Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 Alternatives can cure migraines By SAMEH FAHMY Gannett News Service After a decade of suffering debilitating migraine headaches and struggling with the side effects of the prescription drugs she was taking, Sara Dennis Barton was ready to try anything. "I was not getting better," the 55-year-old said. "In fact, I was getting worse. And I was getting very disheartened with my outlook with all this pain and all the medications that I was having to take." On the advice of a friend, she saw a physician who took a holistic perspective on her health and prescribed dietary changes, supplements, stress reduction and exercise. The results weren't immediate, but they were significant. She says that over a period of about three years, she went from having weekly -- sometimes twice weekly -- migraines to having migraines every six weeks or so. Holistic medicine practitioners say addressing the triggers of migraines and using supplements and herbs to minimize symptoms can help others with the condition do the same. About 19 percent of women and nearly 7 percent of men suffer a migraine headache at least once a year. In addition to pain, people with migraines experience nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some have visual disturbances that make them see a flashing or blinking light. Prescription drugs aim to treat or prevent migraines, but they don't work for everyone and have side effects ranging from liver damage to hair loss to weight gain. Increasingly, people are looking for other options. Nearly 60 percent of headache sufferers had tried an alternative remedy, according to a survey released in 2005 by the nonprofit National Headache Foundation. Fifty-five percent of respondents turned to alternative medicine because their medications were not effective, while 49 percent were concerned about side effects of prescription medicines. The prescription drug Depakote -- a powerful drug used to treat seizures and conditions such as bipolar disorder -- helped 12-year-old Cody Hodges of Nashville, Tenn., manage his migraines for about three years. But the drug became less effective as he grew older, despite the fact that his physician doubled his dose to compensate for his growing size. His doctor's solution was to add another drug to his regimen, which Cody's mother, Tracy, refused. Her son had to have a blood test to check for liver damage every six months to make sure the Depakote wasn't poisoning him, and she wasn't about to put him on another drug with another list of side effects. "I thought, 'We need to be finding the cause,'" Tracy Hodges said, "not just continually treating these symptoms." Like Barton, a friend referred her to Dr. Stephen Reisman, director of the Mind-Body Medical Center in Nashville. Reisman prefers treating migraines with dietary changes, stress reduction and supplements rather than powerful prescription drugs. "Migraine is pretty much what we call a disease of prevention," Reisman said. "The intelligent thing to do is to change the whole picture of what is causing the migraine to happen in the first place." First, he works with patients to figure out what foods and other factors might be triggering their migraines. Everything from caffeine to avocados to citrus fruits can trigger migraines, depending on the person. Stress can be a migraine trigger as well, so he works with patients on stress management and relaxation techniques. Next, he tries to get patients off prescription and over-the-counter painkillers. He explains that the over-the-counter drugs such as Sudafed and prescription drugs such as Imitrex might work in the short term, but they cause what are called rebound headaches when overused. Over the long term, he said, the drugs perpetuate the problem. Reisman also uses vitamins, minerals and herbs to balance the body's natural chemistry. People with migraines tend to have low magnesium levels, for example, so Reisman prescribes high doses of the mineral for them. Other holistic medicine practitioners use a similar approach and tailor the their treatments to the specific circumstances of each patient. "I've had people that have had very frequent migraine headaches and the results are they haven't gotten a headache in three months," said Linda Lasner, a naturopathic physician. Dr. Patrick Lavin, director of the Vanderbilt (University) Headache Clinic, said placebo controlled studies demonstrate the effectiveness of remedies including feverfew, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10. Melatonin is helpful too, particularly if insomnia is a problem. Because no remedy works for all patients, Lavin's advice for patients is to find lifestyle modifications and remedies that work for them. He said medicines are poisons in small doses, and that he likes to avoid them or minimize their use if possible. Source: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060109/LIFESTYLE/601090336/1024 http://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.~ Albert Einstein ~ Check Out My Groups: Everything Natural http://health./ Everything Magick EverythingMagick/ -- Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.4/299 - Release 3/31/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 I got rid of my 3 day long, twice a week migraines when I stopped eating wheat.... I also stopped getting this rash that would last 3 weeks, lost 30 lbs and threw away my anti-depressants after 3 months of being " gluten free " . I also am not as " gassy " as I used to be. If you get headaches, wierd rashes, have gastro-intestinal problems, and maybe depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric problems, Google " celiac " and " gluten intolerance " It's truly a hidden epidemic! Alternatives can cure migraines > > By SAMEH FAHMY > > Gannett News Service > > After a decade of suffering debilitating migraine headaches and > > struggling with the side effects of the prescription drugs she was > > taking, Sara Dennis Barton was ready to try anything. > > " I was not getting better, " the 55-year-old said. " In fact, I was > > getting worse. And I was getting very disheartened with my outlook with > > all this pain and all the medications that I was having to take. " > > On the advice of a friend, she saw a physician who took a holistic > > perspective on her health and prescribed dietary changes, supplements, > > stress reduction and exercise. The results weren't immediate, but they > > were significant. > > She says that over a period of about three years, she went from having > > weekly -- sometimes twice weekly -- migraines to having migraines every > > six weeks or so. Holistic medicine practitioners say addressing the > > triggers of migraines and using supplements and herbs to minimize > > symptoms can help others with the condition do the same. > > About 19 percent of women and nearly 7 percent of men suffer a migraine > > headache at least once a year. In addition to pain, people with > > migraines experience nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some > > have visual disturbances that make them see a flashing or blinking > light. > > Prescription drugs aim to treat or prevent migraines, but they don't > > work for everyone and have side effects ranging from liver damage to > > hair loss to weight gain. Increasingly, people are looking for other > > options. > > Nearly 60 percent of headache sufferers had tried an alternative remedy, > > > according to a survey released in 2005 by the nonprofit National > > Headache Foundation. Fifty-five percent of respondents turned to > > alternative medicine because their medications were not effective, while > > > 49 percent were concerned about side effects of prescription medicines. > > The prescription drug Depakote -- a powerful drug used to treat seizures > > > and conditions such as bipolar disorder -- helped 12-year-old Cody > > Hodges of Nashville, Tenn., manage his migraines for about three years. > > But the drug became less effective as he grew older, despite the fact > > that his physician doubled his dose to compensate for his growing size. > > His doctor's solution was to add another drug to his regimen, which > > Cody's mother, Tracy, refused. Her son had to have a blood test to check > > > for liver damage every six months to make sure the Depakote wasn't > > poisoning him, and she wasn't about to put him on another drug with > > another list of side effects. > > " I thought, 'We need to be finding the cause,' " Tracy Hodges said, " not > > just continually treating these symptoms. " > > Like Barton, a friend referred her to Dr. Stephen Reisman, director of > > the Mind-Body Medical Center in Nashville. Reisman prefers treating > > migraines with dietary changes, stress reduction and supplements rather > > than powerful prescription drugs. > > " Migraine is pretty much what we call a disease of prevention, " Reisman > > said. " The intelligent thing to do is to change the whole picture of > > what is causing the migraine to happen in the first place. " > > First, he works with patients to figure out what foods and other factors > > > might be triggering their migraines. Everything from caffeine to > > avocados to citrus fruits can trigger migraines, depending on the > > person. Stress can be a migraine trigger as well, so he works with > > patients on stress management and relaxation techniques. > > Next, he tries to get patients off prescription and over-the-counter > > painkillers. He explains that the over-the-counter drugs such as Sudafed > > > and prescription drugs such as Imitrex might work in the short term, but > > > they cause what are called rebound headaches when overused. Over the > > long term, he said, the drugs perpetuate the problem. > > Reisman also uses vitamins, minerals and herbs to balance the body's > > natural chemistry. People with migraines tend to have low magnesium > > levels, for example, so Reisman prescribes high doses of the mineral for > > > them. > > Other holistic medicine practitioners use a similar approach and tailor > > the their treatments to the specific circumstances of each patient. > > " I've had people that have had very frequent migraine headaches and the > > results are they haven't gotten a headache in three months, " said Linda > > Lasner, a naturopathic physician. > > Dr. Patrick Lavin, director of the Vanderbilt (University) Headache > > Clinic, said placebo controlled studies demonstrate the effectiveness of > > > remedies including feverfew, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10. Melatonin is > > helpful too, particularly if insomnia is a problem. > > Because no remedy works for all patients, Lavin's advice for patients is > > > to find lifestyle modifications and remedies that work for them. He said > > > medicines are poisons in small doses, and that he likes to avoid them or > > > minimize their use if possible. > > Source: > > HYPERLINK > " http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060109/LIFE > STYLE/601090336/1024 " http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl > e?AID=/20060109/LIFESTYLE/601090336/1024 > > > > HYPERLINK > " http://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines " ht > tp://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines > > > > The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but > because of those who look on and do nothing. > ~ Albert Einstein ~ > > Check Out My Groups: > > Everything Natural > HYPERLINK > " http://health./ " http://health.g > roups./ > Everything Magick > HYPERLINK > " EverythingMagick/ " > EverythingMagick/HYPERLINK " http://www.palmarosasoaps.com/ " -- > > > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.4/299 - Release 3/31/2006 > > > -- Brightest Blessings, Jane Ma'ati Smith Wejee's Eclectic Grimoire complete Wiccan correspondences, spells, meditations & metaphysics in one lil' book! http://www.lulu.com/content/117763 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 I can't believe you mentioned Celiac's (actually it makes perfect sense) I haven't heard about this disease ever, then two years ago I was hospitalized at the Veterans hospital. They are useless but they had a nutritionist come chat with me because I was so thin. I was 105 at the time. She came in and said I think you should try this celiac diet. It might help. Well a week later they let me go, I forgot what she had told me to try, the doctors at the VA told me they were not positive what I had, but they thought it was Crohn's. Fast forward to Thanksgiving last year, I am in the hospital, same place, for the third time in two years. This time I weight 85 pounds. I am five foot five inches. The doctors are still morons and they still don't know what to do. I have elevated Amylase and Lipase, I have migraines, I get sick when I eat but when I fast I am better; I have a rash covering my body. I cant tolerate lactose or much of anything. They send me home saying here is pain meds. I hope this helps. The nutritionist saw I was in the hospital again, saw my weight and ran up to see me. She was a doll, came in and looked at me. She said " didn't try the diet did you " . I apologized profusely and told her I couldn't remember the name of the diet or the rules. She brought with her a book about the auto immune disease, told me to read it. She told me that I needed to take control before the doctors killed me. I told the doctors I wanted to have a blood test and an upper GI to test for the Celiac's. After the tests were taken I started the diet immediately. I can not tell you how much it has helped in such a short time. I didn't get to start the diet until two months ago (tests the nutritionist and I decided to try took forever, the VA is terribly slow). I am now 95 pounds which is amazing for me, I am aiming for 115. Rash is gone, lactose intolerance is getting better, migraines are getting better, I was in the ER getting pain meds twice a week, I haven't gone in a month! My at home pain meds I have lowered to almost nothing, everything is getting better, so many things I didn't know that were symptoms are going away. The added bonus is my boyfriend went on the diet with me to make it easier. He has seen many of his problems getting better. I am sorry for the long rant, it's just that I feel so strongly about this. This disease isn't diagnosed often because drugs don't help it, only diet and natural things. I take probiotics and enzymes, both things my docs at the VA said were alternative meds. A disease that isn't profitable isn't of much use for the doctors to tend too : / I am excited to see more people aware of this. ) Judy Lynn www.tomatothyme.com My little plot of the earth ) Enjoy! (under major construction for the next two weeks) > > > On Behalf Of Jane Ma'ati Smith > Friday, March 31, 2006 8:55 PM > > Re: Alternatives can cure migraines > > I got rid of my 3 day long, twice a week migraines when I stopped eating > wheat.... I also stopped getting this rash that would last 3 weeks, lost > 30 lbs and threw away my anti-depressants after 3 months of being " gluten > free " . I also am not as " gassy " as I used to be. If you get headaches, > wierd rashes, have gastro-intestinal problems, and maybe depression, > anxiety, or other psychiatric problems, Google " celiac " and " gluten > intolerance " It's truly a hidden epidemic! > > > Alternatives can cure migraines > > > > By SAMEH FAHMY > > > > Gannett News Service > > > > After a decade of suffering debilitating migraine headaches and > > > > struggling with the side effects of the prescription drugs she was > > > > taking, Sara Dennis Barton was ready to try anything. > > > > " I was not getting better, " the 55-year-old said. " In fact, I was > > > > getting worse. And I was getting very disheartened with my outlook with > > > > all this pain and all the medications that I was having to take. " > > > > On the advice of a friend, she saw a physician who took a holistic > > > > perspective on her health and prescribed dietary changes, supplements, > > > > stress reduction and exercise. The results weren't immediate, but they > > > > were significant. > > > > She says that over a period of about three years, she went from having > > > > weekly -- sometimes twice weekly -- migraines to having migraines every > > > > six weeks or so. Holistic medicine practitioners say addressing the > > > > triggers of migraines and using supplements and herbs to minimize > > > > symptoms can help others with the condition do the same. > > > > About 19 percent of women and nearly 7 percent of men suffer a migraine > > > > headache at least once a year. In addition to pain, people with > > > > migraines experience nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some > > > > have visual disturbances that make them see a flashing or blinking > > light. > > > > Prescription drugs aim to treat or prevent migraines, but they don't > > > > work for everyone and have side effects ranging from liver damage to > > > > hair loss to weight gain. Increasingly, people are looking for other > > > > options. > > > > Nearly 60 percent of headache sufferers had tried an alternative remedy, > > > > > > according to a survey released in 2005 by the nonprofit National > > > > Headache Foundation. Fifty-five percent of respondents turned to > > > > alternative medicine because their medications were not effective, while > > > > > > 49 percent were concerned about side effects of prescription medicines. > > > > The prescription drug Depakote -- a powerful drug used to treat seizures > > > > > > and conditions such as bipolar disorder -- helped 12-year-old Cody > > > > Hodges of Nashville, Tenn., manage his migraines for about three years. > > > > But the drug became less effective as he grew older, despite the fact > > > > that his physician doubled his dose to compensate for his growing size. > > > > His doctor's solution was to add another drug to his regimen, which > > > > Cody's mother, Tracy, refused. Her son had to have a blood test to check > > > > > > for liver damage every six months to make sure the Depakote wasn't > > > > poisoning him, and she wasn't about to put him on another drug with > > > > another list of side effects. > > > > " I thought, 'We need to be finding the cause,' " Tracy Hodges said, " not > > > > just continually treating these symptoms. " > > > > Like Barton, a friend referred her to Dr. Stephen Reisman, director of > > > > the Mind-Body Medical Center in Nashville. Reisman prefers treating > > > > migraines with dietary changes, stress reduction and supplements rather > > > > than powerful prescription drugs. > > > > " Migraine is pretty much what we call a disease of prevention, " Reisman > > > > said. " The intelligent thing to do is to change the whole picture of > > > > what is causing the migraine to happen in the first place. " > > > > First, he works with patients to figure out what foods and other factors > > > > > > might be triggering their migraines. Everything from caffeine to > > > > avocados to citrus fruits can trigger migraines, depending on the > > > > person. Stress can be a migraine trigger as well, so he works with > > > > patients on stress management and relaxation techniques. > > > > Next, he tries to get patients off prescription and over-the-counter > > > > painkillers. He explains that the over-the-counter drugs such as Sudafed > > > > > > and prescription drugs such as Imitrex might work in the short term, but > > > > > > they cause what are called rebound headaches when overused. Over the > > > > long term, he said, the drugs perpetuate the problem. > > > > Reisman also uses vitamins, minerals and herbs to balance the body's > > > > natural chemistry. People with migraines tend to have low magnesium > > > > levels, for example, so Reisman prescribes high doses of the mineral for > > > > > > them. > > > > Other holistic medicine practitioners use a similar approach and tailor > > > > the their treatments to the specific circumstances of each patient. > > > > " I've had people that have had very frequent migraine headaches and the > > > > results are they haven't gotten a headache in three months, " said Linda > > > > Lasner, a naturopathic physician. > > > > Dr. Patrick Lavin, director of the Vanderbilt (University) Headache > > > > Clinic, said placebo controlled studies demonstrate the effectiveness of > > > > > > remedies including feverfew, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10. Melatonin is > > > > helpful too, particularly if insomnia is a problem. > > > > Because no remedy works for all patients, Lavin's advice for patients is > > > > > > to find lifestyle modifications and remedies that work for them. He said > > > > > > medicines are poisons in small doses, and that he likes to avoid them or > > > > > > minimize their use if possible. > > > > Source: > > > > HYPERLINK > > " http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060109/LIFE > > STYLE/601090336/1024 " http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl > > e?AID=/20060109/LIFESTYLE/601090336/1024 > > > > > > > > HYPERLINK > > " http://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines " ht > > tp://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines > > > > > > > > The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but > > because of those who look on and do nothing. > > ~ Albert Einstein ~ > > > > Check Out My Groups: > > > > Everything Natural > > HYPERLINK > > " http://health./ " http://health.g > > roups./ > > Everything Magick > > HYPERLINK > > " EverythingMagick/ " > > EverythingMagick/HYPERLINK " http://www.palmarosasoaps.com/ " > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.4/299 - Release 3/31/2006 > > > > > > > > > -- > Brightest Blessings, > Jane Ma'ati Smith > Wejee's Eclectic Grimoire > complete Wiccan correspondences, spells, meditations & metaphysics in one > lil' book! > http://www.lulu.com/content/117763 > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 No mind about the long rant to me, I feel just as strongly! I didn't have the extreme wasting, for me, it manifested primarily as migraines, depression, clouded thinking, and I feel I lost a lot of years to it, because I couldn't be as focused or productive. Celiac doesn't just affect digestion, it gets into the nerves (that rash is your nerve endings getting inflamed by gluten) I've heard that in Europe (particularly Ireland) 15-20% of the popluation is diagnosed with " gluten intolerance " or celiac, so why in the U.S. is it only 2%? Doctors here just don't even think to look for it. So remember, " wheat is poison " and don't look back! If you'd like to e-mail me off list, please do, maybe I can give you some diet and recipe ideas! Jane wejee I can't believe you mentioned Celiac's (actually it makes perfect > sense) I > haven't heard about this disease ever, then two years ago I was > hospitalized > at the Veterans hospital. They are useless but they had a nutritionist > come > chat with me because I was so thin. I was 105 at the time. She came in > and > said I think you should try this celiac diet. It might help. Well a > week > later they let me go, I forgot what she had told me to try, the doctors > at > the VA told me they were not positive what I had, but they thought it was > Crohn's. > Fast forward to Thanksgiving last year, I am in the hospital, same place, > for the third time in two years. This time I weight 85 pounds. I am > five > foot five inches. The doctors are still morons and they still don't know > what to do. I have elevated Amylase and Lipase, I have migraines, I get > sick when I eat but when I fast I am better; I have a rash covering my > body. > I cant tolerate lactose or much of anything. They send me home saying > here > is pain meds. I hope this helps. > > The nutritionist saw I was in the hospital again, saw my weight and ran > up > to see me. She was a doll, came in and looked at me. She said > & quot;didn't try > the diet did you & quot;. I apologized profusely and told her I couldn't > remember > the name of the diet or the rules. She brought with her a book about the > auto immune disease, told me to read it. She told me that I needed to > take > control before the doctors killed me. I told the doctors I wanted to > have a > blood test and an upper GI to test for the Celiac's. After the tests were > taken I started the diet immediately. > > I can not tell you how much it has helped in such a short time. I didn't > get > to start the diet until two months ago (tests the nutritionist and I > decided > to try took forever, the VA is terribly slow). I am now 95 pounds which > is > amazing for me, I am aiming for 115. Rash is gone, lactose intolerance > is > getting better, migraines are getting better, I was in the ER getting > pain > meds twice a week, I haven't gone in a month! My at home pain meds I > have > lowered to almost nothing, everything is getting better, so many things I > didn't know that were symptoms are going away. The added bonus is my > boyfriend went on the diet with me to make it easier. He has seen many > of > his problems getting better. > > I am sorry for the long rant, it's just that I feel so strongly about > this. > This disease isn't diagnosed often because drugs don't help it, only diet > and natural things. I take probiotics and enzymes, both things my docs > at > the VA said were alternative meds. A disease that isn't profitable isn't > of > much use for the doctors to tend too : / > > I am excited to see more people aware of this. ) > > Judy Lynn > > www.tomatothyme.com > My little plot of the earth ) Enjoy! (under major construction for the > next two weeks) > > > > > > > On Behalf Of Jane Ma'ati > Smith > > Friday, March 31, 2006 8:55 PM > > > > Re: Alternatives can cure migraines > > > > I got rid of my 3 day long, twice a week migraines when I stopped > eating > > wheat.... I also stopped getting this rash that would last 3 weeks, > lost > > 30 lbs and threw away my anti-depressants after 3 months of being > & quot;gluten > > free & quot;. I also am not as & quot;gassy & quot; as I used to be. If you > get headaches, > > wierd rashes, have gastro-intestinal problems, and maybe depression, > > anxiety, or other psychiatric problems, Google & quot;celiac & quot; and > & quot;gluten > > intolerance & quot; It's truly a hidden epidemic! > > > > > > Alternatives can cure migraines > > > > > > By SAMEH FAHMY > > > > > > Gannett News Service > > > > > > After a decade of suffering debilitating migraine headaches and > > > > > > struggling with the side effects of the prescription drugs she was > > > > > > taking, Sara Dennis Barton was ready to try anything. > > > > > > & quot;I was not getting better, & quot; the 55-year-old said. & quot;In > fact, I was > > > > > > getting worse. And I was getting very disheartened with my outlook > with > > > > > > all this pain and all the medications that I was having to > take. & quot; > > > > > > On the advice of a friend, she saw a physician who took a holistic > > > > > > perspective on her health and prescribed dietary changes, > supplements, > > > > > > stress reduction and exercise. The results weren't immediate, but > they > > > > > > were significant. > > > > > > She says that over a period of about three years, she went from > having > > > > > > weekly -- sometimes twice weekly -- migraines to having migraines > every > > > > > > six weeks or so. Holistic medicine practitioners say addressing the > > > > > > triggers of migraines and using supplements and herbs to minimize > > > > > > symptoms can help others with the condition do the same. > > > > > > About 19 percent of women and nearly 7 percent of men suffer a > migraine > > > > > > headache at least once a year. In addition to pain, people with > > > > > > migraines experience nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some > > > > > > have visual disturbances that make them see a flashing or blinking > > > light. > > > > > > Prescription drugs aim to treat or prevent migraines, but they don't > > > > > > work for everyone and have side effects ranging from liver damage to > > > > > > hair loss to weight gain. Increasingly, people are looking for other > > > > > > options. > > > > > > Nearly 60 percent of headache sufferers had tried an alternative > remedy, > > > > > > > > > according to a survey released in 2005 by the nonprofit National > > > > > > Headache Foundation. Fifty-five percent of respondents turned to > > > > > > alternative medicine because their medications were not effective, > while > > > > > > > > > 49 percent were concerned about side effects of prescription > medicines. > > > > > > The prescription drug Depakote -- a powerful drug used to treat > seizures > > > > > > > > > and conditions such as bipolar disorder -- helped 12-year-old Cody > > > > > > Hodges of Nashville, Tenn., manage his migraines for about three > years. > > > > > > But the drug became less effective as he grew older, despite the fact > > > > > > that his physician doubled his dose to compensate for his growing > size. > > > > > > His doctor's solution was to add another drug to his regimen, which > > > > > > Cody's mother, Tracy, refused. Her son had to have a blood test to > check > > > > > > > > > for liver damage every six months to make sure the Depakote wasn't > > > > > > poisoning him, and she wasn't about to put him on another drug with > > > > > > another list of side effects. > > > > > > & quot;I thought, 'We need to be finding the cause,' & quot; Tracy > Hodges said, & quot;not > > > > > > just continually treating these symptoms. & quot; > > > > > > Like Barton, a friend referred her to Dr. Stephen Reisman, director > of > > > > > > the Mind-Body Medical Center in Nashville. Reisman prefers treating > > > > > > migraines with dietary changes, stress reduction and supplements > rather > > > > > > than powerful prescription drugs. > > > > > > & quot;Migraine is pretty much what we call a disease of > prevention, & quot; Reisman > > > > > > said. & quot;The intelligent thing to do is to change the whole > picture of > > > > > > what is causing the migraine to happen in the first place. & quot; > > > > > > First, he works with patients to figure out what foods and other > factors > > > > > > > > > might be triggering their migraines. Everything from caffeine to > > > > > > avocados to citrus fruits can trigger migraines, depending on the > > > > > > person. Stress can be a migraine trigger as well, so he works with > > > > > > patients on stress management and relaxation techniques. > > > > > > Next, he tries to get patients off prescription and over-the-counter > > > > > > painkillers. He explains that the over-the-counter drugs such as > Sudafed > > > > > > > > > and prescription drugs such as Imitrex might work in the short term, > but > > > > > > > > > they cause what are called rebound headaches when overused. Over the > > > > > > long term, he said, the drugs perpetuate the problem. > > > > > > Reisman also uses vitamins, minerals and herbs to balance the body's > > > > > > natural chemistry. People with migraines tend to have low magnesium > > > > > > levels, for example, so Reisman prescribes high doses of the mineral > for > > > > > > > > > them. > > > > > > Other holistic medicine practitioners use a similar approach and > tailor > > > > > > the their treatments to the specific circumstances of each patient. > > > > > > & quot;I've had people that have had very frequent migraine headaches > and the > > > > > > results are they haven't gotten a headache in three months, & quot; > said Linda > > > > > > Lasner, a naturopathic physician. > > > > > > Dr. Patrick Lavin, director of the Vanderbilt (University) Headache > > > > > > Clinic, said placebo controlled studies demonstrate the effectiveness > of > > > > > > > > > remedies including feverfew, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10. Melatonin > is > > > > > > helpful too, particularly if insomnia is a problem. > > > > > > Because no remedy works for all patients, Lavin's advice for patients > is > > > > > > > > > to find lifestyle modifications and remedies that work for them. He > said > > > > > > > > > medicines are poisons in small doses, and that he likes to avoid them > or > > > > > > > > > minimize their use if possible. > > > > > > Source: > > > > > > HYPERLINK > > > & quot;http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060109/LIFE > > > STYLE/601090336/1024 & quot;http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl > > > e?AID=/20060109/LIFESTYLE/601090336/1024 > > > > > > > > > > > > HYPERLINK > > > & quot;http://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines & quot;\ ht > > > tp://www.citizens.org/healthy-news/alternatives-can-cure-migraines > > > > > > > > > > > > The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but > > > because of those who look on and do nothing. > > > ~ Albert Einstein ~ > > > > > > Check Out My Groups: > > > > > > Everything Natural > > > HYPERLINK > > > & quot;http://health./ & quot;http://health\ ..g > > > roups./ > > > Everything Magick > > > HYPERLINK > > > & quot;EverythingMagick/ & quot;http://groups..c\ om > > > EverythingMagick/HYPERLINK > & quot;http://www.palmarosasoaps.com/ & quot; > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.4/299 - Release Date: > 3/31/2006 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Brightest Blessings, > > Jane Ma'ati Smith > > Wejee's Eclectic Grimoire > > complete Wiccan correspondences, spells, meditations & amp; metaphysics > in one > > lil' book! > > http://www.lulu.com/content/117763 > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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