For Sunitpal Kaur, a 28-year-old from Canada, it all started in 2007 when she experienced flashes of light in the right eye, blind spots, and a tingling sensation in the right side of the body.
“The tingling sensations would start from the hand, then travel to the ears, cheeks, nose and end at the tongue.”
Kaur could not speak properly during the migraine episode. She says, “My speaking ability was impaired as I would slur like a child.”
Her parents thought that it was paralysis but when they consulted their doctor, that suspicion was put to rest. However, the doctor could not figure out what had triggered her symptoms.
For the next two to three years, Kaur did not experience any symptoms. Later, when it did resurface, it came back worse. Along with the earlier symptoms, she started experiencing nausea and vomiting. “I immediately consulted a neurologist who told me that I have migraine.”
I jumped from one doctor to another
Kaur says, “I was given medicines for two years but to no avail.” In desperation, she moved from one doctor to another, with one of them even giving her medicines for panic attacks. “At last, I turned to homeopathy and it worked. The doctor examined my symptoms and gave me personalised medicines which started showing positive results in five to six months.”
Additionally, the number of attacks, pain, the duration of the tingling sensation and flashes of light reduced with time. Kaur continued with her homeopathy medicines for three years.
“It has been a year since I had a migraine attack.” She adds that homeopathy did take its time, but the symptoms were relieved in the long term.
Migraine – Not just a headache
Dr Gayatri Rao, a homeopathic consultant at Path to Wellbeing homeopathic clinic, Mumbai, says, “Migraine is a headache that is often accompanied by many other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.” She adds that it can also manifest as trouble in talking.
Migraine could come with or without an aura – warning signs like flashy lights, tingling sensation and blind spots. Thus, what Kaur experienced was migraine with an aura.
The one-sided headache as the name suggests could either be on the left side or the right side of the head. The pain in migraine is often throbbing or pulsing in nature. The frequency of attacks differs from person to person. When it comes to the duration, a migraine can last from 4 to 72 hours. Some people can get chronic migraine which can last for days.
The International Headache Society defines chronic migraine as having a headache for at least 15 days or more each month for more than three months with migraine symptoms.
While the causes of migraine are not fully understood and are being studied by researchers, we know the possible things that can trigger migraine.
What triggers a migraine
There are many triggers for migraine. Dr Navnit Vachhani, Homeopathic Consultant, at Dr Vachhani’s Homeopathic clinic, in Junagadh, Gujarat says, “Each individual has different triggers. It could be because of stress, lack of sleep or bright light from devices.”
A 2021 study lists out many migraine triggers such as stress, menstruation, missing a meal, weather changes, sleep disturbance, specific food, and perfumes. Among all these triggers, stress seems to be one of the most common triggers of migraine. The study also mentions that exercise could be a trigger for some people. In the end, the team concludes that identifying and removing the triggers will improve the quality of life in people dealing with migraine.
Homeopaths consider these triggers before giving individualised management to the person. “A person dealing with migraine triggered by chocolate is given a different medicine than someone dealing with a migraine triggered by coffee,” says Dr Rao.
She adds that homeopathic management is also customised based on whether the person is having a left-sided or right-sided headache.
Homeopaths say that this approach helps in reducing the severity and frequency of headaches.
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine showed that after homeopathic treatment, there was a significant decrease in the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine attacks in children. This reduced their absence from school because of migraine. The study included 59 physicians trained in the prescription of homeopathic medicines and 168 children, aged 5-15 years.
Dr Vachhani says, “Along with homeopathic medicines, lifestyle changes can also help the person in managing the triggers.”
He gives the following pointers regarding lifestyle habits that can help people dealing with migraine.
- Avoid watching TV or any devices for long hours and late at night
- Since sleep disturbances are one of the triggers, make sure to get optimal sleep. Maintaining sleep hygiene is equally important
- Small breaks during work are helpful
- Do not skip your meals
- Drink an adequate amount of water
- Addressing stress is essential. Include any relaxing activities such as yoga, breathing exercises, or listening to music in your daily routine
- Apart from these, finding out the food triggers and avoiding them will help. Maintaining a log for foods items one consumes is a good way to do this
A 2021 study suggests that in some people, migraine could be a manifestation of celiac disease (an autoimmune condition triggered when you eat foods containing gluten)
Dr Vachhani says, “We should always reach out to the relevant consultant, be it a homeopath or a nutritionist for the best guidance.”
