What is Migraine?

Tired of taking painkillers for headaches? This article will explain what migraines are, their causes, and the best homeopathic treatments for migraine headaches.

Migraine is a throbbing type of headache that often seems to occur without any apparent cause. However, migraines are primarily vascular, meaning they are triggered by certain changes in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The causes of these changes can vary from person to person. Migraines are the most common type of headache syndrome, affecting 10 to 15 per cent of the global population. Many of us either suffer from migraines ourselves or know someone who does.

One peculiar feature of migraines is that they usually begin in childhood or adolescence and are most common among young and middle-aged adults.

Causes of Migraine:

Migraine headaches are caused by abnormal brain activity, though the exact cause of migraine is not known. These headaches can be caused by various factors

1. Vascular cause
2. Neurological cause
   1. chemical changes in the nerves
   2. alterations in nerve pathways.

Such changes impact blood flow in the brain and surrounding tissues, and the specific causes of these changes can differ from person to person.

Homeopathic medicines for migraine help to restore the changes in blood vessels, also help in balancing the chemical changes in nerves and reestablish the natural blood flow to the brain and thus help in treating the various signs and symptoms of migraine.

It’s important to note that migraines are usually triggered by multiple factors rather than a single cause.

Some of them are as follows:

• Hormonal Changes:
  Many women experience migraines when their estrogen levels fluctuate, such as before or during their menstrual periods, pregnancy, or menopause.

• Alcohol and Caffeine:
  Drinks like wine, which contain alcohol, and excessive caffeine from coffee can trigger migraines.

• Stress and Anxiety:
  Emotional factors like stress, anxiety, depression, or even shock are common causes of severe migraine episodes.

• Sleep Patterns:
  Sleep disruptions, whether it's not getting enough rest, oversleeping, or experiencing jet lag, can lead to migraines.

• Physical Exertion:
  Intense physical exercise or overexertion can trigger migraines in some individuals.

• Weather Changes:
  Extremes in temperature, whether it's the heat of summer or cold weather, can lead to migraine attacks.

• Medications:
  Certain medications, including oral contraceptives, sleeping pills, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and some pain relievers, are known to trigger migraines

• Foods:
  Certain foods, like some dairy products, chocolate, foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), and specific fruits, can also act as migraine triggers.

Depending on the individual’s sensitivity, different triggers may be responsible for causing an episode of migraine. But for many people at least, it's possible to predict the occurrence of migraines.  For instance, there's a greater tendency for a migraine close to the days of menstruation or every Saturday morning following a stressful week of work.

Even though lots of sufferers have a family history of migraine, the exact hereditary nature of this condition isn't known. Individuals who get migraines are believed to have an inherited abnormality in the regulation of blood vessels. 

Your homeopathic doctor can help you find out your trigger factors so if you are unable to find one do visit your doctor now.

Types of Migraines

Migraines are mainly categorized into two types:

1. Migraine Without Aura (Common Migraine):
   A throbbing headache, usually on one side, that can last 4 to 72 hours. It worsens with physical activity and may cause nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. There are no warning signs before the headache starts.

2. Migraine With Aura (Classic Migraine):
   Before the headache, people may experience visual disturbances, tingling, or numbness. These warning signs (aura) signal that a migraine is about to occur.

How to Diagnose a Headache as a Migraine

To diagnose a headache as a migraine, the following criteria are generally considered:

Frequency and Duration:

A minimum of five headache episodes, each persisting for 4 to 72 hours, must be experienced.

Headache Features:

The headache should display at least two of these traits:

• Occurs on one side of the head
• Throbbing or pulsating sensation
• Pain that ranges from moderate to severe and worsens with physical activity

Additional Symptoms:

At least one of these symptoms should accompany the headache:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• Sensitivity to sound (phonophobia)