While the luckiest among us have never had a migraine (or only occasionally), for others, this term evokes the memory of a pain capable of interrupting all activity. For some, it even affects their way of life, which is dictated by the regular occurrence of such a disorder!

The phenomenon is such that the WHO (World Health Organization) has classified migraine among the 10 most debilitating disorders in terms of quality of life. It is estimated that between 6 and 10 million French people currently suffer from frequent migraines. Migraine rates (15% on average) are comparable in industrialized countries, with the exception of Asian countries where headaches are less common.

How to define it?

Far from a simple headache, migraine is in fact a neurological disorder. It remains difficult to treat to this day, and the medical community only superficially understands its complex mechanisms. Women are 3 times more likely than men to suffer from it, especially between 20 and 40 years old, when their hormonal activity peaks.

The characteristic sensation of migraine distinguishes it from a classic headache. This pain:

  • is unilateral
  • can last up to 3 days
  • is described as “pulsating” (the sufferer feels its throbbing)
  • induces intolerance to stimuli such as light, noise, odors, etc.
  • worsens with effort
  • may be accompanied by nausea, even vomiting
  • may be accompanied by visual (then called migraine “with aura”) and/or speech disturbances

Migraine is qualified as chronic when the person suffers from it more than 15 days a month; it is then recognized as a disease. In cases of severe crises, too intense pain may even require hospitalization… Due to the intensity of the pain it causes and the elements that alleviate it (calm, darkness, etc.)… migraine isolates! And to this social dimension is added the emotional sphere with the observation of a greater tendency to depression among migraine sufferers.

The determining factor of migraine remains scientifically unexplained to this day, and research is underway to try to determine the presence of potentially responsible or “at-risk” genes.

“Conventional” Remedies

A higher latent brain activity (level of arousal) has been observed in migraine sufferers – as if they were constantly anxious. Achieving a state of relaxation is then a more delicate exercise, but seems to be a key point. This is the foundation of the “biofeedback” technique developed to combat migraine through relaxation and self-control exercises.

The unexpected effects of botox on migraine pain were discovered empirically in patients keen to smooth out their wrinkles: the botulinum molecules injected into specific areas of the face and skull seem to have a blocking effect on the transmission of the pain message to the brain. Paralyzing sensory nerve activity in this way would be particularly effective in cases of chronic migraines. This treatment is now very widespread in Germany, where the practice is even reimbursed by social security.

Neurostimulation consists of generating micro-electrical impulses that act on the nerve endings in the forehead. Several nerves are involved in the occurrence of a migraine, notably the trigeminal nerve. Stimulation of this nerve would reduce the intensity and frequency of attacks. In the most severe cases, the occipital nerve is also targeted via the implantation of electrodes under the skin. However, this method involves many uncertainties given the poor understanding of the mechanisms at play.

Practicing a physical activity, by reducing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, helps alleviate the symptoms of migraine.

Finally, for some scientists, migraine is primarily generated by a change in basic rhythms, and not a simple factor (such as the consumption of a specific food, for example). Adopting a constant lifestyle (sleep times, meal times, etc.) would help prevent the occurrence of migraines.

TCM Vision

As with any pathology, the occurrence of a migraine is explained by a blockage or poor circulation of Qi and/or body fluids.

Most migraines are considered headaches of the Yang energy repletion type, primarily involving the function of the Liver. Indeed, this organ, called the “organ of emotions,” manages the most Yang internal perverse factor in the body: Wind. In cases of frustrations, anger, poorly managed stress, unspoken feelings, insufficient expression and externalization of emotions, this unreleased Yang energy accumulates, eventually becoming pressurized. Like the Wind that makes the treetops sway, this ascending energy then rises to the head, causing all types of headaches, including migraine.

The Liver being directly related to female genital function (uterus, menstruation), managing in particular the composition and circulation of blood in the body – this explains the greater exposure of women, and what are called premenstrual migraines. Moreover, the eyes are the opening of the Liver, hence the occurrence of visual disturbances accompanying a migraine.

Too much pressure from the Liver energy or significant fatigue can also impact the function of the Spleen: the transformation and transport of all things (both physical and psychological) assimilated by the body. This will be particularly the case for frontal migraines with a sensation of heaviness