By Laurie Snider
Notes From The Nest
Sssh….would you mind terribly keeping it down a bit? I have a headache or at least I did, for the better part of last week. Specifically, I was suffering from a migraine.
I’m one of the estimated 2.7 million Canadians or 15 per cent, of the global population, who suffers from this sometimes debilitating malady.
Migraines are characterized by recurrent moderate to severe, throbbing headaches that commonly, but not necessarily, involve one side of the head. They may last anywhere, from two to 72 hours and may or may not be associated with neck pain, nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to sound, light and smell. Up to one third of sufferers, may also have an aura, which can involve a neurological disturbance, just prior to the onset of the actual headache.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure of the cause but everything from genetics, hormones, certain foods, stress and even weather, may play a role. Whatever the trigger, the nerves and blood vessels in the brain are involved, leading to the pain. Any fellow sufferers have my profound sympathy, as I’m quite familiar with the toll they take.
That being said, I’m also more than just a little grateful to be living in the 21st Century, in an affluent country, with access to excellent health care. When a migraine first pops onto my radar, I have a variety of different therapies available. I’ve tried everything from acupuncture, massage, meditation to an assortment of natural and pharmaceutical treatments. Many medications specifically used for migraines are often quite effective.
Unfortunately, as long as humans have had heads, there have been headaches and a wide variety of possible remedies, attempting to cure them. As early as 7000 B.C., holes were drilled in the heads of the sufferers, to let the evil spirits escape. Not surprisingly, this didn’t prove to be very effective, as most patients went on to die of infection.
According to an ancient medical text, called the Ebers Papyrus, dating from 1500 B.C, another take for treating headaches, was to have a clay crocodile strapped to your head, with the names of divinities written on the strips of fabric. Perhaps this one failed, due to its lack of fashion consciousness.
The Oxford Handbook Of The History Of Medicine has an account from 800 A.D., telling of the use of vultures being popular. To be exact, vulture brains were mashed up, mixed with oils, then shoved up the patient’s nose. I’m fairly certain, many people enduring that option, may in fact, have forgotten why they were being treated in the first place!
A Spanish surgeon, named Abulcasis, in the 10th Century, also had a unique take on how to deal with this ailment. He offered two different methods. The first, involved applying hot pokers to the head! “Ouch!” However, the wonderful, old practitioner, had something else up his sleeve, incase you failed to improve. This was making incisions, in your temples and inserting cloves of garlic! Conceivably, you may still have had a headache but now at least, you were safe from potential vampire attacks.
Arabic physicians, in the 1500s, prescribed eating ‘fattened’ chickens, as a remedy for ‘simple’ headaches. If you were unfortunate enough to be suffering from something more severe however, then some episodic sneezing was in order. This was induced by applying bitter almond oil, into the nostril, which was closest to the headache. I’m sure a bout of prolonged sneezing, was probably most unpleasant, however, compared to some of the previously mentioned treatments, this one seems relatively mild!
The Farmer’s Almanac offers an amusing list of old-fashioned remedies. These were probably not based on facts, or solid scientific evidence, but someone, somewhere, at some point in time, felt these were worth a try. Blood letting was popular, as was the application of leeches, to the forehead. Yikes! If that didn’t turn your crank, there was always rubbing a mixture of cow dung and molasses, on your head, or wearing a buzzard’s head (presumably dead), around your neck. If you were open to trying anything, than you could always run around your house three times, or ask your seventh child, to blow into your ear. Hmmm! My favourite, obscure, least rational treatment, is leaning your head against a tree, while someone pounds a nail, into the opposite side. Probably best, to use as a last resort!
No. I think I’ll forego ancient treatments and stick to what works for me; a cold cloth, a cup of tea and some ‘tested in the lab’ medication. I’ve however, developed an unconventional treatment of my own. It’s called a ‘Cat Sandwich’. It involves taking a nap, with two cats on each side of me and awakening soothed, comforted and with my cranium intact!