New devices and yoga for migraine relief

November 23rd, 2006

Scribonius Largus, the physician to the Emperor Claudius of ancient Rome treated the patients of migraine with electric shocks from the electricity-producing black torpedo fish called the Electric Ray.

Migraine is a kind of headache on one or both sides of the head, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light and sound, dizziness, blurred vision, cognitive disturbances, etc.

The world of modern medicine has long replaced the Electric Ray. But the top migraine researchers from the US are exploring the electrical or electromagnetic intervention to treat an otherwise incurable condition.

Large scale clinical trials on different kinds of stimulatory devices are underway to give relief to those suffering from severe migraine.

Migraine affects about 30 million Americans and is known to be a hereditary neurological condition.

There are two kinds of stimulatory devices that are currently tested for mitigating migraine. An occipital nerve stimulatory device is a pacemaker-like machine which is connected to electrodes placed at the back of the head just under the skin. Electricity is passed through the electrodes to suppress or prevent migraine pain.

An another kind of machine, called transcranial magnetic device, is pressed against the back of the head, and short and periodic pulses that are generated are sent into the brain. It is aimed at checking the migraine pain while it progresses.

Migraine patients have responded to yoga and ayurveda in a highly encouraging way. Patients with chronic migraine, who participated in yoga camps, reported relief after practising breathing exercises or pranayama. The most beneficial of the exercises is the Aalom Vilom, a single-nostril rhythmic breathing exercise under an extensive regime of yoga.

The breathing exercises are known to bring a nervous balance, which has soothing effect. The effect is reinforced by the release of endorphins and cortisones, which are a direct result of the breathing exercises, as investigations have established.

Entry Filed under: Yoga, Health Issues