Migraine, a severe headache that occurs attacks and usually occurs on one side of your head. The headache can last from several hours to several days and is usually accompanied by nausea. Hypersensitivity to light and sound is also common.

Causes

Here we must distinguish between causes, which are at the root of the problem, and triggers, which provoke the attacks, but are rarely the actual cause.
In addition to a hereditary factor, lifestyle, stress and psychological stress, nutrition and environmental stress play an important role: in a few decades the incidence of migraine has tripled!
Both endogenous and exogenous inflammatory factors: given the basic mechanism is a neurogenic inflammation, the basal level of inflammation will also play an important role.
Stomach and intestinal function, especially intestinal flora, liver function (detoxification) are possible causes of migraine.
Also hormonal factors have a great influence

Triggers do not cause migraine

The common opinion that a migraine patient should only avoid triggers, but is otherwise perfectly healthy, seems to me wrong. On the contrary, it is usually the case that most migraine patients suffer from other syndromes, and the migraine attacks are rather a sign of overload. A sudden migraine at a later age is certainly an indication of a worsened cardiovascular condition and there is evidence that there is a link between anxiety and depressed personality traits and the risk of migraine.

General good health of interest in migraine

It is therefore much more correct to say that the physical and/or mental condition of the migraine patient is so poor that he does not have enough 'reserve' to adequately process some stimuli (= triggers), causing a 'short' circuit 'in the brain that triggers the migraine attack. initiates. Sometimes the balance is so precarious that the smallest extra load can provoke an attack.

On the other hand, it is also true that a severe migraine attack can lead to lifelong sensitivity (acquired disposition). Sometimes the cause of this can be just a (too heavy) hormone pill, which sensitively disbalances the hormonal balance...
In order to prevent migraine, it is especially important to reduce its receptivity: to ensure good basic health and (hormonal) equilibrium, and to avoid risk factors. Avoiding migraines can significantly increase the quality of life and prevent the risk of using painkillers.

The best medicinal plants in migraine

  • Tanacetum parthenium/Feverwort
  • Zingber/Ginger
  • Cannabis sativa/Hemp
  • Petasites hybridus/Greater coltsfoot
  • Mentha piperita/Peppermint (essential oil)
  • Lavandula/Lavender (essential oil)
  • Liver Plants: Taraxacum, Cynara, Silybum

About feverwort, most commonly used plant in migraine.

The leaf of the plant is anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory) and analgesic by inhibiting inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins (PGE2) and thromboxanes, more or less comparable to the action of aspirin
The leaf extract also inhibits allergy substances such as histamine and serotonin, also the secretion of serotonin from human platelets is inhibited, which can also play a role in migraines,
The body's own substance thromboxane A2, which contracts the arterial vessel walls, is inhibited by motherwort (parthenolide), which relaxes the blood vessels (antispasmodic on the vessels).
All pharmacological actions that give a scientific explanation for the use of motherwort in migraine.

Sources and references

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