A Scientific Approach To The Study Of Headaches And Their Treatment
In 1672, Thomas Willis introduced the term "neurology". Willis spent a lot of time recording extremely accurate observations of migraine, and noted that there were many causes of migraine. These included genetic predisposition, changes in the weather and certain foods. Thomas Willis was the first to propose the vascular theory of headache. This stated that a swelling of the blood vessels in the head caused the migraine. This in turn caused spasms, which started at the peripheral ends of the nerves. Willis' vascular theory of headache was accepted by many physicians but was not proven until the 20th century. Neuromuscular treatment addresses this issue of increased blood dilation by decreasing muscle activity around the head and neck, thus decreased blood flow to the area, and the pounding of a headache.
In the late 1770s, Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus, proposed that since vasodilation was the cause of the migraine, they could be treated by spinning the patient in a centrifuge to force the blood to the feet from the head. In 1778, John Fothergill coined the phrase "fortification spectra" to describe the typical visual aura associated with some migraines. He used this phrase because the description of the aura reminded him of a "fortified town surrounded with bastions." In 1783, Samuel Tissot was one of the first to recognize the difference between migraine and the common headache. He believed it was the result of supraorbital neuralgia "…provoked by reflexes from the stomach, gallbladder or uterus."
The author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, was believed to be a sufferer of migraines. In his books, he describes symptoms of central scotoma (partial alteration of the field of vision), tunnel vision, vertigo (dizziness), photophobia and visual hallucination. Alice's wild trip thru wonderland seems to be very similar to Carroll's own symptoms as a migraine patient. Alice is described as being "blinded by the moonlight" which could be a reference to the sensitivity to light many migraine sufferers experience. Researchers believe that Alice's experiences in the book were actually descriptions of Carroll's own migraine aura. As a matter of fact, this has become a recognized medical condition known as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AWS), seen in the medical literature.
In 1873, Edward Liveing published "On Megrim, Sick-headache, and Some Allied Disorders: A Contribution to the Pathology of Nervestorms". This was the first major writing to discuss the illness of migraine. Liveing felt the migraines were a brain dysfunction that was caused by what he termed "nerve storms" that started in the brain. He also felt that migraines and epilepsy were closely related, since they were both the result of a central nervous system malfunction.
One of the original founders of modern neurology was Dr. William Gowers.. He believed in the neurogenic theory of headache proposed by Liveing. In 1888 Gowers published the most influential textbook of neurology at the turn of the century, "A Manual of Diseases of the Nervous System". In his passage on the treatment of migraine, Gowers emphasized the importance of a healthy diet. Gowers also invented the headache treatment that came to be known as the "Gowers mixture", a solution of nitroglycerin in alcohol combined with other agents. Gowers used cannabis to relieve the acute attack of headache in his patients. Cannabis is used by a number of physicians today to treat recurring headaches. Gower was one of the first to divide the treatment of headaches into prophylactic treatment vs. episodic treatment. Gowers advocated continuous treatment with drugs to render attacks less frequent, and treatment of the attacks themselves. It was not until approximately 100 years later that a prophylatic drug, Imatrex, became relatively successful in helping to prevent headaches in some people.
Headache study during the scientific area help pave the wave for a number of improvements in treatment of chronic headaches. It also paved the way for leads into the modern era treatment of headaches.
In the late 1770s, Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus, proposed that since vasodilation was the cause of the migraine, they could be treated by spinning the patient in a centrifuge to force the blood to the feet from the head. In 1778, John Fothergill coined the phrase "fortification spectra" to describe the typical visual aura associated with some migraines. He used this phrase because the description of the aura reminded him of a "fortified town surrounded with bastions." In 1783, Samuel Tissot was one of the first to recognize the difference between migraine and the common headache. He believed it was the result of supraorbital neuralgia "…provoked by reflexes from the stomach, gallbladder or uterus."
The author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, was believed to be a sufferer of migraines. In his books, he describes symptoms of central scotoma (partial alteration of the field of vision), tunnel vision, vertigo (dizziness), photophobia and visual hallucination. Alice's wild trip thru wonderland seems to be very similar to Carroll's own symptoms as a migraine patient. Alice is described as being "blinded by the moonlight" which could be a reference to the sensitivity to light many migraine sufferers experience. Researchers believe that Alice's experiences in the book were actually descriptions of Carroll's own migraine aura. As a matter of fact, this has become a recognized medical condition known as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AWS), seen in the medical literature.
In 1873, Edward Liveing published "On Megrim, Sick-headache, and Some Allied Disorders: A Contribution to the Pathology of Nervestorms". This was the first major writing to discuss the illness of migraine. Liveing felt the migraines were a brain dysfunction that was caused by what he termed "nerve storms" that started in the brain. He also felt that migraines and epilepsy were closely related, since they were both the result of a central nervous system malfunction.
One of the original founders of modern neurology was Dr. William Gowers.. He believed in the neurogenic theory of headache proposed by Liveing. In 1888 Gowers published the most influential textbook of neurology at the turn of the century, "A Manual of Diseases of the Nervous System". In his passage on the treatment of migraine, Gowers emphasized the importance of a healthy diet. Gowers also invented the headache treatment that came to be known as the "Gowers mixture", a solution of nitroglycerin in alcohol combined with other agents. Gowers used cannabis to relieve the acute attack of headache in his patients. Cannabis is used by a number of physicians today to treat recurring headaches. Gower was one of the first to divide the treatment of headaches into prophylactic treatment vs. episodic treatment. Gowers advocated continuous treatment with drugs to render attacks less frequent, and treatment of the attacks themselves. It was not until approximately 100 years later that a prophylatic drug, Imatrex, became relatively successful in helping to prevent headaches in some people.
Headache study during the scientific area help pave the wave for a number of improvements in treatment of chronic headaches. It also paved the way for leads into the modern era treatment of headaches.
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