Migraines could be killing. I know of a person who suffered from it right from her childhood days. The misery went into such an extent that the poor child used to rush into the bathroom at the first symptom of attack, lie down prone on the floor and pray to God to take her life as the excruciating pain literary tore her apart. No distraction of the mind could diminish the torment nor provide a relief for the hapless child. It was such a helpless situation. I wanted to offer migraine treatments, just to comfort the child, but had no knowledge of any migraine treatments that could offer relief. I felt frustrated and sad.

Things have however improved since then. Migraine treatments introduced about a decade back worked on the principle that reduction or elimination of the pain could be achieved by focusing on the changing of the alpha/beta wave patterns of the brain. This worked by warming the hands and rubbing the feet together ? the idea originally came from the early symptoms of the onset when these extremities suddenly started getting cold. This was among the advanced migraine treatments of the sixties and seventies where a form of biofeedback was used. As a matter of fact, warming did two things at a time ? it helped return the blood flow to the extremities and changed the brain wave patterns so that the focus could not be so foreboding.

Sadly enough, although migraine treatments include eliminating allergic toxins from coming into contact with the person (by way of removal of offending food, drink, pollens, etc.) no significant relief could be initiated, the only viable therapy being intake of Imitrex that prompted violent retching and the highly controversial and addictive Vicodin. The only consolation was the education sessions at the doctor's office where those seeking migraine treatments were consoled and information on famous migraine sufferers were given. Medical explanation was also provided.

It may not be out of place to relate a story I heard from a paramedic about a person who often suffered from migraine. Hearing about a quack who had a sure cure for the ailment, he rushed to him expecting migraine treatments, but was only blindfolded for a minute. A heavy blow on his leg from a wooden bar momentarily maimed him and while nursing the injury, he forgot about the migraine.

The truth is, the subject is even today not understood properly, and so permanent migraine treatments look some distance away.