Migraine Auras

Migraine headaches are familiar and generally treatable ailments. Less understood are migraine auras or scotoma, visual distortions—sometimes accompanied by headache and sometimes not—that make it difficult, sometimes impossible, to see clearly. Migraine auras can be frightening, disorienting, even incapacitating. Richard Grossinger, who has suffered from them himself, here presents a helpful guide to the subject that maps the terrain, describes the various forms migraine auras can take, charts his personal experiences with them, and offers informed suggestions for homeopathic and other treatments.

Migraine Art includes more than 300 powerful illustrations and paintings created by migraine sufferers from around the world. It provides a thoroughly unique window into the subjective world of the migraine sufferer. The idea of collecting migraine art started with a number of public competitions in the 1980s, which encouraged artists, both amateur and professional, to illustrate the pain, the visual disturbances, and the effect migraines had on their lives. The book includes hundreds of these submissions as well as detailed descriptions of different types of migraine visual phenomena. Covering such topics as migraine signs, triggers, and treatments, as well as types of visual hallucinations and somatic sensations and experiences, the book offers a comprehensive view of the migraine experience. Each category of visual disturbance is accompanied by related artwork. A description of migraine visual experiences of famous historical figures, such as Blaise Pascal and Lewis Carroll, provide historical background on the topic. The book also includes a history of four Migraine Art competitions and information about the Migraine Art collection.

The brain is the most complex organ in our body. Indeed, it is perhaps the most complex structure we have ever encountered in nature. Both structurally and functionally, there are many peculiarities that differentiate the brain from all other organs. The brain is our connection to the world around us and by governing nervous system and higher function, any disturbance induces severe neurological and psychiatric disorders that can have a devastating effect on quality of life. Our understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of the brain has improved dramatically in the last two decades. In particular, the critical role of cations, including magnesium, has become evident, even if incompletely understood at a mechanistic level. The exact role and regulation of magnesium, in particular, remains elusive, largely because intracellular levels are so difficult to routinely quantify. Nonetheless, the importance of magnesium to normal central nervous system activity is self-evident given the complicated homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the concentration of this cation within strict limits essential for normal physiology and metabolism. There is also considerable accumulating evidence to suggest alterations to some brain functions in both normal and pathological conditions may be linked to alterations in local magnesium concentration. This book, containing chapters written by some of the foremost experts in the field of magnesium research, brings together the latest in experimental and clinical magnesium research as it relates to the central nervous system. It offers a complete and updated view of magnesiums involvement in central nervous system function and in so doing, brings together two main pillars of contemporary neuroscience research, namely providing an explanation for the molecular mechanisms involved in brain function, and emphasizing the connections between the molecular changes and behavior. It is the untiring efforts of those magnesium researchers who have dedicated their lives to unraveling the mysteries of magnesiums role in biological systems that has inspired the collation of this volume of work.

'A fantastic and much needed resource for all those suffering. Dr Katy Munro's experience and knowledge through this book will help all those who read it' Dr Rupy Aujla, The Doctor's Kitchen 'Dr Katy Munro is the single best migraine expert our family have ever met [...] This book brings hope to every migraineur' Miranda Sawyer, Guardian & Observer Journalist ***** Despite being one of the most common and debilitating conditions in the world, migraine is still widely misunderstood, stigmatised and misdiagnosed. Migraine is much more than 'just a headache', it's a genetic, neurological brain disorder, and it's time patients got the healp they really need. Managing Your Migraine is the practical go-to guide for understanding and treating migraine. In the book, headache Specialist and GP Dr Katy Munro will give you expert advice on: · Understanding your migraine phases and triggers · The impact of food, exercise and sleep on migraine · Rescue plans for acute attacks · Migraine preventers · Migraine in children · Managing your mental health with migraine If you're a person with migraine, or know someone struggling, this book will provide helpful strategies for alleviating your symptoms and managing your migraine. Drawing on her medical expertise, her own personal experience with migraine and the stories of her patients, Dr Munro will empower you to get to know your own migraine and build an effective treatment plan that will help you live your life more fully. Part of the Penguin Life Experts series.

The many manifestations of migraine can vary dramatically from one patient to another, even within the same patient at different times. Among the most compelling and perplexing of these symptoms are the strange visual hallucinations and distortions of space, time, and body image which migraineurs sometimes experience. Portrayals of these uncanny states have found their way into many works of art, from the heavenly visions of Hildegard von Bingen to Alice in Wonderland. Dr. Oliver Sacks argues that migraine cannot be understood simply as an illness, but must be viewed as a complex condition with a unique role to play in each individual's life.

Migraine: Manifestations, Pathophysiology, and Management, Second Edition, is a much expanded, updated monograph that focuses in detail on migraine's diverse variations, its pathophysiology, and its treatment. Authored by a clinician/scientist who himself suffers from migraine, the book's premise is that the clinical significance of migraine and its treatment are intelligible only if the physician understands the anatomical, physiological, and pharmacological factors underlying both head pain and the other manifestations of migraine. The book provides clear clinical descriptions of the myriad of specific migraine syndromes, and discusses the rationale for, and elements of, a sensitive, inclusive patient history. Also covered are important but sometimes ignored topics such as environmental triggering of migraine and myofascial syndromes. The Second Edition also bridges the gap between basic science and clinical practice by explaining those substantive advances made in understanding fundamental mechanisms of head pain and aura. Recent knowledge about genetics, hormonal changes, cerebral circulation, nitric oxide, peptides, central sensitization of trigeminal neurons, and the role of periaqueductal gray matter buttress the discussion of basic mechanisms. On the treatment side, the Second Edition reflects the impressive advances in pharmacological approaches to migraine. There is a greatly expanded section on the triptans and their mechanisms of action, and rationales and practical information about the use of all other viable anti-migraine and prophylactic drugs. Psychobiological aspects of stress and stress management, elimination of environmental stimuli, the educational facets of management, and aspects of the patient/physician interaction so crucial in the treatment of migraine are all discussed. Special problems associated with the care of women, children, the elderly, patients with intractable headaches, and emergency department patients are thoroughly reviewed. In sum, this scholarly, well-referenced book offers in one volume a comprehensive scientific and clinical discussion of migraine headache.

Case-based compendium of advice for physicians with some background of headache. Headaches are addressed as case studies, with each chapter written by different authors. Halftone illustrations. Includes selected readings and editorial comments. CD-ROM includes the Seminars in Headache Management and Conquering Headache.