Overview

Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences, painful headaches, and nausea. It is a common condition which affects women more frequently than it does men.

The typical migraine headache is one-sided and pulsating, lasting 4 to 72 hours. Accompanying complaints are nausea and vomiting, and a heightened sensitivity to bright lights (photophobia) and noise (hyperacusis). Approximately one third of people who experience migraine get a preceding aura, in which a patient may sense a strange light or unpleasant smell. Patients often describe triggers they feel precipitate an episode of migraine, such as certain foods and beverages (like chocolate or alcohol), stress or menstruation. In some migraine types there are typical features but the headache remains absent, and in children abdominal pain may be a prominent feature.

Although the exact cause of migraine remains unknown, the most widespread theory is that it is a disorder of the serotonergic control system. Genetic factors may also contribute. Studies on twins show that genes have a 60 to 65% influence on the development of migraine. Fluctuating hormone levels show a relation to migraine in several ways: three quarters of adult migraine patients are female while migraine affects approximately equal numbers of boys and girls before puberty,[citation needed] and migraine is known to disappear during pregnancy in a substantial number of sufferers.

The treatment of migraine begins with simple painkillers for headache and anti-emetics for nausea, and avoidance of triggers if present. Specific anti-migraine drugs can be used to treat migraine. If the condition is severe and frequent enough, preventative drugs might be considered.

The word migraine is French in origin and comes from the Greek hemicrania, as does the Old English term megrim. Literally, hemicrania means "half (the) head".

Saturday, October 24, 2009

How herbs and Natural Remedy work for Headache?



Herbs contain small quantities of chemicals, compared to modern pharmaceutical products which extract or synthesize one chemical in much larger amounts. This means there is no danger of sudden physiological changes which cause side-effects.

For example, valarian appears to improve the quality of your sleep as well as helping you to dose off and doesn't cause a sluggish feeling in the morning, because the chemicals it contains are in very small amounts and don't last long in the body. This lower level of activity may be disappointing if you want to be 'knocked out' but using herbs like valerian as part of a plan to restore sleep patterns can be an effective alternative to stronger, single chemicals like the well known sedative valium (derived originally from valerian).

Most herbs contain a large number of active constituents which work together to create one or more effects. The more we find out about herbs, the more we realize that each constituent is a valued part of the whole, negative effects balanced by positive ones. A good example follows.

Recently much has been made of a research trial which showed that a St John's wort preparation made liver enzymes more active, which reduced the effect of other drugs taken at the same time because they were metabolized before reaching their target.

The St John's wort preparation used was standardized to contain a larger amount of one constituent - hypercin - than all the others. Not only has hypericin failed to show antidepressant activity on its own in repeated trials, but another ingredient - hyperforin, has been shown to counterbalance hypercin in its effect on other drugs and doctors in Germany continue to prescribe it as a favored anti-depressant.
Nautral Headache remedy using Cinnamon

Cinnamon is useful in headaches caused by exposure to cold air. A fine paste of this spice should be prepared by mixing it with water and it should be applied over the temples and forehead to obtain relief.

Similar bad publicity surrounds liquorice, where glycyrrhizin is thought to raise blood pressure
, but in fact dozens of other constituents act to lower it, in particular by diuresis (elimination of water). There are many more examples of this sort of balanced action. Where two or more constituents act together to create the same effect this is known as synergy. These are particular features of herbal medicine which enable it to support the holistic approach very well.

====

YourHeadacheSoultions.co.uk is one voice of the Watson Headache Institute.

The Watson Headache Institute was established to increase the awareness of cervicogenic (neck) disorders in headache and migraine by imparting my (and that of others) clinical experience and knowledge; to present and discuss past and present relevant research and to undertake and support rigorous clinical and scientific research in this specialty.

Appropriate and up-to-date knowledge is self-empowering; I believe that every headache sufferer has the right to know their headache diagnosis as precisely as possible (and what it means), to know the nature of their headache disorder, its outcome and possible types of treatment.

The application of these techniques in Europe, United Kingdom and Australia has become known as the "Watson Headache Approach" and forms the basis of courses I present for physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and Spain - refer www.headacheeducation.com

The Watson Headache Institute was established to increase the awareness of cervicogenic (neck) disorders in headache and migraine by:imparting my (and that of others) clinical experience and knowledge
and,undertaking and supporting rigorous clinical and scientific research in this specialty.


Dean Watson

Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia






Autor: Dean Watson

Dean Watson of YourHeadache Solutions, Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia. On his site you can search all topics about headache migraine, headache treatment, migraine treatment, , migraine causes headache symptoms and more.


Added: October 24, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/How-herbs-and-Natural-R~

0 comments: