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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Home Remedies/Treatment
        
(Message started by: BigCoffinHunter on Sep 12^th, 2006, 7:57pm)

Title: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Sep 12^th, 2006, 7:57pm

I'm sure this has been covered a hundred times, but what are everyone's favorite home (non Rx) treatments?
Iced Coffee....I pound at least two glasses when I wake up with one starting. This has killed the demon a few times for sure.

Melatonin...9 or 10mg a night. I honestly have no idea if it helps the CH or not, but it sure makes me sleep better. When I wake up with a hit, I take another one.

Red Bull...works about as good as the iced coffee for me. I haven't used it much since starting the Verapamil.

Hot showers...I used these in my last cycle in '03. Not sure they did much, think they helped distract by having the jets hit me all over the face.

St. John's wort...probably does nothing for the clusters, but helps keep me from being totally bummed out when I get them.

Ice...never did much for me, tends to annoy me more than anything else.

Recliner...I like to bury my face in my recliner and roll it back and forth during the worst kips.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Nick8977 on Sep 12^th, 2006, 9:00pm

Sounds like me.....I think that the Bulls are the best OTC med for these damn things. I also take Taurine and Magnesium supplements and since I started with those the severity of the CHs has dropped significantly.
And when I get hit and I am at home, usually I end up cleaning the house up. Keeps me busy I guess. Also if the CH aint that bad I might get online and play video games (with one eye shut) the game I play usually lasts 45-1 hour so it eats the CH time!
Regards
Nick
P.S. PF DAYS....................boy are they ever nice. AHHHHHHHHH

;) ; 8)

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by TxBasslady on Sep 13^th, 2006, 11:26pm

A cup of tea works on a shadow for me.

Kudzu was the greatest thing I ever took. It totally changed my CH. Hits are not as severe...and last about 1/4 of the time they used too.

I used to use ice...but it became painful...LOL.

I take CoQ10, B-50 Complex, and a multivitamin.

I drink 2 cups of coffee every night about this time. Seems to keep the nightime visits at bay.

Funny you mentioned the "iced" coffee. I worked with a lady years ago and that was her favorite drink. I haven't come across anyone since...who likes "iced" coffee.

Good luck...pf vibes,

Jean

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by MJ on Sep 14^th, 2006, 12:25am

Push-ups

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Sep 14^th, 2006, 8:24am

I keep the iced coffee because I can just grab the jug and pour a couple glasses. Trying to assemble a pot of coffee when you're getting a hit is no fun! Plus that usually leads to coffee grounds all over the kitchen.
I think the cold helps too. When I was pounding the iced coffee a couple mornings ago, I could feel that 'cold ice cream headache' sensation kicking in, and then the CH broke. It doesn't work every time, but it's something.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Jobette on Sep 14^th, 2006, 11:52pm

Big Hunter, if you are a husband, you are a good one, and if you are not you will make a good one. "Coffee grounds all over the kitchen" I think that I can make coffee in my sleep now. But coffee and red bull are my friends.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by sailpappy on Sep 15^th, 2006, 2:46am

;;D ;;DIce bag when I can't get to the shower. cold water shower on the affected side! 35 years and still works the best for me! Pappy

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Sep 15^th, 2006, 6:37am

I think I may have changed my position on ice. I've used ice packs the last couple nights when I've gotten hit, and it does seem to help deal with the pain some. Lately my whole head has gotten very sore after a cluster hit, just touching the skin on that side feels like I was burned or something.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 15^th, 2006, 6:46am

mine is a cross between the excercise theory and the masturbation thread -

ie give the missus a good seeing to !!

sorry - that was a bit crude

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by georgej on Sep 16^th, 2006, 2:42am

9 mg melatonin a night in cycle, 3 mg out of cycle. Magnesium and calcium supplements both in and out of cycle.

I take a couple of aspirin every day as has been recommended for me as a blood thinner, instead of the usual 80 mg miniaspirin--I'm heterozygous for Factor V Leiden, so my blood is thicker than usual and clots more easily.

Other than a multivitamin, I take no other medications, either in cycle or out. I tried oxygen without success some years ago, but have since learned that it was not properly administered. I intend to give it another try next go-around.

Can't use ice or frozen vegetables on my headaches, since it causes a tremendous rebound with a massive shadow that lasts into the next day. I wish I could. Heat is worse. Exercise-wise, I'm pretty active. I do Taekwondo, and walk a lot. Lots of hiking. Moderate exercise is pretty good, but I had one of the worst hits I ever had in my life after a day of hard work laying sod in the sun. So I'm careful about it when I'm in cycle.

I intend to try the energy-drink thing next time I'm in cycle.

Since I'm episodic and my cycles have become consistently farther and farther apart with the passage of time (from six months apart to 3 years apart), I'm very reluctant to try prescription medications that may or may not mess with the mechanisms of these things. I did the prescription route years ago with many different pain medications, Periactin, Sansert, and Caffergot. None of them were effective, and Sansert actively made them worse. I'm aware that the triptans are now available, and some better preventives--but again, I'm reluctant to use them for fear of messing things up. I can live with them now, but I'm not sure if I could live as well with chronic CH or with cycles that returned to the six-weeks-on, six-months-off pattern I used to have.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by TxBasslady on Sep 17^th, 2006, 12:42am

on 09/15/06 at 06:37:20, BigCoffinHunter wrote:

It helped me too. My problem was that after a while of using the icey cold...I decided if I put it directly on my right eye, it would be better. Big mistake for me...I swear there were times I felt I had damaged my eye. The extreme cold and the pressure I used holding that ice on my eye was not the best idea I've ever had..LOL.

One good idea...if you haven't tried it...put an ice pak..or cold cloth...on the back of your neck during a hit. It had a soothing effect for me.

Jean

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by wam on Sep 17^th, 2006, 8:41pm

I experimented with a home remedy that went bad.I thought that during a CH attack if I ate ice cream really really fast that the "brain freeze" that comes with it would kill or knock out the cluster or freeze the pain for that matter.WRONG!!!!!!!!!!Not only did it NOT help but made the CH go to a KIP 15!!!!No joke,the pain intensified to a level I never experienced before.I will never do that again!!!!I can laugh about it now,but back then was was freightful. [smiley=laugh.gif] :'(

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by lskilly on Sep 19^th, 2006, 3:06pm

Dont laugh to hard at these...

Ice cube wrapped in a paper towel. Applied to the cluster side. I rub it along my nose an accoss the top of my eyes to my ear.

Popcicle or ice cube rubbed against the roof of my mouth on the cluster side. Or thumb pressed hard against the roof of my mouth.

I have tried just about anything I can find because I am allergic to most meds. Right now it's back to Bio feedback to see if I can block the pain like I did 8 years ago.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 19^th, 2006, 3:10pm

on 09/19/06 at 15:06:02, lskilly wrote:

have you had the opportunity to try O2 (pure oxygen) at 10-15 lpm using a non-rebreather mask?

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Richr8 on Sep 19^th, 2006, 4:27pm

on 09/12/06 at 19:57:49, BigCoffinHunter wrote:

Melatonin...9 or 10mg a night. I honestly have no idea if it helps the CH or not, but it sure makes me sleep better. When I wake up with a hit, I take another one.

Good one for me.

Recliner...I like to bury my face in my recliner and roll it back and forth during the worst kips.

[color=red]Yeah! The rocking part.[/red]

Looking forward to this year so I can try out some of your other favs.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Melissa on Sep 19^th, 2006, 10:02pm

It seems to change for me every cycle...

Things I have done in the past are hot showers (with the tub filled AND shower going at the same time sitting down), cold packs, Dramamine, super hot & strong coffee, doing dishes in almost scalding hot water while rocking side to side with my head tilted back & eyes closed, hitting my head with the palm of my hand repeatedly (sometimes still do that), O2, Kudzu (those two are my fav. since last cycle), smoking (I've been quit for almost 2 years now but it would keep my kips from getting too high. I seemed to be able to ride out a lot of attacks when I was still smoking).

I'm not in cycle....yet, but am currently taking Taurine supplements that I think are keeping my shadows from erupting. I know that something is coming, I just don't know when. :-[

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by lskilly on Sep 20^th, 2006, 6:51pm

I tried O2 years ago It did nothing for me then. I talked to my Dr. about it but he didnt think it would help now if it didnt help then.

Thanks

Skilly

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Melissa on Sep 20^th, 2006, 7:10pm

on 09/20/06 at 18:51:49, lskilly wrote:

I tried O2 years ago It did nothing for me then. I talked to my Dr. about it but he didnt think it would help now if it didnt help then.

Thanks

Skilly

Just because O2 failed you in a past cycle does not mean it won't work again ESPECIALLY using a Clustermasx. : http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~tritech2/clusterx/index.html My last cycle was proof that it can work again.

It's cheaper than prescription medication, has no side effects and it's effective. What have you got to lose by trying it again??

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by clusterwife on Sep 27^th, 2006, 3:30pm

My hubby swears that yelling helps to get rid of the beast. I have ear plugs when he chooses this method.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 27^th, 2006, 3:37pm

on 09/27/06 at 15:30:20, clusterwife wrote:

My hubby swears that yelling helps to get rid of the beast. I have ear plugs when he chooses this method.

While sometimes outsbursts, moaning, and crying seem almost unavoidable I would never choose to inflict that kind of an experience on my supporter as a choice. Tell your hubby to pipe down.....
;)

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Margi on Sep 27^th, 2006, 4:36pm

Clusterwife, your hubby is escalating his blood pressure while he's yelling, too. THAT's making his attack more intense and last longer. You might want to point that out to him. My hubby learned that lesson the hard way and has taught himself to stay calm through attacks and just ride them out while he sits on the oxygen. It's DRASTICALLY reduced the length and intensity of attacks for him. Hardest lesson he's ever learned and I can tell it's so hard for him to maintain his calm but ... he's learned the alternative makes everything worse.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by lskilly on Sep 27^th, 2006, 7:20pm

Your right 02 cant hurt see if I can try it again.

Thanks

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by tracyboo on Oct 3^rd, 2006, 10:35pm

on 09/27/06 at 16:36:01, Margi wrote:

I have tried explaining this to my hubby but he can't stop. He is very....let's just call it verbal while having an episode. That's part of the reason I'm thinking Oxygen wouldn't help him. God love him, but he can't keep him mouth shut long enough to inhale the O2...lol...

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by BB on Oct 4^th, 2006, 12:35am

Give him the oxygen anyway.

I guarantee you that after shouting and inhaling pure cold oxygen through his throat long enough he wont have a voice left to shout !

Worked for my DH ;;D

Annette

PS: The oxygen will still work while going through his mouth and throat but its so cold and drying that he will soon learn to keep his mouth closed and breath through his nose.

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by jon019 on Oct 4^th, 2006, 1:00am

Coffee, coffee, coffee, as hot as I can stand it. Triple strength before an expected hit and during (3 scoops in a single cup, boiled in the micro). Lately, Redbull (wonderful stuff, and I actually like the taste). I'm actually thinking chugging it cold is as much help as the drink itself as it seems to work faster than coffee.

Ice in any form is an annoyance, or worse. Hot shower on the affected side seems helpful in ramp up, not in an actual hit.

Previously have tried capsaicin ointment on temple. Seemed to work for a while, no longer. Even snorted cayenne powder up the nose (you will know desperation when you resort to this). Again, seemed to work for a while (even carried a little baggie of the stuff around), no longer helps.

Naproxen, again, seemed to help at one point, not jack now and the potential side effects scared me off.

Self hypnosis, or intense concentration on surrounding and limiting the pain is effective if I can work up the effort. So very rarely effective, mostly because concentration during a hit is a herculean effort.

Melatonin is working for the night hits.

I'm sure I am forgetting some. It's been 25 years now and I'll try most anything .

Regards

Jon

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by ben_uk on Oct 4^th, 2006, 6:39am

on 09/27/06 at 16:36:01, Margi wrote:

Superb advice Margi, well done.

Jean say’s it good too –
Quote - “Ben (w/Clustermasx) taught me how to save alot of 02. You should breathe normal.. and if you do so, the bag will remain inflated. Ben started my regulator at 12...allowed the bag to inflate...had me breathe normally...and after a minute or so, he showed me the setting on my regulator. It was at 8 lpm. I was absolutley amazed! The large bag was still inflated when he turned the regulator off.
You should also sit as straight as possible….. If you can try and remain as calm as possible...and apply Ben's techniques...I think you'll be amazed at how quick the 02 will kick a CH. From start of CH to finish, with a Clustermasx, I can squash a CH in less than 3 minutes.
Everyone on 02 should have one. It's the ultimate………Jean”

Stay calm – breathe normally – tune/adjust flow rate to match your breathing rate.

Your flow rate requirement might vary during therapy and from attack to attack – adjust as necessary.

Hope this helps
ben

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Tata on Oct 11^th, 2006, 9:16am

I used to take hot showers or just put my head under hot water, but that made things worse. Then I tried the same with the cold water, which seemed to work better. The only problem with the cold water is that I would freeze after doing it and the shivering would make me tense up and make things worse. So I started using ice packs to shove into the left side of my face. Now I use a frozen chicken breast when I need the cold/pressure. I also have one of those hand held massagers that heats up. I don't know if the massaging does any good, but the noise is soothing in the middle of a bad one and it feels like I'm doing something . I have also used the massager to bang my forehead when the pain is at the worst. When I know the headaches are coming, I never sleep laying down. I don't know if it helps because I sleep less soundly sitting up and can wake up faster at the onset of a headache and catch it before it gets too bad, or if there is an actual physical reason the headaches get worse if I'm laying down--whatever it is, I don't care. All I know is laying down is a BIG no-no. I tried to sit propped up in bed and watch TV last night, but that was still too far back, I guess. I got a really quick small one that I was able to calm down by going outside barefoot and doing some breathing exercises in cooler air. Staying relaxed is definitely essential for me---if I tense up and start to freak out they escalate 10 fold. Ok, now here's the bad one that I haven't told anyone about yet. When I had my baby last year, my midwife helped my back labor by using acu-pressure. She made my back feel better by rubbing my feet. I heard you can use the same technique for headaches by putting pressure on the "webbing" between your thumb and index finger and I've used it before on just regular headaches--I'd rather use this then taking pills, especially since I'm still nursing the baby. The other night I had a wopper--woke up at probably KIP 6 and went right to a 10 in a matter of minutes. I tried the acupressure and felt that if I could just exert more pressure it would help more. This is going to sound crazy, but I ended up using my teeth to get more pressure on the area. It hurt, which took my mind off my head, but the headache was gone in minutes. I know this sounds insane and I hope you all don't think I'm a Sado-Masochist (not that there's anything wrong with that ;)) but it's also worked everytime since then too. Don't get me wrong--I'm not telling anyone to gnaw at their hand to feel better. All I'm saying is that this is what happened when I did it. I still have 2 more nights to get through til I see the Doc and I am tired of banging my head. I read an article somewhere about the body not being able to feel 2 sources of pain at a time, and that that's the reason we bang our heads--trying to overshadow the other pain. I wish I could remember where I read that--It could have been here. Does this ring a bell with anyone? PS. Sorry this is so long and rambling, but I'm in a huge hurry--as usual......

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by Charlotte on Oct 11^th, 2006, 10:43pm

I had never thought of a frozen chicken breatst but iti s the right size and shape. I could have used one today.

Hope you're doing ok, now.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by keithr1024 on Oct 19^th, 2006, 8:31pm

My treatment plan is as follows lots of water, vitiamins , predisone taper ,verapamil ,meleatonin 15mg , ice packs and last but not least oxygen oh and if it,s good and cold outside jumping jacks and shorts and if that fails the concrete is a good destraction

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by winshots on Oct 20^th, 2006, 1:04pm

I dont have any medication or O2.
The shadows will never subside, coffee or RedBull or whatever, they're allways there (when I'm in a cycle).

During a hit of CH, all I can do is lower my body temperature. Cool down. Chill out. Freeze.
Take a big bowl of cold water an plunge my feet into it, wriggle my toes. I know this sounds stupid, but your feet are the best heat exchangers your body has.

Let the cold evening air in.
Shut down all electrical appliances (I cannot stand sound or vision during a hit).

Like many of you I cannot be touched or talked to, and my dog hates me for that because he knows something is wrong and he wants to help me but I have to send him away, this is really sad. The cat is ok, I can send her away, but you know dogs, they just want to love you.

Know that the pain will end.
Believe that, enjoy that, grasp that straw. It will end.
Time is distorted when you suffer a direct CH hit, but know that IT WILL END.

I convince myself that it will end, I ride the waves, I let the pain pass thru me, and then it's over and I'm exhausted.
I don't know of any other way to cope with this.

The best thing is: you know what it is, you know it's gonna hurt, and you know it will end. CH is no stranger, you know what you've got. So you can cope, with the right mindset. Works for me, I don't want to upset anyone... sorry in advance.

Please don't think I've got it all under control, no way... when the beast wakes me up at 2AM and I'm unprepared... ah well you know

Love you all, love this website, hope that we all have a good night of sleep, and thanks for being a friend :)

Title: Re: Home Remedies/Treatment
Post by tommyD on Oct 20^th, 2006, 2:48pm

Chug about a quart of cold water as quick as you can at the first sign of attack, stand on a cold concrete floor in bare feet, hold hands and wrists in cold water, otherwise force the hypothalamus to deal with shifts in body temperature.

For shadows, strong ginger tea in winter, Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew in summer.

For the long term, drink a little tea - psilocybin or ololiuqui tea.

-tommyD