It’s no secret to readers of this blog that I personally avoid aspartame, even though some well-respected scientists declare there are no health risks associated with it. I recommend you do your own research on the Internet and choose which of the opposing camps you prefer to believe.

However, while I avoid aspartame whenever possible I don’t make it my life’s mission! Perhaps I should take it a little more seriously in future. A friend invited me to have a drink and I asked for a lemonade, specifying that I did NOT want a diet one. Well, whether my friend forgot, or the bar staff ignored her, I don’t know. But I was served a diet lemonade and on checking the label, sure enough, there was aspartame listed. Not wanting to create a fuss, I just kept quiet and drank the lemonade, complete with aspartame. Sure enough, a migraine followed.

Did I “think myself into it”, was it the aspartame, or would I have had a migraine that day for some other reason? Who knows. But in future I shall be more assertive about my wish to avoid drinks containing artificial sweeteners. My life can go on quite easily without these substances, and if avoiding them helps me avoid migraines, that’s good enough for me to make the slight extra effort involved.

As well as explaining the mechanisms and chemistry that lead to migraines occurring, it helps migraine sufferers devise their own tailored plan which will reduce the impact that migraine has on their own life, and family life.

As well as covering the latest drugs specifically for treating migraine, it is sympathetic to a complementary approach with a definite emphasis on users taking control of their illness wherever possible.

The book takes an interactive approach so that sufferers can take quizzes, complete questionnaires and understand just WHY they should change their lifestyles.

Male migraines

Although three times as many woman suffer migraines than men, this book is unusual in that it contains a chapter devoted to men and migraines.

Of course, female migraine are treated extensively in a chapter explaining the role female hormones play in triggering attacks, coping with migraines in pregnancy, how to treat migraine after the menopause.

Dr Carolyn Bernstein is an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and runs her own clinic, The Women’s Headache Centre. Elaine McArdle is an award winning journalist. Both are migraine sufferers.

I highly recommend this book to all readers. Whether you favour an orthodox or a complementary approach you are sure to find something helpful.

Little known tips on cucumbers gives some amazing facts about the benefits of cucumbers. Some of them are interesting, but not relevant for migraine prevention, but others are novel ways to prevent headaches. The benefits probably arise because of the nutrient value of the cucumber, but whatever the mechanism, you’ll be fascinated to read these tips.

Please share them with anyone who may be interested.

Anyway….. in my quest to bring you drug-free approaches to migraine relief that you may not have come across before, here’s an article about migraine and acupressure.  In fact as well as explaining more about acupressure, it details three acupressure points specifically helpful in migraine.

As a self-help tool, acupressure really is something worth looking into, so head on over to the article and do let me know in the comments form if you find this a helpful approach.

“I came across a study done on MSG (monosodium glutamate) and HVP (hydrolysed vegetable protein) a while back when I was trying to find out exactly what HVP is. I was pretty shocked to discover that a whole range of flavors used in health foods and vegetarian alternatives actually contain high amounts of MSG, which is a potent neurotoxin, but are listed under different names so we don’t realize what it is we’re eating.

“More shocking still is the lack of awareness of the people in health food stores selling this stuff buy the lorry load, and people supposedly knowledgeable about their health, yet eating tonnes of this stuff.”

This is particularly relevant to migraine and headache sufferers as glutamate and aspartate are migraine triggers for many people.

Click here for the MSG study Charlie discovered, and for those of you who would like more information on MSG, check out this page. (But be warned, it’s pretty scary reading.)

So for example, if you were aware that the weather conditions were high-risk for migraine, you would minimize other risk factors by making sure you have plenty of sleep, regular food and being sure to avoid any suspect foods.

The site also assesses the risk for other health conditions: arthritis and sinus. It’s an interesting site. Bookmark it to make regular checkups, particularly if you’re traveling away from home and need to check the weather at your destination.

Your problem may not become obvious unless you are keeping a food diary, that can help you uncover patterns in your diet that you may not previously have suspected.

Although the context of slimming is probably where most people will have first encountered this tool, it would be a mistake to think of a food diary as just relevant for weight loss. If you have any condition that can be triggered by food (such as migraine or IBS) you will find it invaluable to keep a record of your day to day food intake, at least for three weeks.

Check out this blog article on using a food diary for healthy eating, but as you read it, think of it in relation to your migraines.  Possible applications of a food diary to preventing migraine could be:

• Use it to check out if you are eating foods that could cause high/low blood sugar swings.
• Are you may eating regularly enough?
• You may have an unsuspected dietary trigger that only surfaces when you look at a food diary in conjunction with a record of when your migraines happen.

The blog article suggested above gives tips on keeping a food diary that are mainly relevant for weight loss. I have suggested ways for you to adapt your thinking towards migraine. But even if you don’t discover any migraine related problems, you might be surprised at other eating patterns that emerge when you study it. After all, a healthy diet is one of the key-stones of a healthy, migraine-free life.

I was very excited about the product’s use in detoxification, because I was writing a new ebook for a client. At the time I was unable to give you a free copy as I had granted the supplier a period of exclusivity, but that is now over, and I’m pleased to offer you a completely free download of the ebook, which will tell you more Chlorella, and why it can help to treat a wide range of sub-optimal health conditions, including migraine, that largely arise because of our modern lifestyle. Click here to read testimonials from satisfied customers.

To remind you of the some of the advantages:

• It is an excellent antioxidant and a source of magnesium and fibre for people not getting enough leafy green vegetables. Also a rich source of B vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
• The focus of my ebook is on the specific ways Chlorella can help with detox and environmental toxins. This will be of interest to many of my readers who have had a Hair Analysis to check for heavy metal toxicity.
• To tie in with my earlier posts on the vegetarian diet, it is a rich vegan source of iron and B12 – nutrients which can so often be in short supply for vegetarians.
• It is also a “complete protein”:- one containing all the essential amino acids from which the building blocks of the human body are composed.

I personally use Chlorella as a supplement / superfood to promote my overall well-being and health by detoxification. This is particulary relevant for migraine sufferers. However it can also help with:

• Weight loss
• Pre-pregnancy health
• Anaemia
• Detox – including heavy metal detox
• Managing type-2 diabetes
• Naturally reducing blood pressure and cholesterol
• Boosting the immune system and raising energy levels

I could go on, but instead, just click to download my free ebook on Chlorella for detoxification.

Danielle Burton, aged 19, can only see the world as if she is viewing it through a kaleidoscope. (Picture on the website below).

She had perfect vision until a week after her 19th birthday when she lost her normal vision and now only sees a fuzzy “snow” of colour – permanently. Over the last 6 months she has only had ONE hour of normal vision.

A hospital scan found no problem with her eyes, but finally, in January, a doctor suggested that she was suffering from a rare condition known as Persistent Migraine Aura or (PMA). There are only 20 other people known to suffer from this condition in which a nerve in the brain is stuck in a constant “migraine” state.

The cruellest blow of all was when she lost her sight again after that one hour of normal vision when she was able to truly appreciate everything she had been missing, only to have it snatched away again.

Danielle is taking special medication in the hope of finding relief and I’m sure migraine sufferers everywhere will send their prayers and good wishes for her relief.

If anyone hears any further updates, please post as a comment below.

Source acknowledged with thanks: Daily Mail, March 29th 2010

The accompanying pre-publication material explains how this book helps prevent and treat your migraine:

• Collates the latest research on why you get a migraine
• Explains how the brain chemistry of migraine sufferers differs, and why migraines occur
• Interactive approach with quizzes, graphics and fun facts
• Encourages you to take charge of your own illness and helps you develop a customized wellness plan
• Separate chapter for men and migraine
• Chapter on the role of female hormones in triggering migraine attacks, including migraines in pregnancy and migraine after the menopause
• Discusses new migraine drugs together with alternative therapies

Having completed my review of The Migraine Brain, I am pleased to give this book my recommendation. You learn more about it from the Amazon link below.

Who is Dr Carolyn Bernstein?

Dr Carolyn Bernstein is an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and has founded her own clinic.  Co-author Elain McArdle is an award-winning journalist.  Both are migraine sufferers.