Migraines as a health issue, have been recognised for over 2,000 years, however the first full description of Hemiplegic Migraine that I have been able to find, dates from 1597.
In around 3,000 B.C. in “Meso-potamian poems”. Hippocrates provided an account of severe pain in one half of the head associated with disturbance of sight as follows;
“He seemed to see something shining before him like a light, usually in part of the right eye; at the end of a moment, a violent pain supervened in the right temple, then in all the head and neck…. vomiting, when it became possible, was able to divert the pain and render it more moderate.”
The Shorter Oxford Dictionary (SOED) cites under “MEGRIM” which is the late Medieval English spelling;
“l.b. = vertigo 1595. 2. A whim, fancy, fad 1593. 3. pi. ‘Vapours’; low spirits 1633. 4. pl. The staggers 1639. “Hee is troubled with a perpetual migrim; at sea hee wisheth to bee on land, and on land at sea 1631”.
The first appearance of “Hemicrania” (Greek, halfskull) is cited by the SOED as 1597. Thus even before The Plague and the Great Fire, it was used to describe a far wider constellation of symptoms than headache alone; the associations with disturbed balance and sea-sickness, the emotional changes and depression implied by “the vapours” and “low spirits” were evidently well understood.
AN increasing number of neurologists believe that there are direct links between the four main groups of epilepsy; Grand Mal, Temporal Lobe, Petit-Mal and Migraine. All of these are due to either genetic abnormalities or minor brain damage due to trauma, vaccination, childhood illness and other things, and have similarities thus:
- They are frequently triggered by stress
- Stroboscopic light, (photosensitivity) as in disco’s, can trigger migraine.
- Frequently there is an aura,
- Frequently there is a menstrual link
- Both show EEG storming.
- Patients often wake from sleep with a seizure or Migraine
Migraine is one of the most distressing conditions and not only affects the sufferer but also their whole family.
Migraine occurs when a damaged part of the brain is overloaded, so, therefore, an effective treatment needs to reduce the load on the damaged part of the brain. Migraines are normally characterised by an acute one-sided headache and frequently include visual disturbance, nausea, and vomiting.
So, how do we deal with it?
Well, migraine is simply the name of a syndrome (group of symptoms) and there can be many contributory reasons that build a migraine. The best approach is to become a demolition expert by removing the common denominators:
Teeth
A faulty bite can contribute to migraine, so if your client hasn’t had a dental check in the last 6 months, encourage them to do so and tell their dentist that they suffer from migraine.
The Skeleton
Neck and other spinal misalignments can be a contributing factor, encourage the client to get a check-over from a therapist that deals with alignments, e.g. a Tuina Therapist or Osteopath.
Childbirth
Interestingly, many women experience the onset of migraine within 12 months of giving birth, this tends to be referred to as Post-partum Headache.
Eyes
If the client hasn’t had an eye test for more than 1 year, or has just got new spectacles, get them to get a check-up. An incorrect eye correction can overload one side of the brain and trigger off the problem.
Eye Strain
Continuously looking at a particular point can cause eye fatigue, which can further lead to tiredness, double vision, and sadly, migraine. Eye strain is the most common source of migraines. Usually, eye fatigue occurs because of excessive exposure to bright screens like computers, televisions, and even mobile phones. If your client stares at a computer screen for the majority of the work day and are suffering from migraines, ask them to consider the purchase of anti-reflective glasses or a special screen to place over their monitor.
Food
Allergies can trigger Migraine, so if Migraine results every time an orange is eaten; stop eating oranges!!! However, I tend to find that if Migraine is caused by food, it is far more frequently the result of certain foods that contain tyramine (a product from the breakdown of tyrosine that regulates blood pressure and can cause spikes in blood pressure that trigger noradrenaline and subsequent vasodilation, these can, therefore, trigger off migraine). Foods containing tyramine should be avoided by a migraine sufferer, and include: Cheese, Chocolate, Broad Beans, Yoghurt, Yeast, Marmite, Bovril, Oxo, Pickled Herrings, Ripe Bananas and Textured Vegetable Protein.
Alcohol
Alcohol in moderation is not normally a problem, but alcohol in combination with sugar can be very problematic. However, it’s best to avoid heavy red wines, Brandy, Rum, Port, Sherry and Alcohol combined with non-slimline mixers.
Smells
Clinical studies report that nearly half of all people who experience a migraine struggle with enhanced sensitivity to smells, and these odours may bring on a migraine in the same population. One of the more common triggers is a pungent odour, such as perfume and cologne. Though the exact reason for a migraine attack is unknown, the symptoms are quite real for those suffering from it. Researchers have suggested that amongst men, strong odours are the second most common cause of a migraine attack. The most common (smelly) offenders resulting in a migraine attack are cigarette smoke, cleaning products, and even petrol.
Blood Sugar
Many people wake with migraine because low blood sugar can be a trigger. If the person has a “normal” modern diet, recommend they try to eat little and often and, unlike The Hay Diet, try to always combine proteins with carbohydrates. Protein slows the demand for insulin and stops blood sugar levels from seesawing. (Remember the ploughman’s Lunch? = Cheese (protein) & wholemeal bread (carbohydrate). Likewise, pizza in Italy and sushi in Japan combine proteins and carbohydrates. They can try to have something to eat just before going to bed to reduce the chance of waking with low blood sugar levels, but get them to make sure it’s easily digested and won’t lie heavy on the stomach.
Disturbed Sleep
Another leading cause of a migraine attack is due to disturbed sleep. With our lives becoming faster by the day, we are lucky to get eight hours of sleep. Therefore, an individual should do whatever is necessary to get a good night’s sleep.
Practice good sleep hygiene. For example, they should keep the bedroom just for sleep and sex and don’t drink caffeine after 6 pm. The bed and the bedding should be extremely comfortable, and their cell phone shouldn’t be in arm’s reach. They need to go to bed and get up at the same time every day (yes, even on the weekend). If their sleeping patterns don’t improve, they can talk to their doctor or herbalist, about suitable natural remedies as a supplement to working on it with acupuncture.
The things we have just discussed are prerequisites to any medications, before any progress can be made, but don’t forget we also need to look at the individual.
- They may need a Mineral and/or Multivitamin supplement to give optimum Nutrition (In spite of greater affluence, many people’s diet is poor) and help to alkalise the body, but it is better to consider yeast-free vitamin B as many Migraine sufferers will react to live yeast.
- Aloe Vera can be particularly useful in supporting the mucous membranes, as many Migraine sufferers also have sinus problems. Also, the polysaccharides in Aloe Vera are useful in repairing stress damage within the body.
- Echinacea is normally thought of for supporting the immune system but, can be very useful for reducing anxiety and stress
- Room fresheners will need to be removed to see if this makes a difference, as many migraine sufferers are allergic to perfumes.
- Coenzyme Q10 can reduce effectiveness of beta blockers, which many sufferers will be taking
- Dehydration, drinking plenty of water but also looking at Kidney and Spleen health to make sure the water is reaching the body properly
- Ginkgo Biloba has a vasodilatory effect and can be tried
From my experience, unless the aforementioned are dealt with, Acupuncture faces an uphill task. However, once those features have been dealt with, Acupuncture is an extremely effective treatment for Migraine. So what points should be used?
I always start at first treatment with LV3, ST36, CV13, Co4(Ren4), Co11(Ren11), GB20.
I later add BL2 and GV20(DU20) and, if the patient is just pre-menstrual, add SP6.
If blood pressure is on the high side of normal I also tend to add Shen Men.
No two patients are the same and treatment has to be tailored to the individual, so the therapist has to be flexible and adjust treatment accordingly. It can be a bit like being a detective! So, in cases that are resistant to the points previously mentioned, it may be necessary to add Gall Bladder Points on the lateral skull and TH5 (SJ5) on the arm.
Also, look at environmental features. For instance, if the patient works in a design office and the fluorescent light over their drawing board is old, it may just appear lightly pink to them, but their brain is picking up the strobe effect. So, their migraine may have been cured just by changing the fluorescent tube for a new one. (A lightbulb moment!)
Once you have gone through the checklists with the client, and everything on them is tried (as much as the client will try), then the acupuncture should take effect quite well. Similarly, if you are treating a client for Migraine with Acupuncture, and there isn’t as much effect as you would like, you can give them a checklist, so they can do some home detective work.
Good luck with your clients!
Initial Document Submitted by Tony Dickenson Board Representative for BAWMA (Edited for this Article by Michelle Bebbington of Acupuncture Association)
