Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #180 on: November 18, 2009, 11:56:54 PM » by hi_itsgwen

I've done a bit of reading on migraine causes, and ran across something tonight that seems to be a very simple and promising solution (maybe Huh

) I don't get migraines, so I can't test this, BUT...here is what I'm thinking:

Migraines are caused by certain blood vessels constricting in the occular and cranial region. So some blood vessels shrink up and become smaller, which results in throbbing, searing pain as the blood tries to pulse its way through those constricted vessels.

Most treatment options (herbal, home remedies, over the counter and prescription) use astringent action to constrict the rest of the blood vessels as well, which evens out pressure and relieves pain. But this solution is not long lasting, as it is essentially keeping you in a cycle of inflammation.

According to what I've read, you want anti-inflammatory properties to really effectively treat a migraine. Well, that's just not as easy to come by. BUT tonight, I was reading a great, research based website about herbs, specifically, garlic.
It said "For hypertension, it is thought to reduce blood pressure by causing smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation by activating the production of endothelium-derived relaxation factor (5). "
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69230.cfm

In normal English: garlic causes blood vessels to relax and dialate.

In the cited study, oral garlic was used, but I'm thinking that you'd get fast, targeted relief with using a fresh garlic poultice on the area of pain and/or on your artery that is supplying the blood to your head. The poultice has the advantage of delivering the full strength of the garlic directly to the blood stream.

We have had excellent results using garlic poultices topically for the antibiotic properties. Here's what I do:
Smash or chop a fresh clove of garlic. Dampen a paper towel, and wrap garlic in it, smashing it to release the juices. Apply topically for 2 minutes. Repeat hourly.

So, (not that I'm wishing a migraine on ya', but) anybody wanna try this and see if it works?

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #181 on: November 19, 2009, 06:56:22 AM » by queentea

would it work with just any headache, or is this strictly a migrane remedy? I'll give it a try with my next headache.

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #182 on: November 19, 2009, 08:28:57 AM » by Dixiemom

Quote from: hi_itsgwen on November 18, 2009, 11:56:54 PM

So, (not that I'm wishing a migraine on ya', but) anybody wanna try this and see if it works?

I will! It can't be any worse than when I tried the 'snorting cayenne pepper" cure! Cheesy

Of course, I feel migraine free today, but I am sure it won't be long. . . . . Roll Eyes

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #183 on: November 19, 2009, 08:39:34 AM » by hi_itsgwen

Quote from: queentea on November 19, 2009, 06:56:22 AM

would it work with just any headache, or is this strictly a migrane remedy? I'll give it a try with my next headache.

Well, I'm guessing that it will work with any headache that's a result of bood vessel constriction. But if it's a sinus headache, I don't know if it would be effective. You can try it though!

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #184 on: November 19, 2009, 08:40:20 AM » by hi_itsgwen

Quote from: Dixiemom on November 19, 2009, 08:28:57 AM

Quote from: hi_itsgwen on November 18, 2009, 11:56:54 PM

So, (not that I'm wishing a migraine on ya', but) anybody wanna try this and see if it works?

I will! It can't be any worse than when I tried the 'snorting cayenne pepper" cure! Cheesy

Of course, I feel migraine free today, but I am sure it won't be long. . . . . Roll Eyes

YIKES Dixie! You're a braver woman than I am...snorting cayenne pepper!!!!

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #185 on: November 19, 2009, 11:24:13 AM » by floydian

In your research, Gwen, did you find out what causes the blood vessels to constrict in the first place?

I know when I eat certain foods, I am going to wake up wiith a head ache. Is the cause then, blood vessels constricting? I also know that every once in awhile I wake up w/ a headache when I did not eat a headache triggering food (that I know of) the day before.

Also, there are times when there is just no way around eating something that will give me a headache the next day, such as when I am eating someone else's cooking. Is there a way to prevent the vessels from constricting at that point?

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #186 on: November 19, 2009, 02:01:25 PM » by ndmomof6

Quote from: hi_itsgwen on November 19, 2009, 08:40:20 AM

Quote from: Dixiemom on November 19, 2009, 08:28:57 AM

Quote from: hi_itsgwen on November 18, 2009, 11:56:54 PM

So, (not that I'm wishing a migraine on ya', but) anybody wanna try this and see if it works?

I will! It can't be any worse than when I tried the 'snorting cayenne pepper" cure! Cheesy

Of course, I feel migraine free today, but I am sure it won't be long. . . . . Roll Eyes

YIKES Dixie! You're a braver woman than I am...snorting cayenne pepper!!!!

I thought Floydian was the cayenne pepper sniffer. Shocked

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #187 on: November 19, 2009, 02:42:19 PM » by T

Just wanted to share what I read recently in 'Fasting and Eating for Health' by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD

It says...

'The standard theory that tension headaches are caused by widening of the blood vessels and migraines are caused by constriction of the blood vessels has been disproven in recent investigations. The major cause of both tension headaches and migraines is the retention of toxins or tissue irritants within the central nervous system. These chemical irritants may cause an over sensitivity of nerve tissues to other stimuli.'

And...

'The migraine is usually experience after stressful periods have ended and the body attempts to repair and detoxify.'

And finally...

'When migraine and tension headache patients are placed on low-protein, natural plant-based diets, with no refined sweets of any type, they almost all recover within a month, never needing medication or further treatments to control their condition.'

I can't say he's the only authority on this and I don't have the book any longer so I can't reference the research, but, I can tell you that we have highly decreased the amount of meat we eat and my husband is eating as many vegetables as he ever has (that's a big deal!) and he's been nearly headache free for over a year and a half. This is huge for him as he's had migraines since before I knew him and we've been married almost 22 years!

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Re: Migraines/Headaches: Causes & Treatments
« Reply #188 on: December 27, 2009, 03:16:52 PM » by southmom2k

hi! I just found this information when I was researching ACV (apple cider vinegar) and baking soda...its a bit of info from this site that explains why some get headaches and how to cure them...

For most headaches I found that excessive calcium and lack of magnesium and especially vitamin c deficiency to be the common cause. If I take 500 mg of sodium ascorbate vitamin C twice a day, all headaches are gone the next day. A high common table salt intake and sometimes too high of sea salt may cause a headache too. The common table salt causes much higher headache where the most common source comes from the all American diets of french fries and potato chips, which are acid, high in calcium and has high fats. Low potassium and low magnesium can cause it too. Too much calcium entering the brain leads to headache and a magnesium is antagonistic so it reduces them. A potassium citrate increases alkalinity as do a baking soda and reduces calcium from leeching of the bones as the blood alkalinity is increased thus reducing the headache that way. So there's many causes of headaches, but these are the major ones. The apple cider vinegar is acid so a body without sufficient alkalinity to neutralize this has high blood calcium as the acidity causes higher leeching from the bones and reaching the brain and it's more worse if the person has low level of vitamin C, the form I prefer is sodium ascorbate, because it's an alkaline form, as opposed to an acid form of vitamin C such as ascorbic acid.

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/side_effects2.html#ACVBAKINGSODA

Hope this helps!! I found it very interesting!!

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