3. Headache, Mustard Excellent for.—"Place a mustard plaster on the back of the head, also bathe the feet in mustard water and stay in a darkened room, and avoid all excitement and noise." The one essential thing is to get the nerves quieted; take as little food as possible for twenty-four hours, giving the stomach an opportunity to rest, as most of the headaches come from a disordered stomach.
4. Headache, Peppermint Beneficial for,—"Bathe the head in strong peppermint. Then apply cloths wrung from water as hot as can be endured." Hot or cold applications are known to be very beneficial. After the cloths are taken off, the soothing effect can be further enhanced by gentle rubbing of the forehead.
5. Headache, Cold Application in Case of.—"Apply cold applications on the forehead and over the eyes." These cold applications have been known to give relief in a very few minutes to many people suffering with severe headaches. It is well to continue the treatment; even after relief has been obtained, for at least a half hour. Gentle rubbing of the head is very good, also.
6. Headache, Castor Oil Will Relieve.—"One tablespoonful of castor oil. Have used this and found relief." This remedy gives relief as the castor oil carries off the food that is distressing the stomach. It is well to take two tablespoonfuls of lime-water in a glass of milk three times a day for about a week after the castor oil has operated.
SICK HEADACHE. (Migraine. Hemicrania).—Migraine is a peculiar form of severe paroxysms of unilateral (one side) headache often associated with disorders of sight.
Causes.—It is frequently hereditary, and it has occurred through several generations. Women and members of nervous families are usually attacked. Many of the headaches from eye-strain are of this type, It is often inherited, and may last from puberty to the menopause. Some authors claim that decay of the teeth without toothache will cause it. Adenoid growths in the pharynx and particularly abnormal conditions of the nose will cause it. Many of the attacks of severe headaches in children are of this nature, and the eyes, nose and throat should be examined when children or older persons suffer from this complaint. Mental emotion, physical or mental fatigue, disorders of the female genital organs, eye-strain, etc., loud noises, toothache, act as predisposing causes. Some think it a poisonous condition due to the absorption of poisons from the stomach and intestines, and others regard it as a nervous condition due to anemia and all conditions which weaken the resistance of the nervous system.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 273]
Symptoms.—The premonitory symptoms, which may last a few hours or a day or more, are sleepy feelings of discomfort, uneasiness, weariness, chills, vertigo (dizziness), disturbance of the sight or disturbances of the senses. The real attack may follow quickly, beginning with the characteristic headache, at first one sided, located in one spot in the temple, eye or back of the head, but spreading, as it increases in severity, until it involves all of one side of the head and occasionally both sides. The pain is usually constant and of great severity and it is increased by motion, noises, light, or mental strain. The skin over the painful part is very sensitive. There are loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. If the stomach has a great deal of food in it, vomiting relieves the pain sometimes. In the spasmodic form the affected side is painful, the skin is cool, the pupil is dilated, and the flow of saliva is increased. In the paralytic form the affected side is flushed, hot, the vessels are dilated and the pupils are contracted. There is great weakness, prostration and depression. The urine may be abundant or suppressed, temporarily. The results of treatment in this disease are uncertain, as the attacks are likely to occur in spite of treatment. They usually cease in old age, and in women they may stop after the menopause. The attacks in women are likely to occur at or near the menstrual periods.
First Thing to do in Sick Headache.—It is well to remain in a darkened room away from noise, etc. If the head throbs and beats very hard, either a cold ice bag or hot applications often bring relief. A mustard plaster at the base of the brain with a hot foot-bath often helps. Some people by stroking the forehead and temples have the power to ease the pain, producing quiet and sleep. If the bowels are costive, salts should be taken to move them, or they can be moved by an enema, if salts are not at hand. If the stomach is full, or tastes sour, drink a lot of warm water and vomit, or produce vomiting by tickling your throat with your finger, after having taken a large quantity of warm water for sometimes warm water thus taken fails to cause vomiting. If there is no food in the stomach, but there is sour and bilious vomiting, the warm water will frequently help. For a sour stomach or when it is full of gas, a teaspoonful of baking soda in some hot water will often feel very pleasant and grateful. The patient should keep absolutely quiet after these are done, and often they fall into a refreshing sleep.