First Migraine

I've treated migraines successfully with acupuncture and Chinese herbs for my patients, and I'd say I am familiar with its progression, signs/symptoms. But yesterday I was truly humbled with my first migraine-like headache. Clues started a couple of weeks ago with my right eye twitching throughout the day. I didn't think much of it since my eye twitches when I get stressed (this hasn't happened in years though). Then yesterday, I had to catch a 7 am flight from NYC to Washington, DC, to be at a meeting at the National Academy of Sciences by 9 am. I barely slept the night before and didn't eat much of a breakfast (cereal with probably too much sugar at the airport). By midday at the Summit, a headache started. I noticed extreme nausea, loss of appetite (for those who know me...I never lose my appetite), and a stiff neck. I tried to sleep it off but that didn't work. If I was in NYC, I'd get Chinese herbs and do acupuncture on myself, but I didn't bring needles to DC. So I succumbed to Advil. I walked to a drugstore (though I thought I was going to vomit with each step). I wouldn't say I felt immediately better but after I got food in my stomach, I was good again, and this morning I'm back to my old self. I did, however, wake up with a nosebleed in my right nostril.

I'll write later about what I'm learning at the IOM Integrative Medicine Summit (btw I'm very optimistic about the future of our nation's healthcare). Now, I'd like to discuss this migraine. This was a tremendous learning experience for me. Several events are going on in my life, so I'd say stress is high for me but not more than it has been in the past (that I'm conscious of, at least). This is classic Liver Qi stagnation causing Liver Yang to rise affecting my Shaoyang (Gall Bladder meridian). Because my energy was going upwards, I was also experiencing Qi Rebellion (Stomach). The Gall Bladder meridian starts at the eye (so no wonder the eye twitch). The stiff neck is the Gall Bladder meridian as well - I did acupressure at GB-20 which helped slightly but wasn't long-lasting. I wished I had my needles!! Unfortunately this "CAM" provider had to resort to ibuprofen, which was effective, but next time (and I hope there will not be a "next" time), I will treat with acupuncture and herbs. The nosebleed could have been a side effect from the NSAID (thinning my blood), since I did take more than the recommended dose (oops). Or it could have been residual "heat" in my upper jiao (upper body)... Who knows. I won't be experimenting with high dose ibuprofen to induce a nosebleed to find out....

For those who do experience migraines, there is hope. Chinese medicine does work. (Again I've seen this with my patients.) You need to find the cause (stress, fatigue...), as well as move Qi and anchor Yang. For me, I am going to confront the "stress" in my life now, and manage it better. I think I just need some "me time", and you do too. Please rest & take care of yourself.