Headache? Push here...

What can I do about these Migraines? They tend to get worse with my periods and now even headache pills are not helping. I was told Acupuncture might help.

Migraine headache is a devastating and debilitating condition that is often confused with severe headaches but in actuality has the completely different cause at the root. Recent studies have largely disputed the vascular association of a migraine and are more pointing towards a neurological and inflammatory condition affecting the cervical nerve roots. In a migraine headache prior to its occurrence a large area of the brain neurological activity is depressed causing inflammatory response, which irritates the cranial nerves, this can occur sometimes up to 24 hours prior to the onset. Migraines, unlike ordinary headaches, have additional associated symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, auras (light spots), and sensitivity to light and sound, numbness, difficulty in speech, which are all connected to the irritation of the cranial nerves. Migraines tend to last for long periods of time, days, or weeks. It is thought that Migraine headache sufferers have a genetic disposition.

In clinical settings we treat migraine headaches with acupuncture to prevent onset or reduce duration and severity, Combined with an internal herbal formulation to address the underlying imbalances.

Here are some home remedies.

• Make tea from Chinese prunes, green tea and mint
• Mash peach kernels, walnuts and mix with rice wine and lightly roast take 2 Table spoons three times per day
• Make carrot juice and squirt into left, right or both nostrils depending on the location of the headache.
• Place Ice pack at the vertex of the head. 

Potentially Helpful Supplements

• Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) rhizome extract was shown in a controlled trial to provide 50% or more reduction in the number of migraines.
• Kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) has been demonstrated to help with menstrual migraine headaches and cluster headaches.
• Magnesium and Coenzyme Q10 supplements may help. 

Acupressure treatment for Headaches.

Press with fingernail this acupuncture point for three minutes on each hand. Alternating left to right.