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Natural supplements that benefit people suffering from depression are not meant to replace physician-prescribed antidepressants. Still, for many people complementary vitamins, minerals, and herbs help to make life more manageable, with or without the added stress that migraines can contribute to depression.

Please note that you should always consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment, including natural supplements for depression or migraines.

Listed are four popular over-the-counter natural supplements that may help for depression.

B vitamins

B-complex vitamins are some of the most instrumental nutrients for maintaining a healthy nervous system. Many B vitamins, such as vitamin B12 help to protect your nervous system, while also sustaining healthy cognitive functioning. A deficiency in B12 is known to causes mood swings, depression, and anxiety.

Folic acid, or folate, is another essential B-vitamin that is often linked with depression, as researchers at Harvard University discovered a significantly high rate of depression in people with low levels of folate, and have determined that supplementing with the B vitamin folic acid may improve the effectiveness of antidepressants.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are some of the most touted brain nutrients, for good reason. In countless studies, scientists have found that people who suffer from depression have the lowest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which occur naturally in many fish products and certain nuts. Also, in countries where fish is the staple food, rates of depression are noticeably low.

For people with depression or bipolar disorder, many nutritionists recommend supplementing with fish oil supplements, or including more fish meals in your diet.

Try Nature Made Fish Oil

St. John’s wort

Though not approved by the FDA for treating depression, this herb is very popular in European countries for its effectiveness at helping people with moderate depression. Consult with your doctor before experimenting with St. John’s wort as a natural supplement for depression, as it can interfere with certain medications, including migraine treatments.

Saffron

New emerging evidence supports the use of saffron in helping people with depression. The popular red spice, which is found in many middle-eastern dishes, has been used for centuries by many cultures as a natural treatment for depression.

Recently, Iranian placebo-based studies focusing on depression yielded promising results when patients received 30-milligram doses of saffron, even comparing its effectiveness to Prozac.

Get saffron tablets at Amazon

SAMe

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a natural substance that has a positive effect on neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. In the US, SAMe is sold over-the-counter for treatment of depression, and also insomnia.

Studies have found that people who suffer from depression often have low levels of SAMe, and that injection of this natural supplement may rival the effects of antidepressants.

Order Nature Made SAM-e from our Amazon store

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Migraines, Women, and Depression: 9 Myths and Truths

Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?

Suicide Rate in Migraine Patients- Some Surprising Statistics

Sources:

Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective? – MayoClinic.com

Image(s) courtesy of foto76/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Almost half of women who suffer from migraines get headaches during their period. But not all menstrual migraines are alike- here are some tips for recognizing hormone-triggered migraine attacks, and natural ways to treat them.

What defines a menstrual migraine?

According to the International Headache Society, there are two types of menstrual migraines, or hormonal migraine headaches.

Menstrually-related migraines without aura begin two days before menstruation, and up to three days following the first signs of a period. With menstrual migraines without aura, headaches follow a similar pattern for at least two out of every three menstruation periods, although you may also experience migraine attacks during any time of menstruation.

Approximately half of all female migraine patients experience menstrually-related migraines without aura.

Pure menstrual migraines without aura follow a similar pattern, except that migraine attacks only occur during the first few days of menstruation, and not during any other time of the month.

Purely menstrual migraines without aura are less common, but still significant, striking almost 20% of all women who suffer from migraine headaches.

Also see: Symptoms of a Menstrual Migraine

Natural menstrual migraine care

If you suffer from chronic migraines, it’s important to speak with your health care practitioner or neurologist to discuss ways you can reduce headache frequency, both naturally and with the help of migraine medications.

That being said, here are some healthy complementary treatments that help many women suffering from menstrual migraines:

Get more magnesium!

About half of all women who suffer from migraines also exhibit magnesium deficiency, according to the latest studies.

Magnesium is an essential nutrient that promotes natural relaxation, and is crucial for numerous biochemical reactions throughout your body.

Magnesium helps to relax your arteries, a huge advantage for women who suffer from migraine headaches caused by constricted blood vessels.

In countless experiments focused on patients of chronic migraine, supplementation of magnesium consistently provided favorable results in migraine frequency, severity, and duration.

Women wishing to boost magnesium in their diet as a means of reducing the effect of menstrual migraines can choose to take supplements while also increasing their intake of magnesium-rich foods, such as dark leafy greens, whole grains, legumes, and seafood.

Open yourself up to butterbur!

Another star in the world of natural alternative medicine, the herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has been turning heads with its ability to benefit migraine patients efficiently and without side effects, at least 50% of the time.

Butterbur extract is completely safe for migraine patients, including women suffering from menstrual migraines caused by hormonal imbalances.

Always look for butterbur supplements that are PA-free, as pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in second-grade butterbur treatments can have toxic side effects.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

6 Safe Migraine Treatments for Pregnant Moms

Migraines and Menopause Symptoms

Natural Migraine Ingredients for Women

Sources:

Menstrual Migraine: New Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment

Image(s) courtesy of marin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is it still a migraine if OTC painkillers help? Some, not all, migraine headaches can be relieved with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications such as Advil and Tylenol. Still, despite assurances of safety by the FDA, even the most trusted of all mass-manufactured migraine relievers- pills like Excedrin Migraine and aspirin- can come with a heavy price tag.

Types of painkillers

First, an introduction to the many different types of OTC painkillers, what they have to offer for migraine sufferers, and what risk factors are involved with long-term usage.

Note: Never begin any new migraine treatment, including OTC painkillers, without talking with your health care provider first.

Ibuprofen

(Advil, Motrin IB, Nuprin)

Benefits include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), blocks chemicals that trigger pain
• Effective for migraine headache pain relief
• Reduces fevers, inflammation, and relieves general body pain

Health risks include:

• Long-term usage of ibuprofen as an OTC painkiller for migraines can exacerbate gastrointestinal ailments, such as stomach ulcers, painful heartburn, and stomachaches
• Risk of damage to the stomach increases with alcohol use in conjunction with OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen
• Increases your risk for heart attack and stroke
• Unsafe during the last trimester of pregnancy
• Long-term usage may cause tinnitus
• May cause hives in people who are allergic
• Possibly unsafe for people with asthma
• Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally

You’ll also like: Best for Migraines: Advil or Tylenol?

Ketoprofen

(Actron, Orudis KT)

Benefits include:

• NSAID
• Reduces fever, pain, and inflammation

Health risks include:

• May cause or aggravate stomach ulcers
• As with ibuprofen and other OTC painkillers, may exacerbate stomach problems, and may raise your risk for heart attack and stroke
• Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally

Aspirin

(Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Excedrin Migraine)

Benefits include:

• NSAID, blocks pain-inducing chemicals
• Relieves pain, lowers fever, reduces inflammation and swelling
• Thins the blood
• Small doses help to prevent strokes and heart disease

Health risks include:

• Long-term use of aspirin as an OTC painkiller in treating migraines can cause stomach ulcers
• May aggravate underlying gastrointestinal disorders
• May cause stomach cramps, heartburn or nausea
• May lead to build-up of scar tissue in the stomach
• Not safe for people suffering from liver disease, gout, juvenile arthritis, or asthma
• May cause tinnitus

Read this! Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

Acetaminophen

(Paracetamol, Tylenol, Panadol, Tempra, Excedrin Migraine)

Benefits include:

• Acetaminophen is not a “NSAID” OTC painkiller
• Relieves some migraine headaches, lowers fever
• Not likely to cause ulcers
• Safe for pregnant and nursing women
• Doesn’t act as a blood thinner

Health risks include:

• Too-high doses can result in severe damage to the liver
• Continuous usage as an OTC painkiller, particularly when combined with caffeine (as in Excedrin Migraine) or codeine can cause damage to the kidneys.
• Because acetaminophen doesn’t reduce swelling, it’s not helpful for treating pain caused by inflammation

Naproxen sodium

(Aleve)

Benefits include:

• Same as other OTC painkillers, reduces pain, lowers fevers, treats painful inflammation
• May relieve migraine headaches

Health risks include:

• Unsafe for people with ulcers
• Aggravates GI disorders
• Combination with alcohol increases risk for stomach ailments, ulcers
• Increases risk for heart attack and stroke
• Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally

Your turn!

What OTC painkillers have you always used for migraines?

Are you still satisfied with the efficiency of OTC painkillers to relieve migraine headaches?

Have you considered switching to natural supplements that benefit migraine, from the inside out?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths

Migraine Medication Pros and Cons: the Basics

Image(s) courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In learning how to manage migraines and prevent headaches, it’s important to find a migraine doctor who is resourceful, knowledgeable, and most of all, understanding. Good luck with your search, because a true migraine doctor is like the proverbial needle in a haystack of would-be headache specialists.

(Please speak to a migraine doctor, or other qualified physician, before starting any new migraine treatment. What follows is not medical advice.)

Misdiagnosis!

Try Googling for a “migraine doctor” in your area and you’re likely to meet a lot of dead ends. That’s because today’s physicians are sadly undereducated in the treatment of migraine patients, despite the major advancements scientists have been making in the field of migraine-related neurological studies.

As a result, very few doctors become migraine doctors, because few medical students receive appropriate training to recognize the symptoms of migraine disorder, and therefore don’t even take migraines seriously, writing them off as a pseudo-disease that doesn’t even deserve its own classification.

In fact, only about 50% of migraine patients ever receive a diagnosis for migraines, and not for lack of awareness- they know their headaches are from migraine- but because they have given up on the system, and have relented to self-treatment for their chronic headaches, and other symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.

Only about half of migraine sufferers ever receive diagnosis, and even fewer eventually find the right treatments to prevent future migraine attacks.

Migraine awareness, please

Migraine awareness efforts on behalf of the many migraine advocacy groups like MAGNUM, Migraine.com, and the Migraine Support Group on Facebook are helping to educate the medical community, but we are still far behind where we should be.

Until scientists receive more grants to fund migraine research, providing an incentive for medical students to pursue the Golden Goose of migraine cures while gaining recognition for doing so, we will continue to see a very meager representation of migraine doctors in the specialty of neurology, or even chronic pain treatments.

Enter alternative treatments

One positive outcome we’re seeing as a result of the lack of quality migraine medical care is a growing interest in a more natural approach to migraine treatments.

More often than not, people are finding that they can reduce migraine severity and frequency by implementing natural migraine preventative strategies, and without all the harmful side effects that many analgesics, opioids, and other prescription migraine medications may cause, such as dizziness, nausea, memory loss, and risk for overdose.

And the science is behind many of today’s natural migraine treatments, including the use of butterbur extracts, magnesium, riboflavin, and Coenzyme Q10 in benefiting patients of migraine.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Epic Fail! Top 10 Migraine Analgesic Errors Doctors Make

Are Doctors Overprescribing Painkillers for Migraines? Fox News Report

Image(s) courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What is epilepsy, and how are they linked with migraines? Science suggests that certain migraine patients may be genetically predisposed to chronic headaches and epileptic seizures, but a cure for either condition is still out of reach. Here are some FAQ that many patients have about migraine headaches and epilepsy.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes frequent seizures, resulting in a temporary loss of consciousness and control of body movements. An epileptic seizure occurs as part of a nervous system malfunctioning, as excess electrical surges cause your nerve cells to “black out” while communicating with your brain and the many nerve endings in your body.

Epilepsy is sometimes inherited biologically, but can also be caused by an injury or underlying health condition.

How is epilepsy related to migraines?

Migraines and epilepsy are both neurological disorders; more than that, doctors have noticed an unusually high incidence of epileptic episodes in people who get migraines with aura, attributing the correlation to genetics.

In a recent study which focused on 730 patients with epilepsy, migraine with aura symptoms were prevalent among people who inherited epilepsy from other family members.

Moreover, the study found that epileptic patients who had at least three close relatives with epilepsy were twice as likely to suffer from migraines with aura as epileptics with fewer links to hereditary epilepsy, suggesting a higher-than-normal risk for migraines with aura if you have a family history for epileptic seizures.

Are Migraines linked with Epileptic Seizures? It’s Genetics

Are all seizures caused by epilepsy?

Seizures are common symptoms of epilepsy, but a single incident doesn’t necessarily signify a brain disorder. A seizure may happen from oxygen depletion, high fevers, head injuries, or other remote causes, without being diagnosed as epilepsy.

Other causes of non-epileptic seizures include magnesium deficiency (which is also linked to migraine), thyroid disorder, or fluctuating glucose levels.

When seizures are frequent, occurring as a result of a nervous system disorder involving surplus electrical impulses, then they may be diagnosed as a form of epilepsy.

If I have migraines, am I at risk for epilepsy?

Scientists don’t know exactly what causes migraines, or why some migraines with aura (MA) patients are more likely than others to experience seizures. What they do understand is that a correlation exists, and they are able to use this information to help you prevent migraines when they occur following symptoms of aura, such as flashing lights, hallucinatory scents, or temporary speech slurring.

If you get migraines with aura, and you know of several family members who also experience chronic migraines, then it helps to be aware of your risk for epilepsy and speak to your doctor about prevention options.

Your turn!

Do you experience migraines with aura, in addition to epileptic seizures? Which anticonvulsant medications do you use, and are you satisfied with their performance?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Migraines and Epilepsy: Is Migralepsy for Real?

Migraine Headaches and Then Some…Migraine Comorbidities

Sources:

Evidence for a shared genetic susceptibility to migraine and epilepsy

Overview of Seizures

What is Epilepsy?
Image(s) courtesy of sheelamohan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If your mother suffers from migraines, does that mean that your headaches are also hereditary? Probably, but migraines not only hereditary; in addition to genetics, other factors that contribute to migraine disorder may include triggers in food, weather, and stress levels.

What is a migraine?

Medically speaking, migraines are a neurological disorder that is often hereditary, but also influenced by “migraine triggers” in the environment.

Migraines cause intense frequent headaches, usually on one side of the head. Chronic migraine patients may also experience extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, joint stiffness, and hypersensitivity to lights, scents, and noises.

Sometimes, migraines are preceded by an “aura” which causes stroke-like symptoms of disorientation, visual disturbances, partial numbness, and temporary loss of speech.

9 Important Migraine Terms you need to know

Who gets migraines?

Migraines are usually hereditary; about four out of five people with migraines have a known family history for migraine headaches.

• About three-quarters of migraine patients are female, making migraine disorder one of the most prominent causes of unemployment and disability among women.
• If one parent suffers from chronic migraines, then you have a 50/50 chance of developing migraine disorder.
• If migraines run in both sides of the family, then your risk of getting migraines is about 75%.

Mommy Migraines linked with Colic in Babies- Breaking News!

Are migraines always genetic?

Not everybody who has a parent suffering from migraines is necessarily going to develop migraine headaches, as well.

In fact, according to some research, it is possible for one twin to have migraines, while the other sibling does not.

Therefore, scientists don’t say that heredity causes migraines, but that a correlation exists, that overwhelmingly, most migraine patients are hereditarily predisposed to severe chronic headaches.

Scientists have even discovered a genetic link, a mutation that correlates strongly with familial hemiplegic migraine. Researchers also believe that a number of genetic abnormalities may increase ones risk for inheriting other types of migraines, as well.

What Causes Migraines? The Long and Short Answers

“We’re trying to find the genetic basis of migraine, and basically speaking, this is the beginning,” explains Dr. Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, referring to the study which was published in Nature Genetics, June 2012.

“Now we know in what neighborhood the genes are located, but we still don’t know where the houses are. It’s an important first step.”

Conclusion

If you know that at least one parent gets migraines, then it helps to be prepared.  Read up about migraine triggers that raise your risk even higher for developing chronic headaches. Migraine headache triggers may include certain foods, changes in weather, irregular sleep patterns, hormones, or stress.

Even if migraines are hereditary, you can reduce your risks by exercising daily, keeping a migraine diary, learning how to relax, and supplementing with vitamins and minerals that benefit migraine patients, such as riboflavin, CoQ10, butterbur, and magnesium.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Is Migraine Disorder a Real Illness?

PTSD Migraines are from Mars, Genetic Migraines are from Venus, Part 1

PTSD Migraines are from Mars, Genetic Migraines are from Venus, Part 2

Sources:

Migraine Genes Pinpointed By Researchers

Scientists Spot More Migraine Genes

What is Migraine? (the scientific story)

Image(s) courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Brain zaps feel like an electrical buzzing sensation in your head. If you often feel a jolt of electricity in your brain, then it could be a symptom of migraine medication withdrawal.

You’re not going crazy!

Patients describe them as weird buzzing sounds that come when they’re trying to sleep, or sudden jolts of electrical shocks in the head. Brain zaps are a common side effect of SSRI antidepressants used to treat migraines, depression, and anxiety.

SSRI discontinuation syndrome, or withdrawal from antidepressants, happens when your neurological system is adjusting to a sudden decrease or cessation of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.

If you accidentally skipped a pill, or decided to go cold turkey on your migraine medications (not a good idea), then a neurochemical change occurs in your brain, withdrawal symptoms known as brain zaps, brain shivers, brain shocks, brain pulse-waves, flickers, or cranial zings.

Examples of SSRIs

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) sometimes used for depression and migraine include:

• Fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)

In addition to antidepressants, other medications that may cause brain zaps with migraine include benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleeping pills.

Migraines, Women, and Depression: 9 Myths and Truths

SSRI withdrawal symptoms

Brains zaps are just one side effect of antidepressant discontinuation.

Other SSRI migraine medication withdrawal symptoms that may occur, in addition to brain zaps, include:

• Headache
• Vertigo
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Disorientation
• Nightmares
• Insomnia
• Nausea

Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths

Prevent brain zaps

Psychologists believe that depression may occur because of limited cell growth in the nervous system. To prevent depression and symptoms of withdrawal naturally, many doctors emphasize taking natural supplements that support brain cell growth and healthy neurological functioning.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes brain cell production, and is available as a supplement. Serotonin is also helpful for treating SSRI withdrawal side effects of insomnia by helping you sleep more restfully.

Other helpful natural ingredients include coenzyme Q10, which increases cellular metabolism, and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) for neurological integrity.

Your turn!

Have you ever experienced brain zap, and wondered what was causing it?

Have you tried weaning off antidepressants, but had problems with severe symptoms of withdrawal?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Can you read your Migraine Prescriptions? 30 Medical Abbreviations

Migraine Medication Pros and Cons: the Basics

Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?

Sources:

Bottled lightning- BMJ

‘Brain shivers’: from chat room to clinic

Fireworks or Brain Zaps? Psychology Today

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Image(s) courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Migraine patients suffer many headache triggers, including extreme allergic-like reactions to fragrances and pollutants– Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MSC). Though controversial, awareness of the migraine-inducing effects of toxic chemical exposure is starting to gain publicity.

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?

Although it’s not classified as a real illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) causes debilitating side effects in its sufferers, many of which are migraine headache patients.

• Other names for MCS include chemical AIDS, chemical injury, multiple allergy, or environmental illness.
• MCS causes severe headache, nausea, and muscular pain, even after minimal, low-level exposure to chemicals such as perfumes, smoke, diesel, and other fumes.
• Scientists aren’t certain exactly what causes MCS, nor are they in agreement that it is a real “illness.”
• Theories for the cause of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity include immune system damage and neurological disorder.
• Elements that provoke chemical hypersensitivity often include trace amounts of chemical fragrances, smoke, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and Volatile Organic Compounds. (VOCs)

6 Migraine-Friendly Air Fresheners for the Home

What MCS means for migraine patients

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) list several case studies on MCS, which is one of the strongest obstacles for migraine patients in the workplace.

Most people can tolerate exposure to a number of chemicals and allergens in the workplace or at home.

People who have hypersensitivity to chemicals, particularly migraine patients, suffer excruciatingly debilitating headache, nausea, and other painful symptoms that make it difficult- almost impossible- to concentrate on work, resulting in impaired performance and missed days from work spent recuperating.

Migraines at Work- Can my Employers Fire me from my Job?

If MCS is caused by a neurological disorder, as some scientists believe, then it further contributes to the strong correlation between chronic migraines and hypersensitivity to fragrances, dust, and noxious fumes, and may result in increased awareness and acceptance of the need for migraine-centric reforms in the workplace.

What are the symptoms of MCS?

Symptoms associated with MCS often mimic the start of a migraine attack, and may include:

• Intense headaches, including migraine headaches
• Stiff joints
• Muscle pain
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Dizziness, vertigo
• Disorientation
• Extreme sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises
• Burning, teary eyes
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps

How do I know if I have MCS?

MCS follows certain patterns that make it easy to identify; they include:

• Severe migraine headaches that consistently result from constant exposure to the same chemicals
• Chronic headaches, nausea, and debilitating symptoms
• Symptoms occur after exposure to trace elements of chemicals that non-migraineurs wouldn’t notice
• Migraine or MCS patient is sensitive to many seemingly-unrelated triggers, like pet dander, laundry detergents, and second-hand smoke, as opposed to being sensitive to only one or two allergens.
• In an allergen-free zone, MCS patient is finally able to find relief from chronic headaches and other pain symptoms.

Your turn!

Do you suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity with migraines? If so, how do you manage in the workplace?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Migraine-ous Fragrances at Work: 20 Civil Tactics and Coping Strategies

34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume

Enter to win a free bottle of Migravent!

Now, through March 3, 2013

Submit your entry!

No purchase required, see details here.

Sources:

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity? (MCS)

Safety and Health Topics- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (osha.gov)

Image(s) courtesy of twobee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here’s an observation- the more we learn about migraines, the more it seems that they behave a lot like allergies, only instead of the immune system being at fault, it’s the nervous system- a brain allergy?

The following is an opinion piece, and is no way meant to substitute for medical advice.

Accidentally eat a peanut butter cookie if you suffer from nut allergies, and you might end up in the hospital hyperventilating. For some, food allergies can cause an extreme reaction that can result in death.

Accidentally eat a yeasted chocolate cheese Danish (okay, so it wasn’t an accident) when you suffer from migraines, and you could still end up in the hospital, with a brain-crushing 5-alarm migraine attack that won’t go away without some help from ER.

Yet food allergies are part of an autoimmune disorder, and migraines are part of a genetic neurological brain disorder.

What does it say about our bodies that a seemingly innocent pastry can cause immense chronic pain, human suffering, and sometimes, death?

Here are a few interesting correlations that probably mean nothing at all to the medical world, but give us something to ponder about the complexity…and fragility of the human body in relation to illnesses such as migraines and other ilnesses.

Born dysfunctional?

As mentioned earlier, migraines and allergies alike are both results of a fundamental biological system that has gone awry, for reasons that no scientist is able to explain.

If you are born with a weakened immune system, then you are at risk for autoimmune problems such as Crohn’s disease, or allergic reactions to certain foods, weather, or pets. People who are severely allergic have multiple allergies to many different foods, not only one.

Similarly, patients born with migraines are genetically disposed to a neurological brain dysfunction that causes migraine attacks with aura or migraine headaches without aura. Also, an unusually high correlation exists between migraines and other nervous system illnesses, such as epilepsy and stroke.

Migraines are trigger-happy

We don’t know exactly what causes migraines or allergic reactions, but we do know that certain “triggers” make them more likely to happen.

The more allergens, or triggers, in your environment, the more likely you’re going to suffer respiratory problems, sniffling, headaches, and skin rashes.

Likewise, the more migraine triggers you have in your environment- factors like weather, scents, bright lights, noise, and stress- the more difficult it is to prevent migraine attacks.

In either case, trigger avoidance is one of the biggest challenges, especially when certain triggers like air pressure and humidity are impossible to avoid.

Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

Both require detective work

It would be great if your doctor could just take out a large magnifying glass, like Sherlock Holmes, and tell you exactly which foods you need to avoid and which medicines you need to take to prevent getting migraines or allergic reactions to food.

Unfortunately, like Sherlock on the trail of a dangerous suspect, your qualified specialist must run a gamut of experiments and procedures; test certain hypotheses and alienate any other conceivable threats in order to finally identify the perpetrator of such debilitating, pernicious ailments- crushing head pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, muscle stiffness, and visual distortions.

After isolating and ruling out brain tumor, we are left with experimental migraine treatments that might, or might not work, that might or might not cause uncomfortable side effects like memory loss, nausea, brain fog, or hypertension.

Natural alternatives work

Unfortunately, the reality is that most people aren’t brilliant mastermind detectives, just people trying to keep up with the latest in migraine research and treatment options.

So until we have the solution to end all migraines, we must continue to treat migraine triggers much in the same way that we treat allergens- by avoiding them, at all costs.

Another natural way to support the immune system and reduce allergic reactions is by keeping healthy and taking lots of vitamin C and Echinacea.

Likewise, the best way to naturally boost neurological health in the presence of migraine disorder is by using natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs that benefit migraine patients- ingredients like vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Coenzyme Q10, butterbur, and magnesium.

Your turn!

What are your thoughts on migraine treatments?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

10 Ridiculously Healthy Vitamins for Women Migraine Patients

Lights…Camera…Migraine! 10 Curious Facts about Light Sensitivity

Image(s) courtesy of renjith Krishnan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Headaches, nausea, and burning eyes- if you suffer migraines, then these symptoms plague you every time you step into a room that’s been “freshened” with artificial scents. Air fresheners are not just migraine triggers, they are actually toxic!

Air fresheners stink

Why is it that a migraineur is usually the first person to notice when a room has been sprayed with artificial air fresheners?

It’s probably because in many ways, migraine patients are the metaphorical “coal miner’s canary,” whose basic purpose in life was to protect everybody else from noxious fumes by passing out cold at the first whiff of methane or carbon monoxide gases in the air.

Sound familiar? It should, because air fresheners actually spread many toxic chemicals that are dangerous to breathe, poisons like formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, aerosol propellants, and p-dichlorobenzene.

Yet while most people experience only mild reactions to perfumes in air fresheners, laundry detergents, and body sprays, many migraine patients suffer immediate symptoms of toxin exposure:

• Intense headache
• Eye pain
• Sore throat
• Burning nose
• Congestion
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea

Carpet powders, room vaporizers, and perfumed toilet gel inserts can make it difficult to be productive at work.

If you suffer headaches from exposure to chemical air fresheners at work, then you have the right to request a perfume-free environment.

Migraine-ous Fragrances at Work: 20 Civil Tactics and Coping Strategies

Freshen up, naturally

Below are tips on how to freshen the air naturally, by combatting nasty odors and infusing your living space with pleasant aromas that don’t trigger migraine headaches.

1- Spice it up!

Choose a natural herb, seasoning, or dried flower that you enjoy, something with a scent that doesn’t produce a migraine reaction.

Use a combination of spices to make a potpourri basket or sachet. Simmer cinnamon on the stove for a while, or make a clove-studded pomander out of an orange by warming it in the oven on low for an hour.

2- Use vinegar!

Vinegar is a gentle disinfectant that removes food odors naturally. To freshen the air without causing a migraine, spray counter tops and windows with diluted vinegar and wipe it off with a rag.

3- Grind the rind!

Here’s a great tip- for an instant burst of natural deodorizer, collect citrus peels (orange, lemon) and send them down the garbage disposal.

4-Sprinkle soda!

Baking soda naturally absorbs stinky smells without scenting the air. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your garbage can, and leave an open container in your refrigerator.

5- Dab essential oils!

Like vanilla or lavender oil? Using a cotton ball, drip a few drops of essential oil directly onto a light bulb, such as the one in your bedside lamp. When you turn on the light, the heat from the lamp will gently scent your room.

6- Fresh air!

This one’s a no-brainer. Especially during the cold and flu season, we tend to keep all the windows and doors locked round the clock, trapping the air in the house and causing unpleasant odors. Choose a time to open all the windows and let the fresh air in!

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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Like this? Read more:

Not all Migraine Triggers Cause Headaches- New Research

Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume

Sources:

The Danger of Air Freshener and 10 Alternatives for a Great Smelling Home

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