The Head Ache

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The search for the magic treatment of migraines continues with millions of dollars of research looking for the special formula. Meanwhile Cady and colleagues investigated a sub lingual preparation of fever few and ginger as a possible abortive of migraines with and without aura. The results were favorable of the feverfew and ginger for aborting migraines and alleviating both migraine pain and non pain migraine symptoms when compared to the placebo. 32% of the patients taking the feverfew and ginger preparation were pain free in 2 hours and 64% had no pain or mild pain at 2 hours compared to the placebo.

The most common side effect of the feverfew and ginger preparation was oral numbness and nausea.

Now how does feverfew and ginger compare to a pharmaceutical migraine medication? Imitrex tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. There were 3 randomized, double blind , placebo-controlled studies that evaluated Imitrex in the treatment of migraine headaches. In all 3 trials patients achieving headache response 2 and 4 hours after treatment was significantly greater among patients receiving Imitrex tablets at all doses compared to those who received placebo. The percentages are as follows: 52% had no pain or mild pain with imitrex at 2 hours and 67% at 4 hours. .

Imitrex Side effects:

  • Risk of myocardial ischemia and or infarction and other adverse cardiac events
  • Risk of cerebrovascular events and fatalities
  • Vasospasm
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Corneal opacities
  • Atypical Sensations: Frequent were burning sensation and numbness. Infrequent was tight feeling in head. Rare were dysesthesia.
  • Cardiovascular: Frequent were palpitations, syncope, decreased blood pressure, and increased blood pressure. Infrequent were arrhythmia, changes in ECG, hypertension, hypotension, pallor, pulsating sensations, and tachycardia. Rare were angina, atherosclerosis, bradycardia, cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular lesion, heart block, peripheral cyanosis, thrombosis, transient myocardial ischemia, and vasodilation.
  • Ear, Nose, and Throat: Frequent were sinusitis, tinnitus; allergic rhinitis; upper respiratory inflammation; ear, nose, and throat hemorrhage; external otitis; hearing loss; nasal inflammation; and sensitivity to noise. Infrequent were hearing disturbances and otalgia. Rare was feeling of fullness in the ear(s).
  • Endocrine and Metabolic: Infrequent was thirst. Rare were elevated thyrotropin stimulating hormone (TSH) levels; galactorrhea; hyperglycemia; hypoglycemia; hypothyroidism; polydipsia; weight gain; weight loss; endocrine cysts, lumps, and masses; and fluid disturbances.
  • Eye: Rare were disorders of sclera, mydriasis, blindness and low vision, visual disturbances, eye edema and swelling, eye irritation and itching, accommodation disorders, external ocular muscle disorders, eye hemorrhage, eye pain, and keratitis and conjunctivitis.
  • Gastrointestinal: Frequent were diarrhea and gastric symptoms. Infrequent were constipation, dysphagia, and gastroesophageal reflux. Rare were gastrointestinal bleeding, hematemesis, melena, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal pain, dyspeptic symptoms, dental pain, feelings of gastrointestinal pressure, gastritis, gastroenteritis, hypersalivation, abdominal distention, oral itching and irritation, salivary gland swelling, and swallowing disorders.
  • Hematological Disorders: Rare was anemia.
  • Musculoskeletal: Frequent was myalgia. Infrequent was muscle cramps. Rare were tetany; muscle atrophy, weakness, and tiredness; arthralgia and articular rheumatitis; acquired musculoskeletal deformity; muscle stiffness, tightness, and rigidity; and musculoskeletal inflammation.
  • Neurological: Frequent were phonophobia and photophobia. Infrequent were confusion, depression, difficulty concentrating, disturbance of smell, dysarthria, euphoria, facial pain, heat sensitivity, incoordination, lacrimation, monoplegia, sleep disturbance, shivering, syncope, and tremor. Rare were aggressiveness, apathy, bradylogia, cluster headache, convulsions, decreased appetite, drug abuse, dystonic reaction, facial paralysis, hallucinations, hunger, hyperesthesia, hysteria, increased alertness, memory disturbance, neuralgia, paralysis, personality change, phobia, radiculopathy, rigidity, suicide, twitching, agitation, anxiety, depressive disorders, detachment, motor dysfunction, neurotic disorders, psychomotor disorders, taste disturbances, and raised intracranial pressure.
  • Respiratory: Frequent was dyspnea. Infrequent was asthma. Rare were hiccoughs, breathing disorders, cough, and bronchitis.
  • Skin: Frequent was sweating. Infrequent were erythema, pruritus, rash, and skin tenderness. Rare were dry/scaly skin, tightness of skin, wrinkling of skin, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and skin nodules.
  • Breasts: Infrequent was tenderness. Rare were nipple discharge; breast swelling; cysts, lumps, and masses of breasts; and primary malignant breast neoplasm.
  • Urogenital: Infrequent were dysmenorrhea, increased urination, and intermenstrual bleeding. Rare were abortion and hematuria, urinary frequency, bladder inflammation, micturition disorders, urethritis, urinary infections, menstruation symptoms, abnormal menstrual cycle, inflammation of fallopian tubes, and menstrual cycle symptoms.
  • Miscellaneous: Frequent was hypersensitivity. Infrequent were fever, fluid retention, and overdose. Rare were edema, hematoma, lymphadenopathy, speech disturbance, voice disturbances, contusions.

Conclusion:

It appears that feverfew and ginger prepartion is less effective than Imitrex when comparing the two studies. Feverfew/ginger had a 32% success rate and Imitrex had a 52% success rate at two hours and at the 4 hour mark feverfew/ginger had a 64% success rate and Imitrex had 67% success rate. Although Imitrex appears more effective at relieving migraines there are significant side effects that could occur including death! So if you have migraines start by trying to abort them through the use of feverfew and ginger or acu-medicine or some other form of alternative medicine. If alternative medicine does not work you could always use pharmacological preparations.

 Reference

Cady, R. K., Goldstein, J., Nett, R., Mitchell, R., Beach, M. and Browning, R. (2011), A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of Sublingual Feverfew and Ginger (LipiGesicTMM) in the Treatment of Migraine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 51: 1078–1086. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2011.01910.x

If you would like to speak to one of our healers about migraines or headaches call

North Shore Institute of Healing at

808-679-9880 or email nsihinfo@gmail.com.