific study at Jefferson Medical College to compare the reactions to weather of migraine sufferers and a control group.

There are links to other helpful sites, and some tips on how to cope. Well worth a read.

Butterbur and Belladonna

2008-07-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

Continuing on the theme of natural remedies for migraine, you'll find two further articles on my articles page.

One describes how a sufferer found relief from migraines using belladonna.

A second reports just a couple of trials looking into the use of butterbur for migraine.

For both these remedies, (especially belladonna, which can be toxic) you are recommended to consult a fully qualified and registered complementary therapy practitioner.

Migraine Therapy - The Beauty Salon Method

2008-06-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

We read so much about migraine and drugs or even migraine and supplements. But here's something very different.

How a visit to the beauty salon could prevent or relieve your migraine or tension headache.

To learn more, visit the articles page on my website.

Homeopathy Works, from the Mail Online

2008-06-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

I am indebted to Jayney Goddard of the The Complementary Medical Association (CMA) for drawing my attention to an article in the Mail Online, about a scientific study on the use of homeopathy carried out by doctors in Glasgow. Read Homeopathy Works, from the Mail Online for more information.

Regular readers of this blog will know that one of the options in our program is an online, face-to-face or telephone consultation with a qualified homeopath.

A previous blog post introduced our migraine program, and you can learn more about homeopathy and migraine here.

For anyone with a particular interest in homeopathy, the CMA is actually running The Scientific Research in Homeopathy Conference on the 18th June 2008. This is a non-profit event - run by homeopaths for homeopaths and other CAM practitioners. The aim of the Conference is to provide practitioners with information about the robust scientific evidence that proves that homeopathy is more effective than placebo and is a viable therapeutic tool.

You can read about the compference on the The Complementary Medical Association website, or for further information please feel free to contact the CMA on 0845 129 8434.

Migraine, Serotonin and Sex

2008-06-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sex to relieve your migraine? Probably the last thing on your mind!

However sex, particularly orgasm, is thought to release chemicals in the brain which may prevent migraine or migraine symptoms.

A study in the journal Headache, official journal of the American Headache Society, reported that serotonin is released during sex, giving a person an 'all-over-feel-good sensation'.

Dr. Alexander Mauskop of the New York Headache Centre also says that as well as serotonin being released during sex, if orgasm occurs endorphins are also released which work to alleviate pain.

There are also claims from America that sex can stop a migraine completely rather than merely reducing the pain.

So the next time you experience the symptoms of migraine, you know what to do instead of saying "Not tonight dear, I have a headache"!

Migraines and the Weather

2008-05-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

We're all aware of the common dietary triggers - the "usual suspects" for causing migraine. Many people know about less common triggers, such as lack of sleep.

But an even more unusual trigger is the change in the weather, or barometric pressure.

I had often noticed this myself, without making the connection that this could be happening to other people too - so I was intrigued to come across a friend whose migraines are also triggered by changes in the weather. You can read her story on the new articles page on my website.

Migraine and Homeopathy

2008-05-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Many migraine sufferers realize that prescription drugs simply aren't effective unless they continually increase their doses. Finding that the side effects are far too numerous and too uncomfortable to continue treatments, many are now turning to natural remedies which focus on the entire body, not merely the source of pain as is the case with prescription drugs.

One very successful approach is homeopathy, although it is rarely a 'quick fix'. When you undertake homeopathic treatment you will be using your body's own defense mechanisms in conjunction with treatments prescribed during your consultation homeopath. However the long term solution to preventing migraines, combined with a feeling of overall well-being can far out-weigh the effects that chemically manufactured drugs may have on your body and its ability to tolerate such unnatural invasions.

By using homeopathy you are becoming actively involved in your own health-care. However this will require time, effort and dedication on your part.

The holistic approach, which not only focuses on the migraine but incorporates all aspects of your mental and emotional states, will tackle the root causes of migraine and may alleviate migraine symptoms and prevent further attacks.

At "Natural Migraine Alternatives" we are proud to have secured the services of Nicola Berman BSc (Hons), LCHE, RSHom. Nicola undertook four years of homeopathy training at the Centre for Homeopathic Education in London, England and is a registered member of the Society of Homeopaths – the largest organization registering professional homeopaths in Europe.

But you do not need to be in the UK, or even Europe, to have a consultation with Nicola. For details of an on-line / telephone consultation with our registered homeopath, visit:
www.natural-migraine-alternatives.com/homeopathy.html

Migraine and Constipation

2008-05-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

It is widely known that constipation or a 'dirty bowel' may be a cause of migraine. Alternative therapies which are becoming increasingly popular are colonic irrigation or colon cleansing.

The build up of decomposing waste matter can cause a toxic condition. Colonic irrigation and colon cleansing removes impacted matter and toxins. However, several treatments are usually required for maximum effect.

Once all toxins and impacted faecal matter have been removed, regular bowel movements can be restored. Thereafter, eating a healthy diet that contains plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and fibre will help prevent further toxic build up and constipation.

There are many clinics offering colonic irrigation; "do-it-yourself" colon cleansing kits are also widely available. They are mostly either made up from herbal ingredients or magnesium oxygenating products.