Migraine is much more than simply a bad headache. It is a neurological condition that can cause severe head pain alongside symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, visual disturbances and extreme tiredness.
For people who experience migraines regularly, they can have a considerable impact on work, social life and everyday wellbeing.
Migraine should be diagnosed and managed with the help of an appropriate healthcare professional. Reflexology does not treat or cure migraine, but some people choose it as a complementary therapy alongside their usual medical care, particularly as a way to relax and manage stress.
What Does a Migraine Feel Like?
Migraine experiences vary considerably from person to person.
Common symptoms can include:
- moderate to severe headache, sometimes affecting one side of the head
- throbbing or pulsating pain
- nausea or vomiting
- sensitivity to light, sounds or smells
- tiredness and difficulty concentrating
- visual or sensory disturbances known as aura.
Not everybody experiences aura, and not every migraine follows exactly the same pattern.
If you experience new, severe or unexplained headaches, particularly if they are sudden or significantly different from headaches you have experienced previously, you should seek appropriate medical advice rather than attempting to self-diagnose them.
Understanding Migraine Triggers
There isn’t always one identifiable cause behind an individual migraine attack. However, people often recognise circumstances that appear to make an attack more likely.
Possible triggers can include stress, tiredness, disrupted sleep, missed meals, hormonal changes and changes in caffeine intake. Triggers vary greatly between individuals and sometimes several factors may combine.
Keeping a migraine diary can be useful. Recording when attacks occur alongside sleep, meals, stress levels and other circumstances may help you and your healthcare professional identify patterns over time.
The Different Stages of Migraine
A migraine can involve more than the period of head pain itself.
Some people notice changes in mood, energy, concentration or appetite before an attack. Others experience an aura, which can include visual disturbances, tingling or other temporary neurological symptoms.
The headache phase may then involve significant pain, nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Afterwards, some people experience considerable tiredness or difficulty concentrating — sometimes informally described as a ‘migraine hangover’.
Not everyone experiences all of these stages, and migraine can present differently from one person to another.
Medical Treatment for Migraine
Treatment depends on the individual and the frequency and severity of their migraines.
Medical approaches can include pain relief, medicines specifically intended for migraine attacks, anti-sickness medication and preventative treatments for people who experience frequent or particularly disruptive migraines.
Lifestyle measures may also form part of migraine management.
Your GP, pharmacist or migraine specialist can advise you about appropriate treatment. Reflexology should not replace prescribed medication, medical investigation or professional healthcare.
Where Can Reflexology Fit In?
One reason some people with migraine choose reflexology is the opportunity it provides to slow down and relax.
Stress and tiredness can be migraine triggers for some people, although migraine is not simply caused by stress. A quiet reflexology session can provide dedicated time away from everyday demands and may help you feel more relaxed.
During a treatment I work across the feet, including reflex areas traditionally associated within reflexology with the head, neck and other areas of the body. The treatment is adapted according to how you are feeling and what you find comfortable.
I don’t claim that stimulating a particular point on the foot will treat the neurological processes responsible for migraine. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, and its role should be considered accordingly.
For somebody living with migraine, sometimes the value of a session is much simpler: an opportunity to stop, switch off and have an hour devoted to relaxation and wellbeing.
Mobile Reflexology for Migraine Sufferers in London
Travelling across London may be the last thing you feel like doing when migraines are part of your life.
As a mobile reflexologist, I travel to clients throughout London and provide treatments in their homes, hotel rooms or offices. This allows you to experience reflexology in familiar surroundings without needing to make another journey afterwards.
If you experience migraines and are considering reflexology alongside your existing healthcare, you are welcome to contact me with any questions or to arrange a mobile reflexology session.
