Migraine Symptoms

If you get migraines, you know your symptoms intimately. You could describe them in your sleep. They typically include:

Throbbing pain, usually on one side of your head. A pale face and cold hands and feet. Sensitivity to light and sound. Blurred vision. Dizziness and numbness. Difficulty in concentrating or speaking. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Stuffed nose. Stiff neck. Tender scalp. Intense fatigue. Nervousness. Anxiety.

Imbalance In Your Nervous System

What do these symptoms have in common? They are all indicative of an overactive sympathetic nervous system. This system elicits the ¡°fight or flight¡± response you experience during periods of stress. Migraine headaches seem to be connected to the activity of your sympathetic nervous system. In fact, sustained periods of stress can lead to migraines.

How Can Anyone Think Of A Migraine As 'Healing?'

Some researchers think that a migraine is literally a healing phenomenon. They think it helps to 'flip the switch' in your body back toward parasympathetic nervous system activity. The parasympathetic system prepares the body for rest and helps the digestion process, so our bodies can efficiently take in nutrients from the food we eat.

What Does This Tell You?

By preventing (or decreasing) over stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, migraines can be avoided. The best way to do this is to consciously stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system: 1. breathe calmly 2. relax your major muscle groups.

The Key Word is 'Prevention'

Once a migraine has begun, the chain of reactions is already set in motion. The migraine has momentum, like a freight train. It is harder to stop a migraine than to prevent one starting in the first place.