How Migraine Headaches can be cured with Alternative Healing Therapies

Migraine headaches can be an absolute nightmare for regular sufferers. It is a debilitating ailment that has sufferers heading for a dark room and fighting nausea as they wait for hours, and sometimes days, for the migraine to dissipate.

If there is anything positive to describe a migraine, it is that sufferers can feel the onset of this terrible headache. As the migraine sets in, their vision begins to blur, their skin becomes numb and tingling, and then the throbbing headache sets in on the side of the head.

Sufferers are also sensitive to light and noise, so usually retreat to a darkened room to wait out the attack. While there may be a relief when the migraine finally subsides, it usually leaves sufferers feeling washed out and drained.

Clinical studies have revealed that women are more prone to migraine headaches than men. This phenomenon is ascribed to the menstrual cycle during which phase women are more vulnerable to the migraine attack. Studies have also revealed that about 15% of the population will suffer from a migraine at some stage. For those more fortunate sufferers, migraine headaches only attack once or twice a year, while others can suffer from this debilitating ailment on a weekly basis.

While the cause of migraine headaches remains unclear, with no sure-fire cure or prevention, it is attributed to a number of factors, including:
• Anxiety
• Diet
• Insomnia
• Menstrual cycle
• Stress

Your natural Therapist is ready to help

While many migraine sufferers turn to prescription or over-the-counter headache medication, an increasing number of people have found relief with Bowen Therapy. In fact, research conducted in England disclosed that of 39 patients tested in a study, 80% responded positively to Bowen Therapy. They received three treatments spread across 14 days. This was followed by a month-long observation period after which the participants reported either a decrease in the frequency and severity of their migraine attacks or both.

While medication may help relieve a migraine headache, more and more people are turning to non-intrusive alternative healing therapies to ease and alleviate pain. Apart from techniques such as acupuncture, meditation, homoeopathic and herbal remedies, migraine sufferers are fast learning the benefits of Bowen Therapy.

South Africa is experiencing a growing number of migraine sufferers opting for Bowen Therapy as an alternative and non-intrusive healing alternative. This is a technique in which therapists use their thumbs and fingers to create rolling waves of movement across the soft tissue, muscles and tendons (fascia) of the body. Bowen Therapy is said to trigger self-healing.

Interestingly, today HBOT is also being studied as a treatment remedy of concussion. A concussion, which is a mild form of traumatic injury to the brain, has become commonplace in the competitive sports arena. The brain tissue becomes bruised after a jolt or blow to the head. This causes brain tissue to become swollen. HBOT has been found to treat these symptoms with good results.

Researchers point out that HBOT increases the delivery of oxygen to the brain by two-to-three times. The technique reduces inflammation and pressure on the brain, promoting effective and rapid healing of the head trauma.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is available throughout South Africa but prospective clients are urged to obtain a medical opinion before registering for this type of treatment. While HBOT is widely regarded as a safe technique, there are threats of side effects, particularly in people who suffer from high blood pressure or cardiac disease.

The cost of an HBOT treatment differs from one practitioner to another but a ball-park figure is around R550 for one session dropping down to R400 if the patient undergoes 20 sessions. Sessions take about one hour and can be administered in isolation.

HBOT is constantly under the microscope as researchers investigate its many promising non-intrusive healing attributes. These offer highly competitive athletes a quick, effective and safe alternative to treating their injuries. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a technique which increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. This increased level of oxygen in the bloodstream restores, heals and fights infections of body tissue.