Monday, May 19, 2008

Migraine Relief at Last!!

I am one of the many people who suffer migraine headaches. Mine are quite severe when they attack, once a month like clockwork, the dreaded menstrual migraine. Generally, the intense pain, nausea, weakness, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, and distorted vision will last for four or five days if I don't start swallowing aspirin by the fistful at the first indication of the onset of these hellish attacks. Even when I medicate in anticipation of the horrible event, aspirin and other pain medications merely take enough of the edge off of the headache to allow some semblance of normal daily function, but do little to alleviate the accompanying symptoms. Prescription medications are not an option I pursue, as the side effects of most I have investigated are many, and the effectiveness of them is quite questionable.

Thanks to an informative book given to us by a man we met here in the desert, DB Smith, titled Medicinal Herbs & Wild Foods Of The Desert Southwest, I have found a natural remedy that has provided me complete relief from migraine symptoms three months in a row. While the book does not specify migraine as one of the conditions for which Ocotillo is useful, some of the ailments listed as ones treatable with the plant, such as edema and inflammation, are among the symptoms that plague migraine sufferers during an attack. So, I gave it a shot, and the results amazed me. With a simple tea made with Ocotillo branches, a common plant on our desert property, I have managed to avoid my usual migraine hell week, with most symptoms disappearing after the first cup of tea, and the rest gone after the second dose taken a few hours later. Then, I take a cup before my morning coffee the following day or two to ensure a symptom free day.

Of course, as migraine sufferers know, nothing works for everyone, but this has been the ONLY remedy that has been able to eradicate all of my migraine symptoms, leaving me feeling completely back to normal. What a blessing, as I typically lose nearly a week of every month to these incapacitating attacks. Personally, I have suffered no side effects from my Ocotillo brew, but among the warnings in the book is one against using Ocotillo if you are pregnant or nursing.