Posted by Flash (134.32.125.71) on November 05, 1999 at 12:32:30:
In Reply to: Liberty Cap treatment 100% sucessful for 4th year posted by Flash on November 05, 1999 at 11:22:28:
I'm waiting for some more info from Bob P, but this is what we have so far...
There is a headaches specialist working in London (I've forgotten his anem - BobP?) and he found an abnormality in the hypothalmus of CH sufferers. The hypothalmus is the glad that sets the body's metabolic rate and control secretions of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland produces some of the most important and most powerful chemical messages in the body. One of these is serotonin.
We know that before a migraine (yes I know that is a different headache) that a large wave of serotonin passes over the brain. They call it a serotonin storm. This excess of serotonin seems to trigger the migraine.
Drugs like Prozac (correct me if I'm wrong BobP) are used to treat the serotonin deficiancy that can cause depression. We don't have a deficiency we (may) have too much, or no way to get rid of it.
I don't mean our brain is producing masses to much, just a little, and this builds up over time until a cluster episode starts.
OK - so what is the point in having a cluster episode? Well the theory is that it is the body's way of getting rid of the excess serotonin.
Now there is a link between the drug Psilocybin and Serotonin (info please BobP). Psilocybin is a very similar chemical to LSD. LSD is the sister chemical to both Ergotamine and Methysergide, the two main drugs for cluster treatment.
Both Psilocybin and LSD are extremely effective (in surprisingly low doses) against CH. A single dose will prevent an entire episode and provide protection for months.
Why? Well it can only be because these drugs fulfill the function of the CH and get rid of all that extra serotonin.
Now this is still a theory, and no one has checked it out end-to-end, but it does make perfect sense and there is a lot of evidence to back it up.
What we need is for the professionals to start acting on it.