Heal Migraines

If you suffer from migraine then you know the agony like no other would know. If you are of tired of trying everything under the sun available to get rid of migraines without any success and acknowledge that painkillers do not work anymore for you and feel medications are taking toll on your quality of life. If you are still bewildered about what migraine is and what it is not then read on and empower yourself to be joyfully migraine free. Knowledge is the greatest tool to overcome obstacles in life.

WHAT is ” NOT MIGRAINE” and WHY?

Commonly used and confused language migraineurs hear is about their pain includes and is not limited to : it is a specific type of headache, or it is just a headache, or it is more than a headache to complicated statements like it is a neurological disease or that it is caused by swelling and inflammation of blood vessels around the head… and pessimist statements like it is a incurable genetically predetermined neurological disease. Deal with it!

Saying migraine is a specific kind of headache or just a headache is as misleading as saying migraine is more than a headache. All three stances conclude at the symptom level and do not target the underlying condition.

Migraine is genetically predetermined incurable disease also does not hold much weight. Studies across six countries has shown that statistic genetic risk or heritability of migraine is on average 45% (varying from 34% in Australia to 56% in Finland) which makes it particularly ‘not genetic’. Apart from this major population that inherits “migraine genes” do not necessarily end up having migraines. ‘Nature’ vs. ‘nurture’ concept may give us a clue. We not only inherit genes from parents but also inherit maladaptive thinking patterns, nervous attitudes, anxiousness and stress as well and hence more chances of suffering from migraine.

It is probably too audacious to say it is incurable as there is always something that has helped at least few migraineurs varying from alternate therapy/ medicine-yoga- ayurveda – behavior therapy – exercise – aromatherapy- herbal remedies to neurotherapy and this is evidence enough to say one can live a joyful fulfilling life being ‘migraine- free’. Change begins with change in mind set, take charge of your own mind body and brain rather than being a victim.

Other common thing migraineurs hear is that migraine is caused by swelling and inflammation of blood vessels around your head.

Though a popular idea but research studies showed migraine is not related to vasodilatation/vasoconstriction and that migraine could also be drug induced without changes in middle cerebral artery diameter. So far research studies have plausibly discredited the vascular theory of blood vessel related inflammatory migraines.

What is neurological disease? Before understanding domains of neurology it is wiser to sort out the term ‘Disease’. Disease is commonly attributed to malignant health conditions likely caused by infections (viral or bacterial infections), multiplication of cancer cells etc. It is clear enough that migraine does not belong to this category.

Neurology means scientific study of the nervous system and the diseases that affect it. Neurologists are doctors that prescribe medicines and treat using other medical procedures.

Whether neurological or not neurological but it is plausible that migraine is a disorder and not a disease as ‘disorder’ term is used when something is not in proper working order and there is no disease involved. Migraine could be better classified as disorder by periodical experience physical pain, emotional trauma and misery it brings during and between attacks.

Disorders requires more than just over the counter painkillers or pain abortive prescription medicines that only treat at symptom level.

Migraine requires more deep down probing of underlying issues of mind, body and brain

WHAT COULD be “MIGRAINE” and HOW?

Disorder? Migraine is a condition when the human machinery that comprises a continual reciprocal interaction among mind body and brain is in disorder and work discordantly.

Imaging techniques are much more advanced now (CT, PET, fMRI) and we have much more knowledge of how brain functions studies and also of how brain dysfunctions (disorder)

If we link brain function and dysfunction to some of symptoms/ difficulties/problems migraineurs face we get quite interesting insights.

Migraine and Brainstem

Brainstem is the part which deals with our instincts and survival needs. Hunger, sleep regulation, body temperature regulation, body balance, breathing, blood pressure and various reflexes (blinking, vomiting, hiccups, sneezing etc.).

Migraine is also stated as ‘electrical nerve storm’ by Dr. Edward Liveing. Nerve storm technically speaking is a seizure. Number of Imaging studies found excessive activity at Brainstem often referring it as ‘migraine- generator’.. Migraine sufferers report nausea, vomiting, dizziness/ vertigo, runny or stuffy nose, teary or dry eyes, food craving or loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea, feeling chilly or hot, frequent urination, tiredness/ drowsiness, stiff neck, neck pain, increased sound sensitivity, increased light sensitivity, immobilization, social withdrawal, head pain and increased pain sensitivity which are also functions where brain stem is involved in nausea, vomiting, equilibrium pathways, facial nerve at brainstem (tregeminus), appetite, gastro-intestinal functions, regulation of body temperature, regulation of urination, regulation of alertness, head/neck movement reflexes, regulation of sound and visual sensitivity defensive behavior and processing pain related information respectively.

Migraine and Limbic System

Limbic system includes amygdala (fear sensor) and embodies emotions and memory. Linking functions and dysfunctions of amygdala to migraine symptoms it can be observed that another problem of migraineur is tendency to feel anxious, worried, sad, tense and apprehensive signalling an over active amygdala.

Migraineurs are often suggested to identify and avoid triggers which is a bad move as it only chronifies the fear responses and hence a more active amygdala. Avoidance attitude leads to pain chronification.

Migraine and Prefrontal Cortex

Prefrontal cortex is most sophisticated of all our brain and it the part which matures at last. Its development goes until twenties. PFC is responsible for executive functioning, reasoning and making sense out of world. It has control over our instincts and impulses. See diagram above.

Migraine symptoms also include lack of focus, distractibility, mood problems, irritability, anger, poor short term memory, forgetfulness, rigid behaviors, rituals, low motivation to talk, loss of fluency, poor coordination, clumsiness, poor planning, indecisiveness, impulsive behaviors, restlessness, nervous body symptoms, social withdrawal, emotional coping behaviors, avoidance behavior, increased pain sensitivity and suffering and functions of prefrontal cortex includes concentration, focused attention, mood regulation, short-term memory, behavioral flexibility, language expression, fine motor coordination, planning and decision making, impulse control , regulation of body arousal, social behavior, constructive coping behaviors, novelty seeking/ approach behavior, inhibition of physical ‘pain’ and modulation of emotional ‘pain’ respectively.

So, Migraine could logically be a progressive neurodevelopment brain disorder, an imbalance between inhibitory control (prefrontal cortex) and neuronal excitability.

Slowly the prefrontal cortex is weakened, Limbic system (our emotions) is not in check; and our brain stem (controls body temperature, reflexes, breathing, temperature, sleep and wakefulness etc.) goes erratic. See diagram above.

Early life stress, insecurity, malignant schemas, emotional trauma, brain injury and chronic stress can all lead to weakening of prefrontal cortex and hence increased susceptibility to migraines.

Stress plays a major role in migraines not just as a trigger but also for frequency of attacks. Stress is also major factor in intensifying migraines from episodic to chronic.

ODYSSEY to BEING MIGRAINE FREE

If stress plays a major role then it makes sense to eliminate it. Stress needs to be managed and it is a task in itself amidst conventional chaotic fast paced lifestyle. One must slow down and relax. A healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, aerobic workouts, yoga, breathing retraining (abdominal breathing), good diet that is more natural than processed, more fresh than packaged. Do more of what relaxes you and gives you joy :).

Sort out inner self, clear out mental issues and self introspect. What is it that bothers you and why and how could it be changed? If something is not feeling right, change it or change your attitude towards it. Psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, counseling and biofeedback based therapies may be helpful as well as insightful.

Give your body what it asks. Get yourself assessed for biochemical requirements, minerals, vitamins, trace elements deficiencies or hormonal imbalances and take needed steps to balance them accordingly.

Address your brain. It means improving the stability and functioning of central nervous system and it best accomplished by neurotherapy/ applied neuroscience. Neurotherapy would include Neurofeedback, QEEG Guided neurofeedback, symptom based neurofeedback, infra-low frequency neurofeedback, surface and LoRETA Z-Score neurofeedback and Infrared neurofeedback.

Do not try one more method, one more cure ; proceed with logic and reason, be oriented towards your goal and address your migraine at all three levels: mind, body and brain.

Do not find yourself just another doctor who will prescribe you some more medicines, find yourself a therapist/ therapists willing and experienced to rehabilitate migraine addressing mind body and brain holistically.

Self help and lifestyle, Advise from Naturopaths/ nutritionist/ functional medicine expert, hormones balance (Doctors who do BHRT), mind therapies (help from psychotherapist/ counselors, psychological coach etc.), alternate treatments (aromatherapy, message, chirotherapy, reiki etc.) and neurotherapy will empower you to gain victory over migraine.

Setup your own individualized rehabilitation program.

Wish you commitment and Success in your Journey :).

Information Source: Martin Brink (2012), The Migraine Revolution: We can End the Tyranny! Scientific Guide to Effective Treatment and Permanent Headache Relief (What the Current Regime does not want your Brain to know)

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8808/10-things-everybody-should-know-about-migraines.html

http://www.themigrainerevolution.com/is-migraine-a-disease/

http://www.themigrainerevolution.com

Watch for more

http://www.themigrainerevolution.com/disgusting_migraine_scandal/

http://www.themigrainerevolution.com/migraine_fraud/

http://www.themigrainerevolution.com/what-is-a-migraine-3/

Photo and Diagram Credits: Daras Design