| In my occupation I have opportunity to talk to | | | | "rebound headache cycle" lay off these food |
| many people from various parts of the United | | | | items right away and see if it makes a difference. |
| States. Over the years I have made acquaintance | | | | 3. After these two "immediate action" steps are |
| with several who receive near daily headaches to | | | | completed the next thing to do is to start a |
| one degree or another. This is a terrible affliction | | | | journal. This journal should show everything that a |
| that tears at a the heart and sanity of a person. | | | | person eats and drinks and headaches received. |
| It is so discouraging to wake up in the morning | | | | Many times by keeping records like this you can |
| and know with 90% certainty that if you don't | | | | spot trends and determine what the triggers are |
| have a headache already, you will have one by | | | | that are causing headaches. |
| the time the day is over. Many people are in this | | | | 4. Sometimes, even after these three steps are |
| situation. I was for about 12 years until I figured | | | | taken, headaches may be greatly reduced but still |
| out how to break it. The strategy I am going to | | | | occur occasionally. There are some nutritional and |
| share with you is a compilation of steps I have | | | | herbal remedies that have produced very good |
| taken myself plus additional tidbits that I have | | | | results for relieving headaches. The most |
| learned from discussions with others. It is not a | | | | common nutritional and herbal supplements are: |
| guarantee, but it worked for me and it is at least | | | | -Magnesium |
| worth a try if you are experiencing frequent | | | | -Butterbur |
| headaches. | | | | -Feverfew |
| 1. In my opinion the primary cause of "rebound | | | | -White Willow |
| headaches" or what I call the "rebound headache | | | | There are also supplements that combine some |
| cycle" is overuse of headache medication. Personal | | | | or all of these ingredients. It is my experience |
| experience plus advice by Medical Doctors as well | | | | that the supplements that have a combination of |
| at Naturopathic Physicians confirms that over-use | | | | ingredients are very powerful. One of these is |
| of many of the common over-the-counter | | | | called "MigraDefense". All four of the above |
| headache medications produce rebound | | | | mentioned vitamins and herbs are combined in |
| headaches. Goodies Headache Powder, B.C. | | | | MigraDefense and it has been very well received |
| Headache Powder and Excedrin are ones to be | | | | by many naturopathic physicians as well as |
| especially careful about. I am aware of these | | | | patients. |
| three are from personal experience. I have been | | | | I realize that knocking off coffee, sugar, alcohol or |
| told that others do the same but I cannot say | | | | MSG sounds like a huge or possibly impossible |
| personally. | | | | task. It is not impossible, I have done it, others |
| What do I mean by "overuse"? It has been | | | | have done it, and so can you. And once these |
| commonly stated that if you are taking headache | | | | changes are made, the benefits are incredible. |
| medications 2-3 days per week you are in | | | | Challenge |
| jeopardy of experiencing rebound headaches. | | | | If you are caught in the rebound headache cycle, |
| Immatrex is a prescription medication that can | | | | it may be well worth your while to try out the |
| produce rebound headaches. Granted, Immatrex | | | | steps mentioned above. As hard as it may sound, |
| can knock out some powerful headaches but | | | | try it for a week and see if you don't feel a |
| almost every single time I took the pain killer (and | | | | difference. After a week is over, make a goal to |
| it was more than 60) I would get a rebound | | | | continue for a month. I feel confident that after a |
| headache 18-24 hours later, and often it would be | | | | month you may very well feel large |
| worse than the original. | | | | improvement. You need to keep up your journal |
| The first thing that I had to do to start to | | | | to note how often you get headaches and how |
| eliminate the viscous rebound headache cycle was | | | | severe they are, so you can compare the |
| to stop taking these medications. In fact, I | | | | present with the past.If you come down with one |
| stopped taking all over-the-counter and | | | | headache a week and get discouraged feeling that |
| prescription headache medications. I did have to | | | | your plan is not working, realize how much better |
| sit out a serious migraine when I first stopped and | | | | one a week is than four, five or six. |
| I have had to sit out some since then but the | | | | Is This Forever? |
| frequency of headaches I received was reduced | | | | Are you going to have to lay off these types of |
| right away. It is better to have an occasional | | | | foods and drinks forever? Will you ever be able |
| migraine than to have a small to medium | | | | to have a beer again without receiving a |
| headache every day and a serious migraine once | | | | headache? As long as you are caught in the |
| or twice a week. | | | | "rebound headache cycle" you will never know. |
| 2. After I stopped taking these medications, my | | | | There are many things that could be acting as |
| headaches were reduced but not eliminated. | | | | headache triggers so you will not be able to tell |
| There were several items that I discovered that | | | | until you are at a point where you are not having |
| were acting as headache triggers that would bring | | | | headaches nearly every day. |
| on a headache nearly every time I ate or drank | | | | If you can stay away from these products for |
| them. The items that I could not partake of are | | | | good, that is probably best. If you feel you just |
| as follows: | | | | need to know if you can eat a certain food or |
| -Coffee | | | | not, follow this strategy. After you have returned |
| -Sugar | | | | to a point where you are not having headaches |
| -Alcohol (red wine is the worst but any kind of | | | | often, gradually re-introduce food items that you |
| alcohol affected me) | | | | have eliminated one at a time. Do not re-introduce |
| -MSG (which is added (under different names) to | | | | more than one of these foods per month. By |
| many foods to enhance flavor, in a lot of Chinese | | | | following a plan like this you should be able to tell |
| food for example) | | | | whether this food leads to headaches or whether |
| I highly recommend that anyone caught up in the | | | | you can partake of it without receiving headaches. |