Migraines, hand warming, brain blood flow

Warming the hands increases blood flow in the brain. Migraine suffererers have been taught to warm the hands to relieve their headaches. Blood flow increase in the left hemisphere is more marked than in the right. (Brain Mind Bulletin 5(11)1, April 21, 1980) Copyright 1980 Phylis Austin

Migraine, ice pack

An ice pack may be helpful in pain relief for those who suffer migraine headaches. Dr. Lawrence D. Robbins, director of the Robbins Headache Clinic, says that patients who use ice packs while waiting for their pain medication to take effect reported faster relief of symptoms. The patients were told to wrap the ice pack around the head snugly enough to provide moderate pressure. Pain relief may begin in 12-15 minutes. (Emergency Medicine, August 15, 1990, p. 139-142) Copyright 1990 Phylis Austin

Exercise and migraines

Exercise reduces the incidence and severity of migraines in some sufferers. A regular exercise program, leading to a high level of fitness, may be necessary for the best results. (Headache 31:616- 618, 1991) Copyright 1991 Phylis Austin

Headaches, cold packs

Cold compresses have been used for headache relief for many years. A study conducted at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine revealed that about 50 percent of patients who used a cold pack received immediate pain relief. Interesting, migraine patients had the greatest pain relief. (Internal medicine News 18(7)3, September 1-14, 1985)
Copyright 1985 Phylis A Austin

Migraines, headbands

Some migraine sufferers have achieved relief with the application of an elastic band about the head. Dr. Nazhiyath Vijanan of the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, provides his patients with a headband secured with velcro, under which they place rubber discs over the areas of greatest pain. Sixty of sixty-nine headaches improved with the use of the bands for 30 minutes. The bands used in the study were 4-5 cm wide and 60-65 cm long. Discs were 1 cm thick and 3 cm wide. Some patients developed scalp tenderness and were unable to use the headbands. (Internal Medicine News 25(156)5, August 1, 1992)
Copyright 1992 Phylis A Austin

Migraine attacks, weekends

Many people report increased numbers of migraine headaches occurring over the weekend. A study from London suggests that these people may be suffering from caffeine-withdrawal migraines, as they consume less caffeine than during the week. (Cephalgia 12(2)99-100, April 1992)
Copyright 1992 Phylis A Austin

Cold applications for migraine

Cold applications for migraine relief are described in an ancient Egyptian papyrus. An electrical device to cool the back of the neck and sides of the head, and heat the top has been shown helpful in the treatment of migraine, tension, and cluster headaches. Treatment must begin at the first sign of symptoms. Only two patients in the study felt that heating the top of the head was helpful. Most patients preferred heat applications to feet, shoulders, or abdomen. Pressure over the temples, applied with a blood pressure cuff, helped some. (Headache 28:458-461, August 1988) Copyright 1988 Phylis Austin

Migraine headaches and exercise

A report from Netherlands shows that migraine headaches can sometimes be treated by vigorous exercise. A 44-year-old physician who suffered migraine noted relief after several hours of cycling; the next time he developed a migraine headache he was unable to cycle, so he ran. To his surprise about 20 minutes of running was adequate to relieve the migraine headache. He continues to treat his migraines with exercise. (Journal of Neurology, Surgery and Psychiatry 50(12)1700-1701, December, 1987) Copyright 1987 Phylis Austin

Tinted glasses for childhood migraine

The use of rose-tinted glasses reduced the incidence of migraine attacks in a group of children. Blue tinted glasses were also used in the study, but were not as effective as the rose tint. (Headache 31:533-536, 1991) Copyright 1991 Phylis Austin

Nasal plug for migraine headaches

A 64-year-old man who had suffered recurrent cluster headaches for more than five years observed that stuffing tissue up the left nostril produced an immediate improvement in his symptoms. He inserts the tissue for two or three hours at the beginning of the headache.
(Headaches 27:522-523, 1987)

Copyright 1987 Phylis A Austin