Go to migraine treatments, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 8, and if you encounter any new ones, or they work (or not) for you, email the information to: where it will be evaluated, prior to incorporation. Feedback on success, or otherwise, of these, or any of the other treatments, is necessary, if I am to make the change from the shotgun approach (fire, and hope!), to the laser guided missile (a high degree of confidence). Best wishes for your treatment, Shan ERIS. MIGRAINE: I have found an excellent article on migraine that I think all sufferers should at least read. Go to http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/migraine.htm Try to identify, and avoid, your “triggers” for them. These include: bright/flashing/flickering lights (including fluorescents), loud music/noises, certain odours, red wine, yoghurt, nuts, wheat, and other grain products, sugar, nitrates/nitrites, (processed meats) Lima beans, stress, fatigue, lack of sleep (see Insomnia, on page 3), caffeine products, (see OCD, on page 7) chocolate, cheese, sulphites, Aspartame (Nutrasweet, or Equal), saccharin, MonoSodium Glutamate, (see OCD, on page 7) and dehydration. Dr. Mercola advises that migraines can be reduced by 80%, if you avoid sugar, wheat and grain products, and drink only water, preferably purified using a reverse osmosis filter, and in sufficient quantities (many people don’t maintain proper hydration). http://www.mercola.com/2001/sep/29/migraine_treatments.htm He also recommends practising the EFT for this. There is a variant which can be used in public. Go to the website at http://www.mercola.com/ and type EFT in the taskbar provided. See section 53, in this website. He also stated: " 97 percent of the people experiencing sinus headaches are actually suffering from migraines." Another trigger for some people can be a drop in barometric pressure: for those people, keep an eye on the isobars on the weather map, so you can at least be ready for them. Watch for those low pressure fronts moving in, often in the winter months, outside tropical/subtropical zones. Try taking 10 TEASPOONS of CAYENNE PEPPER in a glass of water. http://www.squidoo.com/migraineheadache/ Feverfew is a traditional herbal remedy for treating migraines. http://plantcures.com/ and http://www.natural-herbalremedies.com/ Another natural remedy is Butterbur: (75ml, twice daily) when combined with Melatonin, it is said to reduce migraines by half. If you read the section on page 3 about insomnia, however, it may interfere with normal melanin production, and affect the sleep of some people: if this applies to you, try the other remedies on this page, using some of the solutions on page 3. Acupuncture, or acupressure can be effective. See http://www.neckandheadacherelief.com/content/migraines.asp and http://www.lifepositive.com/ Magnesium supplements, and Vitamin B complex (the high quality, more expensive, easily digested, certified 100% from natural sources, from vitamin stores) are recommended. Apply a cold compress to the forehead, or behind the neck. Massage the ears and ear lobes. Massage the “crown” of the head: that ring of tissue where a crown would sit. At http://www.earthclinic.com/ cold showers are recommended, but I have not tried this treatment. FEEDBACK: I would appreciate feedback from anyone who finds the above treatments helpful: kindly email me at: or In this way, I can gauge their relative effectiveness, and modify the advice and information provided here. As it is, I am forced to use a “shotgun” approach, hoping one, or more of the above will score a direct hit. Since the “alternative mental health” website (above) advises using relaxation methods, I refer you to pages 2, 2c, 2i and 11, at this site, where there are several to choose from. Some people are still dismissive of them, but scientific testing has demonstrated conclusively that they increase activity in the left prefrontal cortex, when practised. MIGRAINES AND COMPUTER USAGE: (from Yahoo! Answers)
Quite possibly, it may be the cause. See migraine treatments, at http://www.ezy-build.net. nz/~shaneris on page 14. Use at least a 19" monitor (preferably LCD), on maximum refresh rate, and have (not too bright: not fluoro) backlighting. Good ventilation (chemicals emitted: may be TRIGGERS). Work at arm’s length, with the top of the monitor just below you. Put a mirror nearby: regularly change your focusing distance, (eyestrain) and take a 5 min break, every hour, away from it.
Computer
Monitors Information
Computer monitors: advice
on how to select to reduce eye strain
Computer Monitor Information: flat screen computer monitors, lcd monitors, eye strain
About Computer Monitors & Eye Strain
Computer monitors, especially CRT monitors, can contribute to eye strain and headaches. And of course, squinting at hard to read text or reading in poor lighting can harm your eyesight in the long run. Also, computer monitors (or monitor placement) that causes you to squint or tilt your body/neck unnaturally can be a contributing factor in the development of not just headaches from my strain but repetitive stress injuries since it encourages poor posture.
What Kind of Computer Monitor is Best?
LCD monitors and flat screen computer monitors can help reduce glare. Glare is a large contributor to eye strain. Choose a monitor with a flat screen (i.e. LCD monitor) or purchase an anti-glare screen to go over your regular computer monitor. This will help with eye strain. Also make sure the light from lamps or windows is not reflecting off your monitor.
Poor lighting is another contributor to eye strain. To protect your eyes, choose lighting that illuminates the computer screen (i.e., from behind her shoulder). More on office lighting.
Buying a Monitor
Ideally, you should choose an LCD monitor (at the least, try a flat screen CRT monitor) to reduce eye strain. Try to find one that is adjustable both up-and-down (height) and that can twist from side to side. This way, you can adjust your monitor precisely so you do not need to tilt your neck at an odd angle throughout the day. This, combined with good lighting and reduced glare, will help eliminate eye strain and headaches at the computer.
Can’t afford a new computer monitor right now?
Some Simple Fixes for Eye Strain without Buying a New Monitor
While a good monitor and workstation setup are important, there are some little things you can do to fight eye strain as well.
One of the easiest things is to raise the refresh rate on your monitor. Some monitors come with refresh rates that are set low, i.e. 60 Hz. This causes flickering. Using a higher refresh rate will reduce the flickering effect and help with eye strain. You can usually set your refresh rate under display properties/settings. Also, RefreshForce is a free tool that lets you quickly change the monitor’s refresh rate.
You can also help reduce eye strain by making your default fonts larger. Monitors that use higher resolutions tend to have crisp but small text. For typing in MS Word, try Courier New instead of Times New Roman. (You can always change it back before you print). For surfing the net, most browsers have an option to set font size to small medium and large.
These are just little things you can do to help reduce eye strain.
Computer Monitors / LCD Monitors
Kensington® Glaremaster® Antiglare Monitor Filter, For 12in.-15in. Monitor
(AND FROM: http://www.medinfo.co.uk/): Migraine is a form of headache which is severe and usually one sided, frequently associated with nausea and vomiting. This is sometimes preceded by warning symptoms which usually affect the eyesight and are known as an “aura”.
Symptoms
People sometimes feel not quite right prior to a migraine eg depressed, unusually happy or hungry, and in addition may suffer from visual changes eg flashing, zig-zag lines, or a blind spot. Sometimes the symptoms are even more extreme. The headache is usually one sided although it is not invariably the same side. Quite quickly nausea and vomiting may follow. The bowels may also be affected and in children sometimes there is no headache but abdominal pain instead.
Causes
Each person is different but there are some “trigger” factors which are commonly involved:
tiredness
physical exhaustion
stress
climatic change
hormones, eg the “time of the month” in women
foods, eg caffeine, cheese, chocolate, red wine
Treatment and prevention
Note down your attacks in a diary and try to spot any common triggering factors, and avoid them if possible.
Try avoiding any food which seems implicated and at a later stage take a small trial dose of the food again to see whether it genuinely is involved.
At the first symptom of an attack take a pain killer eg aspirin or paracetamol, even if this means waking yourself up when you notice symptoms while half asleep in the early hours of the morning. (Often by getting up time it is too late to abort the attack.)
Most people find that it helps to lie down in a darkened room, in fact there may be little else you are able to do. In some instances migraine follows a period of rushing around over-stretching yourself, and it might be looked on as the body’s way of slowing you down.
Sometimes bathing your head in cold water or using a cold compress on the forehead is helpful.
There are some over the counter preparations which contain a pain killer and a medication which stops nausea and vomiting (antiemetic). These are often even more effective than the pain killer alone, as migraine is associated with poor absorption from the stomach and a tendency for food and drink to stay in the stomach much longer than usual (prior to being sick).
Your doctor may prescribe something along the lines of the above, or possibly one of the more modern specific antimigraine treatments, which work on one of the chemical pathways in the brain.
If the attacks are frequent and disruptive, then your doctor may prescribe a drug to be taken daily as a preventative.
Sometimes relaxation and meditation techniques may be helpful as may some of the complementary therapies. (MY NOTE: THESE MAY BE FOUND ON PAGES 2, 11, 2c, and 2i.)