The Migraine Brain

Published in 2008, "The Migraine Brain" by Carolyn Bernstein, M.D. is an invaluable resource of information to understand and manage migraine conditions. Two key points form the book deserve special attention. First and foremost is the recognition and designation of migraine as a complex neurological phenomenon of which headache is only one symptom and not necessarily an essential one. Related to this neurological phenomenon is a wide range of symptoms including: pain on one side of the face or head, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light or sound, strange feelings preceding the onset, slurred speech, and ringing in the ears. The author attributes migraine to a "superexcitability" of the brain, resulting in a "dramatic wave of electrical excitation" across the cerebral cortex, an area responsible for many complex functions all of which can be affected.

A second key point is the high individualistic manifestations which migraines may have. The book provides excellent guidance on determining and tracking symptoms, triggers, and solutions. It validates the breadth of complaints the migraine sufferer may have, and encourages their own active management and self-care of this condition.

These two characteristics, the complexity of migraine and its individualistic presentation, make migraine a condition well suited for treatment by Chinese medicine. The comprehensive system of diagnosis in Chinese medicine is inclusive of all aspects of a person's life and integrates physical symptoms with emotional aspects (including the effects of stress), as well as environmental factors. By addressing the person as a unique and whole entity within his or her life, Chinese medicine determines its therapeutic course of action based on this highly individualistic and comprehensive diagnosis. Rather than utilizing a "cookbook" style of treatment, i.e. feverfew is good for headache, Chinese medicine incorporates all aspects of the person's migraine manifestation to create a targeted and sophisticated treatment strategy for their particular presentation.

Migraine can be a devastating condition that is difficult and challenging to manage and treat. A person should approach it from as many angles as possible to reduce frequency of occurance and intensity. Beginning with a resource such as "The Migraine Brain" can provide essential guidance to understanding and addressing migraine proactively. Incorporating Chinese medicine from a licensed practitioner can provide valuable adjunct therapy to other courses of treatment utilized to manage this complex phenomenon.

Carolyn Bernstein, M.D. is the founder and director of the Women's Headache Center at Cambridge Health Alliance. She is a board certified neurologist and an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. In 2007, she wone the National Headache Foundation's Headache Healthcare Provider of the Year award. Her book is, "The Migraine Brain: Your Breakthrough Guide to Fewer Headaches and Better Health".