Posts Tagged ‘migraines’
Water nourishes and detoxifies the body
It will not be wrong to say that we are made of water because two-thirds of our body contains water. Blood, muscles and bones are all made of water. So it is not surprising that we must keep drinking water to remain alive. We can remain without food for several days but without water we feel tired and exhausted within hours. Water is a wonder drug from nature, whose benefits are many.
Body’s nourishment – Blood is made of 83% water, the brain is made of 74% water, all our muscles are made of 75% water and bones are made of 22% water. The food that we eat is broken down in the stomach and vital nutrients are extracted. These are then transported to all the corners of the body by water. Headaches, migraines, spasms and fatigue are all the symptoms of low water levels in the body. Water also helps to nourish the embryo and fetus in a pregnant woman.
Body’s detoxification – Water is very essential to the proper functioning of the liver and kidneys. These organs function to clean up the system from waste products and toxic substances. Water, as urine, mucus and sweat then effectively transports these substances out of the body. If water is not sufficient, then these substances form kidney stones and other complications. Water also helps to maintain the alkalinity of the digestive system.
Water keeps the skin young – Drinking lots of water maintains the skin moisture levels, otherwise the skin becomes dry and flaky. Water also nourishes the skin with nutrients and keeps it smooth and elastic. It is the not so closely guarded secret of many women who do not seem to age with years. Regular water consumption cleans away the accumulation of fat and helps in maintaining weight.
Despite all these benefits, most of us do not pay attention to our drinking habits. Instead of water, we consume coffee, tea and other drinks rich in caffeine. It is well known that caffeine causes dehydration and we tend to feel thirsty. But instead of choosing water, we drink more caffeine thus creating further dehydration.
Normal human beings require 8 glasses of water everyday. It might vary depending on your age, weight and body size, but not too much. If you engage in athletic activities, your water requirements will be more than normal. No one has ever reported sick because of drinking more water. Always carry a water bottle with you so that you will not drink sodas and other dehydrating fluids.
Tags: drinking water, headache, kidney stones, migraines, Usana, Water
There’s Good News for the Treatment of Migraines
It is very difficult for someone who has never had a migraine headache to imagine how painful and debilitating they are. In all likelihood, however, they know of someone who is suffering from them.
As a young person I had many bouts of nausea and vomiting but I didn’t have any headache with it. At the time the doctors were unable to figure out what was the matter with me. Now, decades later, I have been told that I was experiencing what is referrred to as a migraine equivalent. When I was about 16 years old I got my first experience with visual disturbances. Out of the blue I just lost a good portion of my vision. This lasted for about 45 minutes, but again I didn’t have any headache with it.
The headaches began when I was in my late 20s. That was the beginning of many visits to the family doctor and numerous specialists. They gave me every test they could think of, including brain scans. I am happy to say they didn’t find anything organically wrong with me and eventually the “migraine” diagnosis was made. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, because my mother suffered from them most of her life.
Then started the search for a medication that worked well and that I could tolerate. For at least 30 years I was taking an ergot compound but the last time I went to renew the prescription I was told that it was now taken off the market because they were unsure about the side effects. I found that surprising, because the drug had been around for over 40 years. I was then introduced to sumatriptan and to my dismay found that it was nearly 100 times more expensive that my old reliable ergot and came with a host of unpleasant side effects.
The Imitrex was successful in getting rid of my migraine. I would have relief for about 12 hours, but then the headache would return and I would have to take another pill. This cycle continued on for 3 days, when the migraine eventually stopped. When the entire episode was over, I was left feeling like I have been run over by a Mack truck and for a few days I would feel very weak, fatigued and sore all over.
I was continually searching for alternative treatments and would try various things that were recommended but it wasn’t until I recently found this wonderful little book called “The Magnesium Solution for Migraine Headaches. How to Use Magnesium to Prevent and Relieve Migraine & Cluster Headaches Naturally” by Jay S. Cohen, MD, that I found what I had been looking for.
I will admit that it bothers me that this knowledge has been available for such a long time and all the doctors that I have visited over the last few decades have never mentioned it once to me. However, the important thing is that I now have this wonderful information and would love to share it with any of my readers who are needlessly suffering with these devastating headaches.
Magnesium is actually nature’s natural vascular relaxant, not only in humans but also in animals. It does not have all the adverse side-effects that a synthetic drug has. One interesting fact is that in certain areas of Africa and Japan, the number of migraine sufferers are among the lowest in the world. The reason for this is because the dietary level of magnesium is high in these areas.
The body cannot function normally without magnesium. It plays a major role in more than 300 different enzymatic reactions that take place within all the cells of the body. It quietens the actions of the sympathetic nervous system and has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. It plays a vital role in healing wounds, sleep, muscular function, healthy pregnancy and growth. It has been named the ‘king of minerals’ and has been noted as having solved more incurable and mysterious symptoms than any other mineral.
Please do not run out and buy the first bottle of magnesium that your hands fall upon. Using magnesium successfully depends on finding a product that agrees with you. Some people can actually take any magnesium product, but many have difficulty with cheap, low-quality products that are not well absorbed. You can purchase magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate and others. To enhance absorption some companies combine magnesium with amino acids, producing magnesium maleate, magnesium citrate, magnesium lactate or magnesium aspartate, which work well for many people.
There are those, like myself, who have trouble taking pills. Some of them are huge and are difficult to get down. The good news is that magnesium also comes in liquid form. It does cost more than the pills but for me it is well worth it. Actually, the liquid magnesium is absorbed and tolerated better and is the fastest acting form there is. One product that I find wonderful is Liquid Ionic Magnesium. You will probably find it at your local health food store.
My recommendation is that you get a copy of Dr. Cohen’s book and read it right through and also mention to your personal health care provider that you would like to try supplementing with the proper dose of magnesium. It would be a good idea to take the book along with you when you go for your appointment. There are no reliable blood tests to diagnose a deficiency. Even people with a serious deficiency will have a normal level of magnesium in the blood.
Magnesium supplementation has been the answer to relieving the migraines and cluster headaches of countless people. I do hope that if you try it, it will work just as well for you in eliminating or greatly reducing your pain.
Tags: migraines, severe headaches, Supplements, treatment for migraines
