Tagged As: Alternative Medicine And Migraine
Question:
My 18 year old daughter suffers occasionally from migraine headaches. She presently has one that has lasted 5 days so far. Recommended treatment by her traditional doctor has been pain killers and reduction of stressful situations. I'm now interested in alternative medicine/lifestyles that may help her. Does anyone know for example if acupuncture can be an effective treatment. Any information on other treatments would also be appreciated.
Answer:
Actually, to better describe her headaches, where does the pain occur? Is it at the base of the skull? by the eyes? at the top of the head? one sided? Many times people will say it's a Migraine headache because it hurts so bad. Migraines are typically preceded by what's called an aura. This is when the person gets very sensative to light, or, they may have a wave sensation before their eyes. Many times there are visual sensations that go along with the migraine. Nauseousness, and vomiting usually occur as well. Does your daughter suffer from anything like this? I have witnessed great relief for Migraines and common headaches with chiropractic manipulation of the spine. Chiropractors believe that impeded nerve flow irritates the tissues and structures it supplies. In this case, it may be the muscles in the neck, or the blood vessals traveling to the brain. The only way to determine this, of course, is through an examination. Some other questions to ask your daughter. Has she been involved in any car accidents? Is she involved in sports that places stress upon the neck? Has she had a bad fall lately? These questions help determine if there has been a trauma to the spine that may have initiated the Migraines. Migraines may also be due to food allergies. This would need to be ruled in or out through the history. I am not qualified to answer your question about acupuncturists. I know I have seen good results in my patients who have undergone acupuncture. I hope this helps you make a decision regarding your daughter's health. There are many alternatives to the medical approach. Just make sure you talk to qualified people - especially over the internet.
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