Migraines

Migraines

This frequently debilitating, recurring problem, more common in women, can
often be helped by complementary health care approaches. The prognosis
for migraine headaches is favorable if your doctor takes the time to perform
a thorough assessment and helps you learn to avoid migraine triggers, along
with developing an individualized program for you which addresses the underlying
biochemical factors in your system which increase the likelihood of migraines.
With proper understanding of your nutritional status, your hormonal status,
the stressors in our life, and your personal history with migraine (including
therapies tried), your “alternative” health care provider will
be able to develop a course of metabolic therapy for you. If you have frequent
and severe migraines it is important to “rule-out” certain conditions.
Make sure your doctor assures you that you don’t have any of the following:

Brain tumor.
Hemangioma.
Carotid aneurysm.
Meniere’s disease.
Seizure disease.

Conventional medicine frequently cannot provide relief for your mjigraines.
So, you’re turned to a good resource for exploring other options. Whatever
method you choose, please stick with it for a minimum of three months.
It is critical to give a new therapy a chance to work.

What kind of Physical Medicine can you use to help migraines?

The breath is a good place to start changing any old pattern. Try doing
relaxation breathing, with consciously slow, deep, even breaths, at some
regular time during the day, every day. Also, regular aerobic exercise
is known to decrease the frequency of migraines. Choose an aerobic activity
that’s fun for you, such as hiking, Nordic track, volleyball, or whatever,
and do it 3 times a week for at least 20 minutes.

Hydrotherapy, described at length in the Introduction to Modalities section,
can be very helpful with migraines. Here are some key concepts:

apply cold wet packs to head, forehead and back of neck. This creates
constriction of the blood vessels and reduces the rushing of blood into
the head, which is frequently a cause of migraines.
rub finger tips on head, especially around the temples and the nape
of the neck, after dipping them in ice water.
soak feet in a hot foot bath with apple cider vinegar and peppermint,
to draw blood down to the feet, cleanse the blood and cool it down (with
the mint).
for a severe headache, alternate applications of hot and cold wet,
wrung out towels to the head and face. Always end with cold.
hot hip bath, to draw the blood down from the head.
alternating hot and cold hip baths
ice pack to head
some folks get instant relief by taking a cool enema, because often
migraines are created by toxic wate build-up in the digestive tract.

Also, make sure your spine is in alignment, especially the cervical, or
upper 7, vertebrae. Check with your local osteopath, naturopath or chiropractor.
Some folks find relief from the use of therapeutic ultrasound to the neck
area. Others use a micro-current device called TENS (“transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulator”) which applies a tiny frequency to the
affected nerves, causing conduction to be blocked and pain to be relieved.
TENS units are also believed to stimulate the production of endorphins,
the body’s own natural painkillers. This unit is widely used in doctors’
offices, but can easily be used at home. Your doctor may be able to rent
or lend you a TENS unit, or help to to purchase one.

Can Herbal Medicine Provide Relief From Migraines?

Plant medicine has been used for as long as man has begun to fashion tools
from his natural surroundings. Many plants have particular biochemical
properties, usually alkaloids (so called because they render the system
less acid, and more alkaline), which can contol pain, as well as many other
therapeutic effects. Medicinal plants which have analgesic (pain-killing)
action can be toxic, sometimes at what would seem a small dose. Please
consult with a qualified herbalist, naturopath or botanically trained pharmacist
before experimenting with the following plant drugs:

Atropa belladonna (the active ingridient, atropine, can be toxic
in not very high doses) is useful for cerebral congestion, occipital or
dull frontal ache with malaise, cool skin, mental sluggishness, and unpleasant
dreams.
Bryonia alba (White Bryony, can be toxic) for a frontal migraine,
with pain around the eye sockets, for right-sided headache, tenderness on
pressure, and made worse with any motion.
Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh) is good for congestive migraines,
such as from colds, rheumatism, menstruation.
Cnicus benedictus: (Blessed Thistle) is specific for strenthing the
function of the liver. This botanical is useful for migraines due to hepatic
problems, such as with a history of hepatitis or alcoholism.
Gelsemium sempervirens (Yellow Jasmine, which may be toxic in high
doses) is for migraines with acute excessive cerebral bloodflow, which
presents with restlessness and excitability.
Lavandula officinalis: (Lavender flower) is great for calming the
nervous system. It works through the sense of smell. Rubbing a little
lavender oil on yourr temples, or dropping some in the bath water can be
extremely soothing. For the migraine associated with depression or poor
digestion.
Melilotus officinalis: (Melilot flower) for migraines with no known
cause which come on in the cold and leave the entire head sore and tender
to the touch.
Nepeta cataria: (Catnip) for a nervous headache, because it acts
as a sedative for both cats and humans!
Passiflora incarnata: (Passion flower) is for the migraine due to
an attack of nervousness, which presents with great fatigue and where the
head feels “full.”
Piscidia erythrina (Jamaican dogwood, can be toxic) for all kinds
of head pain.
Rosmarinus officinalis: (Rosemary) for the migraine associated with
hypertension (high blood pressure).
Salix spp.. (Willow, both black and white) for the inflammatory migraine.
This is the plant from which aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid) was first
derived, and like aspirin it reduces pain and inflammation.
Scutellaria lateriflora: (Skullcap) is a sweet-tasting nerve soothing
medical plant.
Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) is for the migraine which improves
with warm applications. This is a common garden plant and many people with
chronic migraines can prevent them by eating two or three of the Feverfew
leaves every day.
Valeriana spp. (Valerian root), similar biochemically to valium,
this plant is both sedative and stimulating and works well for the migraine
due to nervous excitability.
Viscum flavescens, album (Mistletoe. Beware, this plant is toxic
in quite small doses) reduces the increased flow of blood to the brain typical
of migraine states and works well for frequent headache with flushing of
the face.

A terrific herbal tea formula to detoxify the system (often the only treatment
needed to prevent or reduce migraines) is:

1 part Chamomile

1 part Hops

1/2 part Skullcap

1/2 part Catnip

1/2 part Oatstraw

1/4 part Peppermint leaf

Your local herbalist can mix up this blend for you, or you can order it
ready-made from Frontier Herbs (1-800-669-3275). Brew one heaping tablespoon
to 1 cup just boiling water. Steep for 3-5 minutes then drink with a touch
of honey 2-3 times daily.

Can Diet and Nutrition Be Used Effectively To Help Migraines?

Yes, absolutely. It may be helpful to begin with a short (5-7 day) therapeutic
fast to rid the body of toxins. Some specific nutritional ideas are:

if headache is in left side, squirt carrot juice into left nostril;
if on right side, squirt into right nostril, if both sides affected, squirt
into both nostrils
drink lemon juice and 1/2 tbsp. baking soda mixed in glass of water.
This will help balance the pH of your blood and flush out digestive wastes.
With a 2 p.m. headache or evening headache try to increase potassium-rich
foods such as various seaweeds (dulse, kelp), sunflower seeds, wheat germ,
almonds, raising, parsley, dates, yams, soybeans, garlic and spinach.
Take a teaspoon of honey in warm water each morning before eating.

Foods to avoid are:

any food that causes a bad physical reaction, whether it be the migraine
itself, or fatigue, or indigestion. Try to pay attention to your food intolerances,
and ingest these culprit foods sparingly.
spicy foods, alcohol, excess stimulation, coffee, caffeine, chocolate,
fried foods, stimulating foods.

Sometimes diet alone is not enough. This is where supplementation with
specific vitamins, minerals or amino acids may be necessary, at least at
first, to bring your metabolism into balance so that you reduce the possibility
for the onset of a migraine. Here is a list of supplements which may help
you; but please consult with a qualified nutritionist or naturopathic physician
first:

Vitamin B-complex inejcted into the muscle (IM) every 2-10 days
omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. raw flax or linseed oil, 1 T daily)
omega-6 fatty acids, found in fish, and olive oil
Vitamin B3 , 500 mg at the onset of the migraine
Magnesium 400-800 mg daily, as a muscle and nerve relaxant
Quercetin , a concentrated bioflavonoid which will help with vascular
tone so that the neck veins are less likely to become engorged with blood,
500 mg/day

How Can Homeopathy Help Migraines?

Homeopathy is a form of “energy” medicine, which like Traditional
Chinese Medicine uses substances to stimulate your own innate power to heal.
Homeopathic medicine is often touted as the “medicine of the 20th
century” by its proponents because it uses miniscule doses of plants,
minerals or animal parts to produce “remedies” with very little
resultant environmental damage. The following remedies may be considered:

Aconitum napellus for a headache that is hard to describe; comes
with great violence: wild, tearing and burning in brain, scalp; with fear,
fever and anguish; fullness, throbbing in left forehead and strong beats
in right side by fits; skull feels constricted by the feeling of a band
around the forehead.
Anthracinum for a headache that feels as if a hot, searing pain was
passing through head; for the migraine which creates dullness, confusion,
dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
Apis mellifica for a migraine which is primarily localized in the
occiput, with occasional sharp shrieks; pains like bee-stings; no thirst,
easy sweating; this migraine is worse from heat and a warm room; better
in a cold room, in cold air, and with cold applications.
Argent metallicum for the migraine that comes on at noon along with
other troubles; pressing, burning pain in skull; the pain gets gradually
more violent and then suddenly ceases.
Argent nitricum for the migraine that includes an all-over ache and
fatigue; plus a feeling of expansion, as if the head were enormously enlarged;
the patient wants cold air, cold drinks, cold things; craves sweets; is
beset by strange notions and impulses.
Arnica montana for burning in head, the patient feels as though the
brain were hot but the rest of body feels cool; a migraine with aching pains
over eyes, radiating to the temples; pain shoots through the head from coughing,
sneezing; or a migraine from injuries to the head, such as a concussion.
Arsenicum album for periodic headache every other day, every 4th
day, 7th, l4th; very congestive headache; chilly; the patient desires the
body warm and the head cold; the head throbs, the patient complains of a
burning feeling accompanied by restlessness and anxiety; has a slight thirst
but drinks often, in sips and is worse after midnight.
Belladonna for a migraine that presents with great violence, comes
and departs suddenly, lasts indefinitely; congestion; throbbing in brain,
violent throbbing and cutting stabs; worse from jerking motion (walking,
going upstairs), stooping; bursting pain as if brain was pressed out; worse
from noise, light, lying; better with pressure, drawing head back.
Bryonia is the remedy to treat the patient who is worse from from
any motion, cannot bear any disturbance, mental or physical; bursting or
splitting or heavy crushing headache; fronto-occipital headache; irritable,
thirsty; dry lips and mouth; worse from straining at stool.
Calcarea carbonica has a headache picture of icy coldness in and
on head, on vertex; heaviness in forehead; tearing headache above eyes down
to nose; head numb as if wearing a cap; cold, damp feet; worse from milk.
Cedronis is the remedy for attacks of headache which occur with clockwork
regularity; sick headache every other day at 11a.m.
Chamomilla for the congestive migraine with pressing, bursting pain,
worse from thinking about it; the patient is irritable, capricious, oversensitive
to pain; one side of the face is red, the other pale.
Cinchona is also for congestive headache; the patient’s extremities
are covered with cold sweat; feels a stitching pain from temple to temple;
fluid loss, such as hemorrhages bring on this migraine; worse from draft,
open air, sun, touch; better with hard pressure.
Cocculus indicus has a headache which feels as if the skull would
burst; the headache makes them feel unwell, and presents with vertigo;
thought or smell of food nauseates; pulsating pains, vertex, temples, occiput
or nape; worse from eating, drinking, sleeping; better with rest indoors;
the least jarring movement is unbearable.
Crotalus cascavella for the feeling that the skull compresses brain
like an iron helmet; that something alive walks in a circle in the head;
that a red-hot iron is stuck into vertex; pain lancinating to the right
temple; this patient wakes up with a migraine; great excitement causes
a migraine with nosebleed; icy feet and great coldness; has peculiar hallucinations.
Epiphegus for the headache which presents when you are”tired
out”; better with good sleep; constantly wants to spit.
Eupatorium perfoliatum for a terrible sick headache on waking which
lasts all day; pain in occiput; must use hands to raise head; pain is throbbing,
shooting, darting, thumping.
Gelsemium is another remedy for a congestive headache; most violent
in occiput; headache due to nervous tension, presents with nausea in the
temples and over eyes; worse from vomiting; better with copious urination;
the patient want to lie bolstered up in bed.
Glonoinum (which is homeopathic nitroglycerine) is for the migraine
that feels like an upward rush of blood; waves of terrible bursting, pulsating
head pain; worse from bending head backward and from sunstroke, worse from
having haircut; the patient holds head with both hands.
Heloderma is the remedy for a very violent headache, pressure as
if the skull too full, as if a tumor is forming and pressing inside skull;
burning in brain, or sensation of a cold band around the head; intense arctic
coldness, as if being frozen to death from within outwards.
Iris versicolor is one of the best prescriptions for headache due
to stomach or liver problems; always begins with blur in front of the eyes;
this migraine may cause nausea and vomiting, burning of the tongue, throat,
esophagus and stomach; profuse secretion of ropy saliva; or vomiting spells
every month or 6 weeks.
Lachesis treats the violent congestive migraine with vomiting and
loss of sight; throbbing, bursting, sun headache (chronic), better with
pressure on vertex, sleeps into headache (dreads to sleep); better with
any discharge, worse from suppressing discharges (such as using antihistamines).
Usually a left sided migraine.
Mercurius solubilis is for a migraine that makes the head feel full,
with a bursting feeling; as if the head were constricted by a band, as if
in a vice, worse at night; the headache is most painful around the nose
and eyes; worse from cold, damp, draft, cold or warm room; dirty feeling,
offensive taste on tongue and in mouth; offensive sweat.
Natrum muriaticum is one of the best remedies for chronic headache;
dreadful pain, bursting, compressing as if in a vice; may start at 10-11a.m.
until 3p.m. or into the evening; periodic, every day or 3rd or 4th day,
better with sleep (dark and quiet); the patient feels relief from sweating.
Nux vomica has a headache connected with gastric, hepatic, abdominal
or hemorrhoidal troubles; migraine comes on waking, or rising, after eating,
in open air, on moving eyes; headache of sedentary persons, after coffee;
the patient is oversensitive and touchy; better with head wrapped up, covered,
lying down, with warmth and heat.
Phosphorus is the remedy for aa migraine which is congestive and
throbbing, worse from heat, motion, lying down, better with rest. The patient
is chilly and worse from cold but wants cold drinks in the stomach and cold
applications to the head; craves ice; this migraine is particularly voilent
when the patient is hungry; violent neuralgic pain (darting, tearing, shooting
), periodic headache with stiffness of face and jaws; worse from noise and
light.
Psorinum patients are always hungry during the migraine; they may
present with a symptom picture in which the headache alternates with a hacking
cough; if this patient goes without a meal, they may develop a full-blown
migraine which feels full at the vertex as if the brain would burst out;
especially in the morning, it feels as if there is no room in forehead for
brain; better with after washing and eating.
Pulsatilla is the remedy for a throbbing congestive headache; when
the head is hot, and the patient feels better with cold applications or
slowly walking in open air; the onset of the migraine may be connected with
menses and overeating; the patient is thirstless, weeps esaily, has moods
swings, is better with motion, worse from heat.
Rhus toxicodendron (homeopathic poison ivy) is the remedy for the
migraine which makes the patient feel stupefied, intoxicated; as though
there were a weight in head; the patient feels that when stooping a weight
falls forward into forehead drawing the head down; she must hold her head
up straight to relieve this strange feeling; on waking and opening eyes
she gets violent headaches; in children this migraine may come on from being
cold or damp, or wetting their bed.
Sanguinaria is for a sick headache; pain starts the occiput, spreads
over head to right eye, with nausea and vomiting; a migraine comes on every
3rd or 7th day; sun headache; from morning to night, increasing all day,
with nausea, chills, vomiting of bile; better with lying down in the dark,
sleep; the palms and soles feel as though they were on fire.
Sepia for the migraine, particuarly in a woman, which may be described
as nervous, bilious (due to indigestion or heartburn), periodic, or violent;
better with lying and quiet, often cured by sleep, violent motion (such
as energetic dancing), long walks in open air; worse from stooping, coughing,
jarring, light, thinking, smell of food.
Silica for a chronic sick headache with nausea, even vomiting; begins
nape of the neck, goes forward over vertex to eyes, especially right eye;
better with pressure, lying down, wrapping head up warmly, heat, profuse
urination; the patient is chilly, sweats much on their face and feet.
Spigelia is the sun-induced migraine which starts every morning with
sunrise, gets worse till noon, gradually decreases till sunset; even on
cloudy days; pain from occiput to eyes, especially left; worse from all
movements, noise jar; intolerable pains in eyeballs, eyes feel too large
for their sockets.
Sulphur migraines make the patient feel they’re burning everywhere;
there may be a “tight hat” sensation; better with head uncovered;
throbbing; periodic sick headache; once a week or every 2 weeks with characteristic
seven day aggravation; Sunday headache; worse from motion, eating, drinking;
patient is hungry when they wake up and “starving” by l0 a.m.
Thuja occidentalis feels as if a nail were driven into vertex, severe
stitches in left temporal region; boring, pressing in head; pulsating in
temples; hthe patient is not inclined to speak; they have a dull, stupefying
headache, better with bending head back, worse from stooping, tea and onions;
this remedy has cured the most severe and chronic headaches which come on
after getting vaccinated.
Veratrum album for when the head feels as if packed in ice; feels
as if a sheet of ice lies on the vertex and occiput; neuralgic headache
of great violence; violent pains drive the patient to despair, they collapse
with nervous fatigue, maybe they faint or break out in a cold sweat.

Can Acupuncture Provide Relief From Migraines?

Another form of “energy” medicine is the ancient scientific art
of acupuncture. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a 3000+ year old
system of diagnosis and therapeutics which works primarily in stimulating
the body’s natural “vital force” (known as Qi – pronounced chee).
There are several areas of TCM, including diet and nutrition, acupuncture
and moxibustion (a stick of compressed mugwort which is burned and held
close to the body to insert Qi into the area of distress), Qi Gong (slow
breath and movement exercises) and medicinal herbs. Chinese medicinal
herbs to be considered to prevent or perhaps even remedy migraines are listed
below. Please consult with a qualified acupuncturist (certified from the
NCCA) or Chinese herbalist. The following selection of Chinese herbal combinations,
brewed into the “soup” medicine, may be selected for you:

Pinellia and Gastrodia C. (Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang): Spleen
Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Spleen Distressed by Dampness: chronic headache
with dizziness, cold extremities and vomiting
Minor Bupleurum F. (Xiao Chai Hu Tang): Liver Qi Stagnation.
Cnidium and Tea F. (Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San): Wind: headache in
any part of the head with fever an chills, dizziness, nasal congestion
Evodia C. (Wu Zhu Yu Tang) plus cnidium (chuan xiong) and ginger
(gan jiang): Stomach Deficient and Cold: dry heaves or spitting of clear
fluids with vertex headache
Bupleurum and Peony F. (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San or Dan Zhi Xiao Yao
San): Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Xu (Deficiency) and Heat.
Tang Kuei, Evodia and Ginger C. (Dang Gui Si Ni Jia Wu Zhu Yu Sheng
Jiang Tang): Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) and Yang Xu (Deficiency) with Internal:weak
constitution, cold extremeties, nausea and vomiting, extremely thin pulse
Coptis and Rhubarb C. (Xie Xin Tang); Niu Huang Jiang Ya Wan (patent):
Liver Yang Rising: flushed face, red eyes, dark urine, constipation, greasy
yellow tongue coat
Chuan Qiong Cha Tiao Wan (patent): Wind-Cold; headache in these locations:
sides of head (Xiao Yang), top of head (Jue Yin), forehead (Yang Ming),
back of head, neck/upper back (Tai Yang)
Tian Ma Wan (patent): Wind-Cold with Xue (Blood) Stagnation
Ci Wu Jia Pian (patent): Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Kidney Jing Xu (Essence
Deficiency)
Cnidium 9 (patent): Xue (Blood) Stagnation
Uncaria 6 (patent) plus Salvia Shou Wu (patent): Hypertensive headache

The Chinese often eat a fish head soup with Gastrodia and Ligusticum (available
in most good Chinese restaurants) for chronic migraines. There are also
many acupoints useful for treating migraines. One of the most famous points
is located in the fleshy web of the thumbs (Large Intestine 4). In fact,
you can squeeze this area to stimulate a bowel movement (which in itself
will help relieve the migraine) and to reduce the pain of a migraine, especially
if is presents in the lower face. For the migraine which focuses on the
eyes and upper face, a point 2 inches up from the wrist (Triple Warmer 5)
will curtail pain, and so will a point below the base of the big toe (Liver
3). For migaiens which come on more frequently with the change of seasons,
a very effective point is called “Wind Gate” (Gall Bladder 20),
located at the top of the neck, just below the hairline on either side of
the thick muscles which run up from the back. These points can also be
effectively pressed for relief. Some people find great relief from putting
two tennis balls inside an old stocking and tying them together. You can
then lie on your back on the floor, preferably in a dark and quiet room,
with the tennis balls pressing into the top of the neck. Your local acupuncturist
will give you a constitutional work-up, looking at your tongue and feeling
your pulses, before deciding on the correct point combination to remedy
your migraine.

What About Using Guided Imagery or Meditation For Migraine Relief?

Migraines, obviously, are located in the head, and therefore both affect
and are affected by your mental condition. Many people find a psychological
approach to relaxation the very best way to handle migraines. Consider
the following metaphors and correlations between the migraine and your mental/emotional
wellbeing. Perhaps some of these ideas will provide insight as to buried
sources of stress which continue to create physical problems. Knowing yourself,
and acting responsibly upon that knowledge, is an important key to restoring
balance and vitality.

You may feel that something has to be accomplished or achieved or
some goal reached. This sense of need may create a migraine which doesn’t
relax until after the effort is exerted.
Perhaps your migraine is because you dislike against being driven;
you’re resisting the flow of life.
Migraine headaches are often involved with anger.
Chronic pain syndrome develops as a result of having chronically
negative attitudes and/or unconscious emotional response mechanisms that
keep a person continually in stress. Chronic attitude problems are so much
a part of a person’s self-image that he or she does not recognize them as
separate from the personality. Nothing is more difficult to identify than
our assumed ‘natural’ ways of being in the world that are essentially patterns
we have developed to help us cope. Certain body parts suceptible to chronic
negative patterns include the spine, the stomach (as in ulcers), and the
head (tension and migraine headaches).
Perhaps you have sexual fears. This migraine can usually be relieved
by masturbation.
Migraine, according to some psychology researchers, is always a
displacement of sexuality into the head. Whereas sufferers from tension
headaches are trying to separate their heads from their bodies, migraine
patients are transferring one particular bodily theme, sexuality, into their
heads and trying to live it out at this level instead. Sexual expression
exists on both of the possible poles: either patients have banished their
sexuality from their lives (“I don’t want to have anything to do with
such things”), or they are anxious to impress on everybody what a marvelous
sex life they have.
Physiologically, a migraine attack is in some ways like an orgasm
in the head, as tension reverts to relaxation (dilation of the blood vessels)
at climax. Sometimes several orgasms are necessary for relaxation to set
in and the attack to come to an end. It is also relevant that digestive
disturbances and constipation are high on the list of migraine patients’
side-symptoms; in other words such people are ‘closed up’ at the lower level.
Married couples tend to use their ‘migraines’ as an excuse for not having
sex.

Are There Any Subtle Energy Medicine Techniques Effective For Migraines?

Flower essences, popularized earlier this century by the British physician
Edward Bach, are especially helpful for migraines induced by some kind of
emotional upset. The following may be considered, although it will probably
be more effective for you to consult with someone trained in the use of
flower essences:

cerato
centaury
holly
red chestnut
hornbeam
white chestnut
scleranthus
gentian
oak
aloe vera
angelica
bleeding heart
chaparrel
vine
mimulus
water violet
pine
cherry plum, or
rescue remedy which is the widely used combination flower essence
formula useful for any symptom caused by emotional trauma. Works great
for kids who get minor scrapes and bruises, but cry hysterically because
they are startled, or want attention. Comes in a creme or droplet (weak
alcohol tincture) form.

A newer form of vibrational medicine is the use of sound for healing. Some
health care providers with specail training can determine “missing”
tones from the patient’s voice, and then use a machine to produce the missing
tone, thus filling in the harmonic spectrum of the patient’s major form
of expression (the voice), thus restoring balance and vitality, and presumably
helping relieve any symptoms of distress. A qualified sound therapist may
help reduce or eliminate your migraines.

Color, either by wearing clothes of certain colors, or placing claer plastic
colored gels over light sources in your environment, can reduce all sorts
of physical, mental and emotional ailments. In particular, for migraines,
the following colors should be considered. During the migraine:

purple raises the threshold of pain and is soporific if directed
towards the face, throat and chest.
scarlet can raise blood pressure via three effects: vascoconstrictor,
raises heart rate, calms the kidneys. Be careful, however, because migraines
are more usually associated with higher blood flow. For those with migraines
due to decreased blood flow, scarlet may be effectively directed towards
the face may for relief.

Between migraines try:

lemon (helps to dissolve blood clots) and yellow (acts on the motor
nerves, thereby helping to energize muscles; acts on the lymphatic system
as it is a mild tissue stimulant) for 2 weeks, then
lemon and orange (as decongestants) for 4 weeks
this is repeated for as long as is necessary

For right sided migraines try:

blue over the liver for 5 minutes
blue on the face

In general, great healing colors for migraines are the colors associated
with the upper “chakras” (energy centers along the spine), which
are violet, indigo, blue, and green.

Some people will find gems and semi-precious stones, worn as jewelry or
placed in special locations around the home, will help restore balance and
bring a sense of peace and well-being. Some gems to consider for migraine
are: