Migraines are severe, disabling recurrent headaches that are generally accompanied by other symptoms such as visual disturbances or nausea.

There are two types of migraine

1. A classic migraine has an "aura" or warning associated with it that precedes the headache. The aura is often a visual disturbance (like seeing stars or zigzag lines or a temporary blind spot.) 
2. A common migraine does not have such a warning before the head pain begins, typically accompanied by nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances.
    

Commonly lasts from 6 to 48 hours

Accompanying symptoms that may precede or occur at the same time as the migraine include:

1. Nausea and vomiting
2. Dizziness described as lightheadedness or even vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
3. Fatigue Loss of appetite
4. Irritability
5. Eye pain
6. Extreme sensitivity to light (called photophobia)
7. Parts of your body may feel numb, weak, or tingly
8. Light, noise, and movement?especially bending over?make head hurt worse

Symptoms that may linger even after the migraine has resolved:

• Feeling mentally dull, like your thinking is not clear or sharp increased need for sleep
• Neck pain  

CAUSES:

The symptoms of migraines occur as a result of changes in the diameter of blood vessels to the brain and surrounding structures. Initially, the blood vessels constrict (narrow), reducing blood flow to these areas and leading to visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, or tingling sensation in one area of the body, or other similar symptoms. When these symptoms start before the actual headache (as in classical migraine), it is called an aura. Minutes to hours later, the blood vessels dilate (enlarge) leading to increased blood flow and a severe headache.

Things that can trigger migraine include the following:

1. Low blood sugar from, for example, missing meal
2. Certain food, most commonly cited dietary culprits include- ?4C? ?cheese, citrus fruits, caffeine and chocolate
3. Fluctuations in hormones (for example, menstruation)
4. Certain odors, such as perfume
5. Bright lights
6. Loud noises
7. Stress, physical or emotional (often, the headache occurs during the period of relaxation just following a particularly stressful time)
8. Sleeping too little or too more
9. Smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke

Prolonged muscle tension (for example, from a tension headache can lead to a mixed migraine-tension headache)  

Migraine and other similar headaches:

Migraine headache should be differentiated from other similar painful conditions where the headache could be due to high blood pressure, sinusitis, trigeminal neuralgia,  tension headache, etc. A good clinician can help the patient arrive to a correct diagnosis.

Homeopathic treatment for Migraine:

Migraine has been believed to be an obstinate condition to treat. However, it is a common experience of the practice of homeopathic system of medicine that migraine is curable.

The homeopathy approach to the treatment of migraine patients is more individualistic. This means, homeopathy believes that migraine is a personality disorder and hence the treatment should be determined only on the basis of in-depth study of the patients' personality. This approach helps treating most cases of migraine successfully.

Take plenty of:

1. Regular light meals to prevent a drop in blood sugar levels\
2. Ginger in cooking , or freshly grated with boiling water as a tea Omega-3 in food, helps because it has gentle anti-inflammatory action on the body
3. To break the cycle of an attack, a hot compress on the nape of neck and a cold on the forehead may some times help. Don?t apply a hot compress if you feel that heat may enhance the pain.
4. Simply lying down on your back to stretch the joints and muscles with a rolled up towel in the nape of the neck is often a comfort.