Today we’re back in the Cotswolds…the lovely little villages and bigger market towns…this is Bilbury….
And we’re continuing to look at headaches this week…today the big guns of the headache categories.
Quotes are from NATURAL CURES FOR HEADACHES by Dr. Cass Ingram (I found nothing in the book to show she was a licensed doctor either MD or DO–but she does play one on radio and TV interviews so who knows?)
And we’ll end with a gold “old school” remedy–a hot hunk—Jamie/Sam…I mean who is going to look at that bod and say “not tonight I have a headache” ?
“…the cause of tension, migraine, premenstrual and cluster headaches remain elusive and the treatment poor.”
11″ Round Etched Glass Platter Hellerware on a 12″ Wooden…
$30.00
Cluster headaches are a severe headache with
“throbbing” pain
One side of face/head
May include
tearing eye
nasal congestion
It can occur
up to three times a day
each time lasting one or more hours
daily over weeks or months.
Some call Cluster headaches (which compose about 10% of all headaches) the most painful of all. These type of headaches are more common in men than women.
Depending the source I found the following causes (or triggers)
Stress (while some found that the LET DOWN from a long period of stress was the actual trigger)
Alcohol
&
Cigarettes
Interestingly at least one source stated that during remission periods very little caused headaches while during sensitivity (Cluster Cycle) session a very small amount of either of these could trigger the pain and went on to say that strong sun light, during this Cycle could also so this.
Another trigger (even during remission periods) was listed as high altitudes (i.e. flying or mountain climbing!)
“Note that two of the most common agents used to treat migraine, aspirin and acetaminophen can actually cause it. This response can be due to an allergy to the drug. Thus, if a person is sensitive to aspirin or acetaminophen taken during a migraine will act to prolong the attack and may even worsen the pain.”
Did you know that there are two kinds of migraine?
The Classic Migraine…similar to the other except with auras (i.e. visual disturbances)
numbness in extremities
Smelling strange smells
and other “hallucinations.”
And these can be caused by either dilation or contraction of blood vessels.
“The brain is greatly affected by any disruption in blood sugar, since all it’s cells depend upon glucose, which is the normal fuel in the blood. A sudden drop in blood sugar levels negatively affect the brain. Often the results is a variety of symptoms, which include depression, anxiety, severe pain and migraines.”
Common Migraines are similar to classic and involve severe throbbing pain often on one side of the head
nausea & vomiting
cold hands
dizziness
sensitivity to light & sounds.
This type like the classic is also a result of the dialation or contraction of those same blood vessels in the brain.
“The physician must be aggressive at determining the underlying cause of a migraine. He/she should perform a thorough history and physical examination and run all the appropriate tests.”
Both kinds of migraines are most common in women which some experts (but not all) have described as being a high (over) achiever and perfectionist who needs to relax more. Ages for suffers range from 20 – 35. Children can get headaches to and according to one of my sources appears early on as a colic condition manifesting in stomach problems. In the late 90’s the CDC estimated that migraines had increased (in all age groups) by almost 60%.
At least one of the sources I read advised that they felt both type of migraines were brought on by a number of allergies to food (both natural and chemical additives) as well as medicines. The studies quoted were not large ones and so this wasn’t proven to my liking but is as workable theory as any of the rest.
In women (who make up almost 9% of the 10% of the population in the US that suffer them) it is felt that a major cause is hormone fluctuation.
Other causes sited that can trigger the condition:
Constipation
Stress
Liver malfunction
Great differences from needed sleep (both too much and too little)
Emotion issues
Bright sunshine
Flashing lights (like a strobe)
Poor conditioning and subsequent lack of exercise.
Changes in barometric pressure
Dental problems
Low blood sugar—with test showing increased pain in proportion lowering sugar readings.
Smoking which contains substances that affect the blood vessels.
Foods including
chocolate
citrus fruits
Alcohol (esp. red wine)
Aged, cured, pickled, soured, yeasty or fermented food of all kinds
“…it is difficult for the headache patient to pin down precisely what might be causing his/her symptoms, that is without medical help.”
It is interesting to note that a Study in Britian found that when allergenic foods were removed from the diet the migraine sufferers 93% of those studied had relief from their migraine pain.
The Blachs recommend a simple carb and high protein diet similar to that used in hypoglycemia patients may help and in addition to the foods mentioned previously you might want to avoid
Aged meats
avocados
bananas
beer
cabbage
canned fish
dairy products
eggplant
potatoes
raspberries
red plums
tomatoes
yeast
hot dogs
luncheon meats
and all spicy foods.
Stay tuned tomorrow for some other recommendations and I will provide you with all the sources of my reading so that you can look into this more for yourself.
“Notice that psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression are not listed. This is because mental disorders per se are far from the major causes. Again, headaches are physical in nature.”
Since I’ve never heard Claire complain of a headache I figure Jamie is the best cure for that–what do you think?
and while I can’t tell you how to find Jamie besides I figure Claire would fight you for him (unless you try time travel) I can point you to a OUTLANDER STYLE get away: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/travel/adventure/557678/Outlander-holiday-Scotland-travel
If you’re not sure I’m telling the truth about Jamie and his alter ego Sam check out this pictures to be sure: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/319685273521991415/
10″ Square Glass Divided Serving DIsh. Clear with Food E…$20.00
“There is little scientific proof that medicine aids in the elimination of headaches.”
Russ “With Love From Teddy Town” Birthday WIshes Bear & P… $10.00
