| Healthy living | |
| MARCH |
 |
|
Migraine Headache Migraine is a form of headache commonly in conjunction with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. Three times more women than men are affected by this recurring pain which can last for a couple of days each time. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) divides three root causes for Migraine:
Acupuncture is a proven treatment and the most common therapy for migraine. Here, thin needles stimulate acupuncture points on the skin in order to reduce the frequency and the duration of the headaches. For those who look for alternatives and supporting treatments, herbal therapy will be a good option. Below some herbs are presented that ease the symptoms of migraine headaches and aim to cure the sickness in the long run. Please do not use these herbs without consulting a TCM practitioner! Bupleuri radix or Hare’s ear root (Chai hu 柴胡)  Bupleuri radix has been used in TCM for hundreds of years to help relieve numerous conditions; most particularly for fever, liver problems, indigestion and hemorrhoids. It is an upright growing plant native to China, Japan and Eastern Europe, commonly found on dry grassland, in fields and by roadsides. Hare’s ear root contains yellowish-green petals arranged in groups of five, and small yellow flowers. The plant is collected in the spring and autumn, removed from aerial part and is dried in the sun.
For some time, the herb has been known as the “harmony’ herb that maintains the inner energies within the body and establishes a healthy balance between the organ systems. It is also one of the dominant herbs to heal liver disorders due to its strong anti-inflammatory action. You can find Bupleuri radix in many remedies to treat migraine. The medical effects are the following:
The taste is bitter; the temperature is cool. Hare’s ear root enters the liver, and gall bladder meridians. Chinese angelica root or Female ginseng (Dang gui 當歸 )  As the name tells, Chinese angelica root is native to China. It is grown on high grounds in the cool and damp areas of the western and northwestern parts of the country. The plant is harvested in late fall. Then, the roots have to be removed from the rest of the plant, smoked and cut into slices.
Female ginseng is especially well-known as a blood tonic for women as it is a rich source of phytoestrogens. Chinese angelica root has been used for female ailments for a long time as it regulates the menstrual cycle, relieves menstrual pain, and warms the hands and feet. It is also said that female ginseng tonifies and heals the female reproduction system. Furthermore, because of its sedative properties, Chinese angelica root relieves stress and improves the immune system (it helps the production of white blood cells). The therapeutic effects of the Chinese angelica root are explained below:
Its characteristics are sweet and mildly warming. Female ginseng enters the heart, liver and spleen meridians. Dioscoreae rhizome or Chinese yam (Shan yao 山藥 )  Originally Chinese yam has been growing in the tropical areas of China and Japan. The plant has heart shaped leaves and grows small white flowers which have a smell similar to cinnamon. The root itself is a spindle shaped, thick and hard root that is white on the inside. As a dried vegetable it is often used in TCM for medical purpose. Please do not confuse Chinese yam with the ordinary sweet potato which is also called yam.
When buying Chinese yam, be careful that the yam is not sulfurized as the sulfurization destroys essential ingredients of the root. The Chinese yam should have a natural and typical root-like look. Chinese yam in medical remedies to treat migraine is used for the following therapeutic effects:
The plant as medical treatment should be avoided by pregnant women and women who are still breastfeeding. Its characteristics are sweet and neutral. Chinese yam enters the kidney, lung and spleen meridians. If you have questions about these herbs and the treatment with herbal remedies in general, please feel free to contact us. We are very happy to help! |
