How to cure a migraine

Wrote by Stephanie Oswald Certified Health Coach and an Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

Migraine is a disease that a lot of people are victims of. For some, it happens from time to time, but for others, it is a real nightmare and happens frequently. We wrote you an article to help you understand what a migraine is and what are the possible solutions.

“I suffered from migraines for many years.“

Growing up I was a pretty sick child. I had frequent sinus infections, allergies, low immunity, chronic constipation and regular severe migraines. These migraines caused me to miss school and would sometimes last up to 3 days. I would have severe pounding pain to one side of my head, would be nauseous and often vomit and was so sensitive to light I couldn’t leave my dark bedroom. Unfortunately, painkillers did not bring me any relief, leaving me to wait them out.

Aura was one of the more troubling symptoms I experienced when I got migraines as a child and teenager. They manifested as pins and needles (tingling and numbness) to my right side, which began in my face and gradually grew throughout my right side. I found it hard to speak and felt so weak; it usually lasted about 60 minutes and I would feel quite sick, exhausted and irritable afterwards. At the time I had no idea what was happening to me, but shortly after these episodes a debilitating, often multi-day long migraine would occur.

Although migraines are said to have no known cure, mine have luckily gone away completely in adulthood. This happened after I changed my diet, addressed my allergies, healed my gut and improved my overall health. To be honest I am unsure what exactly it was that resolved these frequent awful migraines, either I grew out of them or it was a side effect of a complete lifestyle and dietary overhaul. Sadly, for many others they are not so lucky and even with various lifestyle changes migraines persist.

What is migraine?

Migraines are a complex condition with a variety of neurological symptoms. Most experience the most prominent symptom, a severely painful headache that concentrates on one side of the head and can last from 4 hours to 3 days. Migraine pain and symptoms can be so debilitating that going about regular daily activities is near impossible. Many who suffer from regular migraines have to take time off work and miss out on precious time with family and friends. Migraines often begin in childhood and can carry on through the rest of our lives.

What causes migraines?

Although experts are not sure exactly what causes migraines, some factors that contribute have been discovered:

Genetic predisposition
Stress
Hormonal changes in women (estrogen)
Serotonin imbalance
Weather and environmental changes
Poor sleep
Certain foods (Red wine, chocolate, MSG)
Strong scents

More than half of all migraine sufferers are never diagnosed. If you are having regular headaches and suspect they are migraines, I recommend seeing a medical Doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Although they feel very severe and can manifest with many other symptoms, migraines do not cause long-term damage.

Migraines have 4 stages:

Prodrome: Typically, one or two days before the migraine sets in. Someone who’s migraines begin with the prodrome phase can take the below symptoms as a warning sign one is on the way. Symptoms include constipation, mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased thirst and frequent yawning.

Aura: Some people experience aura before or during a migraine. Aura’s can be scary, as they cause various nervous system symptoms like visual disturbances (seeing shapes, blind spots, flashes of light), numbness and tingling (pins and needles) and difficulty speaking. Symptoms begin gradually and build up over several minutes and lasts for 20-60 minutes.

Attack: The actual attack is usually accompanied by throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, sensitivity to light, sound and smell, nausea and vomiting. Migraines can last up to 72 hours if they remain untreated. The frequency of occurrence varies from person to person, some suffering from them rarely and other having attacks several times a month.

Post-drome: The post-drome is the period right after a migraine.Many sufferers feel drained and disoriented for up to 24 hours following an attack; while others report they feel elated in this post-drome phase.

Is Acetylsalicylic Acid a safe choice for Migraine sufferers?

Acetylsalicylic Acid, also known Aspirin™, is a Salicylate and is commonly used in high doses or daily as a pain killer and preventative for migraine sufferers. It reduces pain, inflammation and fever by blocking certain natural substances in the body. Aspirin has a long list of potential side effects including upset stomach, ringing in the ears, anxiety, blood clotting problems, gastrointestinal bleeding, stroke and seizures. Taking it regularly or in combination with alcohol increases your risk of these unwanted side effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Aspirin, account for 7,600 deaths in the United states alone each year.

Is Acetaminophen a safe choice for Migraine sufferers?

Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol™, is an analgesic, commonly used in Canada against headaches, cold, arthritis and various other health problems. It is used in more than 600 drugs. It allows to relieve pain and reduce fever. However, acetaminophen is a substance to use with moderation. Each year, Health Canada records 4,500 hospitalizations caused by an overdose of acetaminophen. Here is a list of several side effects that may occur: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or loss of appetite. Taking acetaminophen regularly or with alcohol increases the risk of these unwanted side effects. In cases of overdose, the effects can even go as far as liver damage which can lead to death.

Our new product

Land Art has formulated Migraine-500 to help prevent migraines, relieve headaches, nausea and vomiting with 3 key ingredients specifically shown: CoQ10, White Willow Bark and Feverfew. Migraine-500 is considered a much safer alternative with fewer potential side effects.

Migraine-500

Key ingredients:

CoQ10
- Land Art uses the most natural version of CoQ10, formed from fermentation. CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) has been found to be very effective in the prevention of migraines, when taken on a regular basis. It has been shown to help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches and relieve the nausea and vomiting that accompanies them. The Canadian Headache Society, the American Headache Society (AHS), and the American Academy of Neurology (ANN) have created recommendations for the use of CoQ10 for migraine prevention, based on existing studies on the safety and effectiveness.

White Willow Bark
- This extract of White willow bark contains 15% salicin, which is used in herbal medicine to help relieve migraine headaches. The medical value of Salicylates contained in White Willow leaves and bark were observed by Hippocrates. It is an effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It is often referred to as nature’s aspirin and has even been found to have less rapid but longer lasting beneficial effects.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
- Feverfew has been used as an effective herbal migraine preventative for centuries. Studies have shown Feverfew helps reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches, making it a popular herbal remedy for regular migraine sufferers.

If you suffer from regular migraine headaches, try Land Art Migraine-500! 2 capsules a day can help prevent recurrence and relieve headache pain, nausea and vomiting when an attack hits.

Resources:

https://www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/treatments/supplements-and-herbs/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/803621/acetaminophene-tylenol-foie-lesions-surdoses-medicaments

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/acetaminophen-toxicity-health-canada-1.3764672

https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02185

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22096324

https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/hw116874

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/expert-answers/migraine-headache/faq-20058505

https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/medicaments-et-appareils-medicaux/acetaminophene.html

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/coq10

https://www.jeancoutu.com/sante/conseils-sante/acetaminophene/