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You And Your Migraines: How To Exercise Without Pain

April 1st, 2011
Mary Betz asked:




Exercising when you have chronic headaches is always a challenge. Many times a migraine is made worse by even light activity and most migraineurs want to just lie down and be still as any movement makes the pounding pain increase. So how do you get exercise if you are having regular headaches? One of the best ways to reduce the level of pain and frequency of migraines is through aerobic exercise. The exercise will raise serotonin levels and since serotonin receptors are involved in migraine, this reduces headaches. Endorphins also go up (the brain’s happy drug!) so everyone feels good after exercising.

Great. Just great. Sounds fine. But how in the world can you do this when your head is exploding? And if you have a daily headache, just the thought of exercising causes anxiety because the exercise might make the headache soar to a pounding migraine. It sort of starts going around and around and around.

The key here is to break the cycle. Start small but keep repeating the actions. If you have a headache that is mild but bearable, go for a walk. Everyday that you can manage it, do the same. Gradually increase the walking to a fast walk and work up a sweat. There will be days when the migraine attack strikes and you won’t be able to exercise, but they may start reducing in frequency.

Another tip is to pick a sport or activity that you love but are afraid to enjoy because of your headaches. Again start small. After all, roller-blading around the block at first go may sound trivial, but after awhile you will be cruising through all the parks and really getting some exercise. Or perhaps you might enjoy an activity you never thought you could conquer..like dancing! With the current national craze for ballroom and salsa dancing, even those with two left feet are getting into the action. With increased physical activity you will have less migraines and maybe even lose a few pounds!

But what if you have some other problems and mobility is limited? Stretching through yoga might be the answer for you. Gentle stretches and learning to hold some poses does exercise muscles, reduce back pain and headaches in general. The deep relaxation that comes with yoga is beneficial for stress reduction and that of course is the main cause of migraines.

Don’t forget to pre-hydrate with plenty of water before exercising and have a little bit of food an hour or so before. Headache victims will provoke a headache through dehydration and low blood sugar, and exercise will only magnify these effects. Then if you get a headache during exercise it is natural to blame the exercise and not want to do it again.

Basically, if you are a headache sufferer, exercise has to become a way of life. This will help keep your migraines and even tension headaches manageable. This way you might get away from living a life centered around your headaches, and start living a life.



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Feverfew, Butterbur and Pine Bark – Three Powerful and Effective Herbal Remedies For Migraines

March 30th, 2011
Thomas Thorne asked:




When a person develops a migraine headache, the primary and immediate concern is relief from the incredible pain. All too often individuals in this situation grab a bottle and down one, two or three of the common over-the-counter headache medications to fix the issue. The problem is, that does not fix the issue. People who take 2-3 or more of these medications per week are at strong risk to become caught in a desperate rebound headache cycle, where they have near daily headaches of one degree or another.

There has got to be a better way to fight this modern day scourge on mankind. A person in such a situation has lost control of his or her life. They are slave to an evil taskmaster that will not allow them to do many of the things that they would like and not to enjoy so much of what life has to offer.

Through testing, three of the most effective herbal remedies for migraines are feverfew, butterbur and pine bark. Let’s take a look at all three of these promising alternative treatments for migraine.

Feverfew

Feverfew comes from the same tribe of plants (asteraceae) as the daisy. Since the 1st century A.D., it has been used for the treatment of headache, stomachaches and fever. Feverfew has anti-inflammatory, stimulant, relaxant, decongestant and anti-coagulant properties.

Feverfew is mainly used for the treatment and prevention of frequent and serious migraine headaches. From the Natural Health (2007-03-01) we are told that “in a recent, well-designed clinical trial, 170 German patients took a placebo pill or an extract of feverfew for 16 weeks. Those taking Feverfew had significantly fewer migraines.”

Feverfew should be taken daily as a preventative, rather than a treatment for migraines. Herbal experts recommend tapering off the dose if you are going to quit taking the herb.

Butterbur

Traditionally butterbur has been used to treat spasms in the respiratory and digestive tract. In addition, Butterbur is said to inhibit the production of histamine, which helps to keep air passages open. This may help to relieve allergic congestion and seasonal allergies.

Butterbur is very popular in Europe and becoming increasingly popular in America as a sound way to minimize neurological discomfort. The exact cause of this is still unclear but neurologically severe headaches may be caused by a number of biological factors. Some researchers believe that they stem from an imbalance in the central nervous system that encourages the release of blood-dilating peptides. This could result in inflammation of the brain’s thin outer layer, the cerebral cortex. As pressure builds, blood flow becomes more restricted, potentially enhancing migraine headache symptoms. (Carle, R., Plant-based antiphlogistics and spasmolytics’ (translated from German). Z Phytother. 1988; 9: 67-76).

Other physicians think that many commonly consumed food items trigger migraines or that they could be hereditary. A 12 week clinical study showed that the active compounds in butterbur can prevent peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis, which is an inflammatory process that has been linked to the onset of mgraines. (Bickel D, Roder T, Bestmann, J. Identification and characterization of inhibitors of peptide-leukotriene-synthesis from Petasites hybridus. Plant Medica. 1994; 60:31-322).

Also of note is the writing ‘Petasites Hybridus Root (Butterbur) is an effective prevention for migraine” by Lipton, Einhaupl and Gobel (Neurology, 2004; 2240-4).

One thing to note about butterbur is that the plant contains liver toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). So it is important to choose a formula that is PA free.

Pine Bark

Dr. Sirichai Chayasirisobhon of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center set out to address the question of whether free radical damage can contribute to migraine headaches. (“Use of a Pine Bark Extract and Antioxidant Vitamin Combination Product as Therapy for Medication”, Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, Vol 46, No. 5, May 2006) He chose a dozen patients who had a long-term history of migraines with little to no success with various drugs (antidepressants, beta-blockers and anticonvulsants).

At the start of the study, subjects completed a questionnaire which was called the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS). The MIDAS was designed to assess the impact of migraine flare-ups on activities at home, work and while interacting with friends and family. This is a great way to start an unbiased test, so that the results before the test are well documented and there can be no dispute.

For the three month study period, each subject was given daily supplements that contained 600 mg of vitamin C, 300 IU of vitamin E and 1,200 mg of a pine bark extract. Subjects were allowed to continue using the medications they were currently taking.

Upon the end of the trial period the subjects completed a seconds MIDAS questionnaire. Their responses indicated a significant improvement.

The overall MIDAS scored improvement was more than 50%.

The average number of migraine days was reduced from 44 days in the three months prior to the trial, to 26 days during the trial.

The average migraine severity score (which some will argue is the most important factor) was reduced from 7.5 (out of 10) to 5.5

One subject dropped out of the trial. Of the remaining 11, two reported no change in frequency, duration or severity. Among the other nine, the overall MIDAS score improvement was almost 68%.

These three herbal remedies for migraines have all shown very good results when tested as alternative treatments for migraine headaches. If you suffer from headaches of these three appear to be well worth a try. It is possible that people in this country need to take a new approach toward migraine headache relief. Herbal remedies may be the answer.

Visit the Herbal Remedies for Migraine Headaches website for more information on herbal remedies for migraine headaches and great product offers. There are ways to help defeat the battle with migraines or headaches in general that many of us are facing.



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Migraine Headaches – Valuable Migraine Headache Triggers

March 28th, 2011
Joshua Hardingur asked:




There are a whole host of other treatment methods for migraine symptoms in addition to pain pills. It doesn’t matter if you experience menstrual migraine headaches or other varieties, you will find treatment options that can give you relief. Many natural treatment methods are offered that can be both safer and cheaper than habitual pain killing medications. Many natural treatments can even do better than trendy analgesics.

Tension-type headaches are more often than not a result of stress. There are many causes of strain including on-the-job pressure, ill health, financial uncertainties, and other emotional trials. Stress headaches can often be relieved by eliminating this emotional stress.

Biofeedback is one method of reducing and controlling stress, and thus reducing headache pain. Biofeedback is not actually a method of treatment, but an instructional plan that is designed to teach someone how to be in charge of their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls functions automatically; you don’t have to control them consciously. Functions such as keeping your blood pressure in check, heart rate, and muscle relaxation are autonomic functions.

Biofeedback is a method of learning how to have control of some bodily functions, in particular muscle relaxation, which is able to relieve the headache pain caused by muscle tension. Once this technique is learned, a person is able to produce the desired affect at will.

There are other solutions besides biofeedback for solving the stress problem. One way is taking a warm shower. Another method is simply to lie down in a serene and dark room to calm down. A rubdown is also excellent for reduction of muscle tightness. Massaging your temples using your fingertips can go a long way to stress reduction. Using your fingertips and rubbing your head and neck in a firm but gentle circular fashion is best.

Another method to lessen the sense of stress appearing in the head is to put ice on the back of the neck at the base of the skull. Ice, however, must not be positioned directly on the skin. Wet some paper towels or a Tee shirt and then wring out the additional water and apply them as barriers between the ice and the skin. Using this protecting barrier for the ice can help keep the skin from becoming too cold.

Another method can be very valuable for reducing headache pain, but it requires a good deal more labor. Over time, doing exercises can lower stress and also improve overall health. However, doing it on one occasion a month is not what we’re talking about. Regular exercise, both weightlifting and cardiovascular (walking) can be good for complete wellbeing and in that way reducing or eliminating painful conditions like headache pain. Be aware that vigorous activities whilst experiencing a migraine can actually amplify the pain. For exercise to be most beneficial it should be done consistently. Make it a lifetime habit.

Chiropractic treatment has also been proven to be beneficial for muscle relaxation and therefore help with headache relief. There have been a lot of studies that prove the efficacy of this form of therapy. A number of studies have publicized that more than 80% of headache patients discover help from chiropractic manipulations.

Did you understand that overindulgence of salt can be the cause of headaches? If you use salt too much, you’re not alone. For the most part people don’t appreciate that too much salt can cause headaches. The solution to reducing these headache symptoms is basically reducing the salt ingestion.

Another cause of headache pain is consuming less fluids than required each day. Drinking an adequate amount of water each day is vital for superior health. And when we refer to fluids, we don’t mean coffee and soda. Soda pop can be encumbered with sodium which can actually amplify the need for clean wholesome water. Pass up highly processed drinks and stick with water.

Food triggers are an additional cause of headache pain, in particular migraine pain. Foods that result in migraine headache pain are called migraine triggers. The best way to establish if you are susceptible to a precise food is to maintain a headache log. Make three columns with one for the time of day, another for the food, and a third for the headache symptoms and signs. When you eat something or have a headache, mark it down at the appropriate time. Using this method may require weeks or months, but it’s a great way to discover food sensitivities.

When a definite food has been isolated as a trigger it’s a simple matter to do away with it from the diet. The most widespread migraine triggers are MSG (food additive), yeast, wheat, nuts, cheese (in particular strong cheddar), citrus fruits, avocados, chocolate, caffeine, milk and dairy foods, and beans (such as lima beans).

The ten natural methods of treatment we have discussed are all considered safe and can be effective for many people. This is just a tiny listing of natural treatment options, there are a lot more, but one or more of these may perhaps help you to achieve relief. Treatments that are successful for one individual may not be successful for another person. For this reason you may possibly need to try more than one option.



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