I was contacted by Mr A who had been referred to me, asking if I might help him manage a complex range of on-going symptoms. Aged in his sixties with a demanding and stressful job and following bereavements he began to experience sudden and fleeting feelings of unwellness and weakness. Following many GP visits and blood tests that yielded no significant results, he was referred for further tests and numerous scans and consultations with a Hospital ENT consultant and a Neurologist. The result was a diagnosis of vestibular migraine. According to NHS Southampton University Hospital a vestibular migraine, or migrainous vertigo mainly presents with dizziness and/or balance symptoms that affects approximately 40% of migraine patients.. Other symptoms may include weakness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, flashing lights, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, poor sleep. The exact cause of vestibular migraine is unclear however, research suggests vestibular migraines, like other migraine types, tend to run in families (genetic link). According to Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust some researchers believe that an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, may contribute to the development of vestibular migraines. Other triggers include changes in female hormone levels experienced at puberty, pregnancy and menopause and for some patients, environmental factors like weather changes, noisy overcrowded and unfamiliar settings, computer screens, lighting in supermarkets, shops etc. dehydration, motion sensitivity, tinnitus or sensitivity to sounds and a lack of Vitamin D. According to Healthline certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, and aged cheeses can be a trigger. The most common triggers are stress, anxiety and fatigue. Keeping a diary will provide insight of frequency and intensity of episodes and may identify an individual’s trigger. At Mr A’s initial appointment as with all new patients, a full case history was taken including past medical history, physical and emotional traumas and current prescribed medications. Collecting and recording this information is necessary to comply with my governing body professional code of conduct, illustrate best practice and guide treatment. We discussed treatment options and Mr A decided “to give Clinical Reflexology a try”. During treatment Mr A shared the emotional stresses he had experienced in the last few years, his experiences of loss, and how his anxiety had worsened since diagnosis. I explained how when feeling anxious or stressed (shock/trauma), the hormones adrenalin and cortisol flood the system activating the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, blood is quickly diverted from the extremities (arms and legs) to the vital organs in the centre of the body in order to sustain life. Raising heart rate, blood pressure and pulse rate. Symptoms of weakness in the legs, shallow breathing, giddiness and light headiness, sweating, dry mouth, urgency of the bowel or bladder, nausea, vomiting, shaking and feeling faint are a some of the symptoms felt when experiencing the “fight or flight” response. The areas of sensitivity on Mr A’s feet included the solar plexus (or celiac plexus, a nerve centre in the abdominal area responsible for normal function of abdominal organs) adrenal glands ( or suprarenal glands found on the top of both kidneys responsible for adrenalin and cortisol production), muscles of the neck and shoulders and head area (cranial nerves). After treatment Mr A felt more relaxed, less tense in his neck and upper back, head clearer and breathing easier. Next appointment Mr A. Feedback included that his legs had felt less weak when increasing his dog walking, improved sleep and benefit from treatment. He revisited his GP and medication dose had increased. Mr A continues with Clinical Reflexology noting that the days of feeling unwell have lessened, there has been few blips ! triggered by stress or anxiety. I have continued to focus treatment on calming and rebalancing the autonomic nervous system whilst supporting the somatic nervous system. We discussed the importance of diet and how by keeping a food diary, identified triggers can be eliminated and replaced with alternative foods. My conclusions drawn from many years of experience advising on elimination diets is Chocolate, Cheese, Coffee, Oranges, MSG and E No’s are the most frequently identified migraine triggers closely followed by pork and processed meats. NHS Southampton Hospital website offers further dietary advice and suggests that the lack of food or irregular meals, dehydration, alcohol, caffeine and the food additives (monosodium glutamate, aspartame, tyramine or nitrates) as well as some sleeping tablets can also trigger a migraine. For more information visit: www.vestibularmigraine.co.uk. Supporting patients by listening and acknowledging their pain, concerns or worries, negotiating individual treatment pathways and working professionally using a skill set that includes Clinical Reflexology, Counselling, Nutritional Therapy and Homoeopathic prescribing to bring about change (mind/body/spirit) is the truly holistic approach of a complementary practitioner. If you suffer from migraine headaches or a range of symptoms that seem unconnected get in touch I may be able to help you to discover the link in your causal chain! Mr A “I personally feel that the sessions are like a 3 in one for me. Treatment, informative and counselling all rolled into one really good and helpful”.
