Migraines
Migraines are severe, throbbing headaches that may or may not be accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances and other symptoms.
Traditional research has described migraines as vascular headaches involving excessive dilation or contraction of the brain’s blood vessels. Migraines can occur anywhere from once a week to once or twice a year and they often run in families. One factor behind the higher incidence of migraine in women may be fluctuations in the level of the hormone oestrogen. Women typically get migraines around the time of menstruation when oestrogen levels are low. In children migraine pain tends to be more diffuse, rather than localized. Migraines can first show up in childhood, not as headaches, but as colic, periodic abdominal pains, vomiting, dizziness and severe motion sickness.
There are many possible factors that can trigger migraines in susceptible individuals, including allergies, constipation, stress, changes in hormone levels, liver malfunction, too much or too little sleep, emotional changes, sun glare, flashing light, lack of exercise and changes in barometric pressure. Dental problems may also be a factor. Low blood pressure is frequently associated with migraine; studies have shown that blood sugar levels are low during a migraine attack, and the lower the blood sugar level, the more severe the headache.
Recommendations
- Adopt a diet that is low in simple carbohydrates and high in protein.
- Include almonds, almond milk, watercress, parsley, fennel, garlic, cherries and fresh pineapple in the diet.
- Omit from the diet foods that contain the amino acid tyramine including aged meats, avocados, bananas, beer, cabbage, canned fish, dairy products, aubergine, hard cheeses, potatoes, raspberries, red plums, tomatoes, wine and yeast.
- Also avoid alcoholic beverages, aspirin, chocolate, MSG and nitrites (preservatives found in salami and bacon).
- Eat small meals and have small nutritious snacks between meals, if needed, to help stabilise wide swings in blood sugar levels that may precipitate a migraine. In particular, avoid missing meals.
- See your dentist for treatment of any dental problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, bacterial infection, temporomandibular joint syndrome, or tooth grinding that may be contributing to the problem.
- Take regular, moderate exercise.
- Acupuncture and acupressure have helped many people control the pain of migraines.