Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> strange brew (tea and flowers)
        
(Message started by: chicanohek on Jan 19^th, 2006, 10:17pm)

Title: strange brew (tea and flowers)
Post by chicanohek on Jan 19^th, 2006, 10:17pm

Hay everybody,

this may sound strange, but it worked, albiet for a short time...I once made myself a cup of green tea with crysanthamum flowers and rose buds (why? because I live in China!) and was about to sit and enjoy it when I began to feel the "phantoms", anyhow, I thought i could still finish the tea before i would have to retreat to my room...strangely enough, the tea managed to ward off the headache! For about 8 months I was certain that I had found a "cure" for the CH. However, my enthusiasm was short lived when later this year my "brew" failed to ward off several headaches in a row, now, it does not help at all, although i still use it to relax...has anyhone else tried this?
Additionally, everyone seems to use O2 and Imitrex, but i use Maxalt now, although its only 75% effective...any comments on my post would be greatly appreciated...hectorious

Title: Re: strange brew (tea and flowers)
Post by mcf69 on Jan 19^th, 2006, 11:12pm

Often times when you find something that helps the pain it only works for a short time, the board is full of stories of people who have thought they found the cure only to have the CH's sneak around them. I've found this cycle that hot seems to help, if I drink something hot and put a hot water bottle on my head it really helps, last cycle it was cold, so you can see how different treatments/methods become ineffective. On the maxalt, I assume you're using the MLT fast disolving tabs right? I used them for a couple weeks and they didn't seem awfully effective to me, and they gave me wicked tachycardia. I now stick exclusively to the oxygen and the occasional shot of Imitrex if the O2 isn't working, seems to be the most effective for me.

Title: Re: strange brew (tea and flowers)
Post by sandie99 on Jan 20^th, 2006, 3:19am

Unfourtainly tea didn't help with me... and warm showers trigger my ch (not every time, thank goodness).
But I'm glad that it helped you! :) Relief from the beast is always good. :)

Best wishes,
Sanna

Title: Re: strange brew (tea and flowers)
Post by Ueli on Jan 20^th, 2006, 11:28am

Chrysanthemum parthenium (Feverfew) is said to be a prophylactic for meegraines. As it must be taken for several month to show any effects, it is hard to decide if it is useful for CH too. But maybe there is another variety of chrysanthemum in China, one that acts faster.

Ueli [smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: strange brew (tea and flowers)
Post by nani on Jan 20^th, 2006, 11:33am

A tea (or tincture) of kudzu root and flowers may help, too. :)
Look here, learn about it, and then decide:
pain free wishes, nani

http://med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Kudzu

Title: Re: strange brew (tea and flowers)
Post by floridian on Jan 20^th, 2006, 11:51am

The chrysanthemum commonly used for tea in China is a 'cooling' herb - commony consumed during summer. Some studies have shown that cooling herbs are high in anti-pyretic (anti-fever), anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, while non-cooling herbs are far less likely to have these. The green tea itself isn't too shabby - it scaveneges nitric oxide and has other beneficial effects that might be supportive in cluster headache.

Chrysanthemum is also an ingredient in 5 flower tea (Chrysanthemum morifolii, Lonicera japonica, Bombax malabaricum, Sophora japonica, and Plumeria rubra) which is used for treating "Hot Chi" conditions associated with allergy and/or infection.

You might want to check out a tea with kudzu in it if you are herbally inclined and in China, although it seems to interfere with imitrex if taken at the same time. The traditional use of kudzu is for conditions with 'superficial heat.' There are many formulas that use kudzu, not sure what other ingredients and properties are in all of those.

More Kudzu info:
http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Kudzu