ways to treat "MIGRAINE"

#1. Avoid the 3 C's
The elimination of certain foods from the daily diet has been helpful in curing migraines permanently. The 3 C's refer to chocolate, caffeine and cheese. Chocolate is the most potent food induced migraine trigger. Caffeine is responsible for shrinking blood vessels in the brain, which then over-stretch as the effect of the caffeine wanes-resulting in what's known as a rebound migraine. As to cheese, curing migraines permanently can be achieved by avoiding aged cheeses.

#2. Avoid Tyramine

Though little known by headache sufferers, the removal of Tyramine from the diet has been found most efficacious in curing migraines permanently. Tyramine results from the natural breakdown of amino acids in the body. Since Thyramine causes blood vessels to expand, the effect on blood vessels in the brain leads to migraine pain. To assist in curing migraines permanently patients are encouraged to avoid aged or preserved foods, even leftovers that have been in the fridge for more than a day. In addition, broad and fava beans, pickles, olives and sauerkraut, nuts and alcohol should all be avoided

#3. Avoid MSG
Moving away from MSG consumption has been found efficacious in curing migraines permanently. Though a natural substance in itself, MSG has been proven to trigger migraines. Since MSG is found mostly in processed foods like frozen meals or snacks, it is better (and healthier) to avoid it. For patients willing to make more drastic alterations to their diet, curing migraines permanently can be achieved by eliminating MSG in all its forms, such as carrageenan, which is commonly found in processed milk-based products like ice-cream, puddings or cottage cheese.

#4. Take Migraine Herbs
Some herbs have been found helpful in curing migraines permanently. Patients who take Butterbur and Feverfew on a daily basis succeed in lowering their migraine threshold and prevent headaches from starting. Though there are herbal preparations that claim to cure migraines, these typically contain Butterbur and Feverfew, which are far cheaper to buy separately.

#5. Take Migraine Vitamins 

Some vitamins in conjunction with the herbs mentioned above have been found efficacious in curing migraines permanently. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) if taken at 200mg a day is helpful, especially when combined with 200mg of Chelated Magnesium.

#6. Maintain Regular Sleep Hours
A crucial step in curing migraines permanently revolves around sleep. Eight hours of sleep are recommended, no more, no less. In addition, the hours of going to sleep and waking should remain the same. Many people find themselves battling with migraines on weekends. Curing migraines permanently in this case may require nothing more than going to sleep and waking at the same hours as on work days.

#7. Consider Taking Daily Medications
For patients who have a hard time falling asleep or maintaining a regular sleep cycle, certain drugs have been found efficacious in curing migraines permanently. Though not "sleep medications" such drugs induce sleepiness in addition to aiding the brain in the production of migraine lessening chemicals. Such drugs may include Amitriptyline, initially designed as an anti-depressant, or Depakote, an anti-seizure drug. Only a doctor may prescribe such a cure for migraines.

#8. Avoid Bright Light

 In sunny seasons, curing migraines permanently can become more challenging due to the interplay between migraines and light sensitivity. For people working on bright computer screens, or who are in the habit of watching many hours of television, a minor sensitivity to light can turn into a painful migraine. To cure migraines permanently, patients should avoid exposure to bright light by use of strong sunglasses (such as these). The benefit of this cure for migraines may be extended further by wearing glasses indoors on days when a migraine flares up.

#9. Avoid Alcohol
There are two reasons why avoiding alcohol is efficacious in curing migraines permanently. Alcohol dehydrates the body which leads to a migraine commonly called a "hangover". In addition, alcohol leads to a rise in Tyramine, which dilates blood vessels and brings on migraine pain. If giving up alcohol seems difficult, switching to high quality vodka is recommended.

#10. Be Aware of Your Triggers
Curing migraines permanently depends very much on the patient's awareness of his triggers. For woman, the drop in hormone levels associated with the menstrual cycle often leads to migraines. In other patients, the exposure to two simultaneous migraine triggers that would be minimal separately may bring on a strong migraine when combined. Knowing your "danger days" and the triggers to avoid will help you in curing your migraines permanently.

A Buggy Thanksgiving: Insects Come to the Table...

Mealworms, wax worms and crickets may not be obvious choices for Turkey Day, but at a special event this week, bug aficionados can taste new, insect-y twists on Thanksgiving staples such as pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce.

The Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium in New Orleans is cooking up insect-filled Thanksgiving treats at their cafe, called Bug Appétit,

The Thanksgiving snacks will include a mealworm-filled cornbread stuffing, wax worm cranberry sauce and a dessert of cricket pumpkin pie, said Jayme Necaise, director of animal and visitor programs at the museum. Patrons will be offered samples of treats, along with a small cube of turkey. Those who like what they tried can ask for seconds.

The Platypus Will Never Have a Stomach

Bizarrely, many species     of animals, such as the     carp and platypus, lost     their stomachs in the       evolutionary past, and new research suggests they may never evolve the organs back.

The stomach is the part of the gut where the main part of digestion takes place. Glands in this organ secrete enzymes known as pepsins, which break down proteins, and strong acids that soften food and help the enzymes work. The glands first appeared about 450 million years ago, and they represent an evolutionary innovation found exclusively in jawed creatures with backbones.

Surprisingly, the gastric glands that define the stomach are missing in a number of jawed vertebrates. In 1805, the French zoologist Georges Cuvier discovered that many teleosts, or the largest living group of fish, such as the carp family, lack stomachs. The past 200 years of research suggests that up to 27 percent, speaking conservatively, of all teleost species may lack stomachs. Primitive bony fish such as lungfish and some cartilaginous fish such as chimeras lost the organs as well.

If you're really healhy THEN....

If you want to keep an eye on your health, you could do worse than to spend a few minutes scrutinising your body in the mirror.

Are your eyes pink? Have your nails turned brown at the top? Noticing small changes can nudge you into paying attention to potential problems, as I found out during a recent facial. 'Do you have high cholesterol?' the therapist suddenly asked.

I said no, but it worried me into getting tested. And the therapist was right. She'd picked up on creamy spots round my eyes, which were full of fatty cholesterol.

Of course, it's vital not to let symptom spotting get out of hand: trivial signs are often just that. It's when they persist, or are combined with other symptoms, that they become important. If that's the case, see your GP.

Going grey before 40

Premature greying can have a medical cause.

'If you have 50 per cent grey hair before the age of 40, you should probably be checked for diabetes,'

Rough spots

Crusty blemishes, or keratoses, are usually benign. Dark ones often run in families, but are harmless.

Solar keratoses, however, are triggered by sun damage and are an early warning of skin cancer, so seek advice.

Short eyebrows

Losing hair from the outer edge of your brows is a sign of an underactive thyroid. It thins hair on your head too, but treatment is available that will soon restore your crowning glory.

Hooded eyelids

They may look sultry, but have them checked – the cause could be more than ageing or a family trait.

If they droop so much that your sight is impaired, this is the one time you can have an eye-lift on the NHS.

Not so white whites

This usually means you're tired, hungover or just made that way, but watch out for whites that turn yellow when you're run down – it may be a sign of Gilbert's syndrome, where bilirubin builds up in the blood, causing jaundice.

'Pink eye' is a common name for conjunctivitis. If it persists, have a test for chlamydia, which can in flame eyes.

Creased ear lobes

A study in 'The American Journal of Medicine' revealed a diagonal crease can up the risk of heart disease by a third – 77 per cent if both lobes are affected.

The theory is the line shows a lack of elasticity, which also affects the arteries. But the culprit also could be ageing: 'Earlobe creases probably increase with age – as does the likelihood of heart disease,

Constant flushing

Red cheeks and nose (rosacea) often affects women aged between 30 and 55.

Stress, sun and spicy foods make blood vessels dilate, so limit your exposure.

Rosacea can affect the eyes and is sometimes confused with lupus – see a GP, who can prescribe antibiotics.

Cracked lips

Cracks at the corners of your mouth are sometimes caused by a shortage of B vitamins or zinc.

With long-term cracks, a fungal infection may set in – treatments for oral thrush may help.

Swollen neck

You'd notice if your glands enlarged overnight, but a goitre – a swelling at the front of the neck – can be more insidious.

It may indicate Graves' disease, an overactive thyroid condition that is most common in women aged between 20 and 50, especially likely if your eyes are also prominent and you're losing weight.

Sunless tan

Darkening skin is worth reporting to your GP.

A rare cause is Addison's disease (failure of the adrenal glands), which also makes you tired, sick and achy. If you do have it, the good news is that it can be treated.

Big chested?

If you're well endowed on top, keep slim below.

Having a D-cup size or larger breasts can make you more susceptible to diabetes, according to a recent Canadian study, while a slim waist can help protect you.

Chicken skin

Permanent goosebumps, caused by an overgrowth of keratin, are common – one in three of us have them, usually on the arms.

They're harmless, but if they bother you, use a soap-free body wash and plenty of moisturiser, or copy Cleopatra and bathe in milk, because lactic acid can help. If they flare up, your GP may prescribe a steroid cream.

Love handles

It's tempting to just suck in your tummy, but a podgy middle triples your risk of dementia, as well as making you vulnerable to diabetes and heart disease.

Red palms

These can be an early symptom of liver disease – you'll probably feel sick and lethargic, too. It's wise to ask for medical advice quickly to limit the damage.

Long ring finger

An index finger shorter than your ring finger means you were exposed to high levels of testosterone while in the womb.

That can give you ambition and a high sex drive, but it may also make you more susceptible to arthritis of the knee, according to a study by the University of Nottingham.

Build up your muscles with leg raises to help support your knees.

Unsightly nails

A horizontal line (or Beau's line) can be a sign of past illness or poor nutrition – or that you've hit your nail with a hammer. But if they keep appearing, take steps to improve your health.

Spoon-shaped nails that curve outwards can be a symptom of anaemia. And nails that are pale at the cuticle and brownish-red at the tip could mean your kidneys are struggling.

Cold feet

They are a long way from your heart, so are the first place vascular disease shows up.

Abnormally cold feet and hands are linked to Raynaud's syndrome, where the blood supply drains from fingers and toes.

But don't just reach for your socks - Raynaud's is linked to several autoimmune conditions, so needs to be checked out.

The CHEMISTRY of "LOVE"

There are a lot of chemicals racing around your brain and body when you're in love. Researchers are gradually learning more and more about the roles they play both when we are falling in love and when we're in long-term relationships. Of course, estrogenand testosterone play a role in the sex drive area. Without them, we might never venture into the "real love" arena.

That initial giddiness that comes when we're first falling in love includes a racing heart, flushed skin and sweaty palms. Researchers say this is due to the dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine we're releasing. Dopamine is thought to be the "pleasure chemical," producing a feeling of bliss. Norepinephrine is similar to adrenaline and produces the racing heart and excitement. According to Helen Fisher, anthropologist and well-known love researcher from Rutgers University, together these two chemicals produce elation, intense energy, sleeplessness, craving, loss of appetite and focused attention. She also says, "The human body releases the cocktail of love rapture only when certain conditions are met and ... men more readily produce it than women, because of their more visual nature."

Researchers are using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to watch people's brains when they look at a photograph of their object of affection. According to Helen Fisher, a well-known love researcher and an anthropologist at Rutgers University, what they see in those scans during that "crazed, can't-think-of-anything-but stage of romance" -- the attraction stage -- is the biological drive to focus on one person. The scans showed increased blood flow in areas of the brain with high concentrations of receptors for dopamine -- associated with states of euphoria, craving and addiction. High levels of dopamine are also associated with norepinephrine, which heightens attention, short-term memory, hyperactivity, sleeplessness and goal-oriented behavior. In other words, couples in this stage of love focus intently on the relationship and often on little else.

Another possible explanation for the intense focus and idealizing view that occurs in the attraction stage comes from researchers at University College London. They discovered that people in love have lower levels of serotonin and also that neural circuits associated with the way we assess others are suppressed. These lower serotonin levels are the same as those found in people with obsessive-compulsive disorders, possibly explaining why those in love "obsess" about their partner.

demonstrated that the head movement is controlled more by visual stimulation than movement of the body.

Chickens bob their heads while walking. So do cranes and quails. In fact, head bobbing is a unique feature in birds and occurs in at least 8 of the 27 families of birds.

There are a few theories why some birds bob their heads when they walk:

1. Assists with balance
2. Provides depth perception
3. Sharpens their vision

However, most studies suggest that birds in motion bob their heads to stabilize their visual surroundings. In comparison, we rely more on our eye movements, not our head movements, to catch and hold images while in motion.


Picture a pigeon on a moving treadmill. What do you think would happen as the pigeon walks with the speed of the treadmill and its environment remains relatively the same? Dr. Barrie J Frost (1978) did this experiment and the pigeon’s head did not bob.


Dr. Mark Friedman (1975) also conducted a series of experiments to test the head bobbing actions of birds, using doves. His research demonstrated that the head movement is controlled more by visual stimulation than movement of the body.


Scientists continue to research head bobbing in birds. For example, scientists are currently investigating question such as “Why do some birds exhibit head bobbing, while other do not?”

VITAMINS AND MINERALS – what actualy they do?

Vitamins

Vitamin A (retinol) properties
Good for	Eyesight, growth, appetite and taste.
Signs of deficiency	Night-blindness
RDA	800 micrograms
Good sources	Liver, cod liver oil, carrots, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, enriched margarine, milk products and yellow fruits.
Poisoning	This vitamin is fat-soluble and so is stored in the body for a long time, especially in pregnancy. An overdose may be dangerous.
Destroyed by	Fatty acids.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) properties
Good for	Nervous system, digestion, muscles, heart, alcohol-damaged nerve tissues.
Signs of deficiency	Tingling in fingers and toes, confusion, difficulties in maintaining balance, loss of appetite, exhaustion and weakened powers of concentration.
RDA	1.4mg
Good sources	Liver, yeast, egg yolk, cereal, red meat,nuts and wheatgerm.
Poisoning	No danger. It dissolves in water, so any excess is passed in urine.
Destroyed by	High temperatures, alcohol and coffee.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) properties
Good for	Growth, skin, nails, hair, sensitive lips and tongue, eyesight, the breakdown of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Signs of deficiency	Itchy irritated eyes, itchy mucous membranes (nose, mouth, throat) and cracked corners of lips.
RDA	1.6mg
Good sources	Milk, liver, yeast, cheese, green leafy vegetables, fish.
Poisoning	No danger. It dissolves in water, so any excess is passed in urine.
Destroyed by	Alcohol and light (this is why milk-cartons are better than bottles).

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) properties
Good for	Preventing skin conditions, nerve problems, helps the body absorb protein and carbohydrate.
Signs of deficiency	Skin inflammation.
RDA	2mg – women taking the contraceptive pill may need more.
Good sources	Fish, bananas, chicken, pork, wholegrains and dried beans.
Poisoning	May cause nerve problems in large doses. Evidence is conflicting about the maximum safe dose, so get medical advice before exceeding the RDA.
Destroyed by	The contraceptive pill, roasted or boiled food, alcohol and oestrogen (the female hormone).

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) properties
Good for	Making red blood and the formation of the nerves.
Signs of deficiency	Tiredness and fatigue, tingling and numbness in hands/feet, memory problems and anaemia.
RDA	1 microgram
Good sources	Eggs, shellfish, poultry, meat,liver, milk, cheese and fortified cereal.
Poisoning	No danger. It dissolves in water, so any excess is passed in urine.
Destroyed by	Water, sunlight, alcohol, oestrogen and sleeping pills

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) properties
Good for	Immune defence system, protection from viruses and bacteria, healing wounds, reducing cholesterol, cell lifespan and preventing scurvy.
Signs of deficiency	Tiredness, bleeding gums and slow-healing wounds.
RDA	60mg
Good sources	Citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, berries, tomatoes, cauliflower, potatoes, green leafy vegetables and peppers.
Poisoning	Large doses can cause diarrhoea and nausea, eg 2g/day . Some scientists have argued that 1000-5000mg per day may damage your DNA.
Destroyed by	Boiling food, light, smoking and heat.

Vitamin D properties
Good for	Strong bones and teeth.
Signs of deficiency	Unhealthy teeth, osteomalacia (causes weakening of bones), rickets in children.
RDA	5 micrograms
Good sources	Sunlight (the action of sunlight on the skin allows our bodies to manufacture vitamin D), cod liver oil, sardines, herring, salmon, tuna, milk and milk products.
Poisoning	This vitamin is fat-soluble so can accumulate in the body. Overdoses are dangerous, but there is wide variability in the toxic level, eg 400IU for children.
Destroyed by	Mineral oil.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) properties
Good for	Fighting toxins – vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant.
Signs of deficiency	Weak muscles and fertility problems.
RDA	10mg
Good sources	Nuts, soya beans, vegetable oil, broccoli, sprouts, spinach, wholemeal products and eggs.
Poisoning	Potential effect with warfarin increasing risk of bleeding, more than 400IU/day can increase risk of heart failure and death in long term illness.
Destroyed by	Heat, oxygen, frost, iron and chlorine.

Folic acid properties
Good for	Production of red blood cells. It is essential in the first three months of pregnancy to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida, cleft palate or cleft lip.
Signs of deficiency	Tiredness due to anaemia and red tongue.
RDA	200 micrograms. Women planning to conceive should take a daily supplement of 400mcg, continued for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Good sources	Carrots, yeast, liver, egg, yolks, melon, apricots, pumpkin, avocado, beans, rye and wholewheat and green leafy vegetables.
Poisoning	No danger. It dissolves in water, so any excess is passed in urine.
Destroyed by	Water, sunlight and heat.

Minerals

Calcium
Good for	Strong bones and teeth, nerve function, muscle contraction, blood clotting.
Signs of deficiency	Poor teeth and brittle bones.
RDA	800mg
Good sources	Milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt and green leafy vegetables.
Poisoning	High doses can lead to headaches, stomach pain, high blood pressure and diarrhoea. Excess calcium can be deposited as kidney and gall bladder stones. It has been linked to an increased risk for heart attack in recent research.

Iron
Good for	Red blood cells and muscle function, white blood cells and the immune system.
Signs of deficiency	Tiredness, irritability, difficulties concentrating.
RDA	14mg
Good sources	Lean red meat, oily fish, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, nuts, wholegrains and wholewheat.
Poisoning	Iron is stored in the body and high doses (over 17mg) can lead to constipation, vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea. Very high doses can be fatal.

Magnesium
Good for	Converting energy from food, cell repair, building strong bones, teeth and muscles and regulating body temperature.
Signs of deficiency	Muscle spasms, and has been associated with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and weak bones.
RDA	300mg
Good sources	Green leafy vegetables, wholegrains and nuts.
Poisoning	High doses can cause diarrhoea.

Zinc
Good for	Immune system, the breakdown of protein, fat and carbohydrate.
Signs of deficiency	Lesions on skin, eyes and in throat, loss of taste and smell, hair loss, diarrhoea, slow healing of wounds and growth problems in children.
RDA	15mg
Good sources	Meat, shellfish, milk brown rice and wholegrains.
Poisoning	High doses can lead to stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, 100mg a day is the current advised maximum daily limit