162 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
SIMPLE HEADACHE can be helped by rest
and aspirin. It often helps to put a cloth
soaked in hot water on the back of the
neck and to massage (rub) the neck
and shoulders gently. Some other home
remedies also seem to help.
For simple or nervous headache,
folk cures sometimes work as
well as modern medicine.
Headache is common with
any sickness that causes fever. If
headache is severe, check for signs
of meningitis (p. 185).
Mexican
folk cure
Headaches that keep coming back
may be a sign of a chronic illness or
poor nutrition. It is important to eat well
and get enough sleep. If the headaches
do not go away, seek medical help.
aspirin
A MIGRAINE is a severe throbbing
headache often on one side of the head
only. Migraine attacks may come often,
or months or years apart.
A typical migraine begins with blurring of vision, seeing strange spots of light, or
numbness of one hand or foot. This is followed by severe headache, which may last
hours or days. Often there is vomiting. Migraines are very painful, but not dangerous.
TO STOP A MIGRAINE, DO THE FOLLOWING AT THE FIRST SIGN:
♦ Take 2 aspirins with a cup of strong coffee
or strong black tea.
♦ Lie down in a dark, quiet place. Do your
best to relax. Try not to think about your
problems.
♦ For especially bad migraine headaches,
take aspirin, if possible with codeine, or
with another sedative. Or obtain pills
of ergotamine with caffeine (Cafergot,
p. 379). Take 2 pills at first and 1 pill every
30 minutes until the pain goes away. Do
not take more than 6 pills in 1 day.
WARNING: Do not use Cafergot during
pregnancy.
aspirin