This is a request mainly to the herbalists out there, in the hope someone will be able to help, before I go nuts lol! For the past four weeks I've been experiencing a rather odd sensation, I smell cigarette smoke really strongly, neither Simon or I smoke and we don't have visitors that do. The smell is sometimes so strong that my eyes sting and the inside of my nose feels like I've been in a very smoky room, it really is strong, and of all the smells in the world, its one I truly hate.

I'm getting headaches on the right hand side of my head at the front and a rather odd sensation of feeling tingly cold in the same area. Imagine the way peppermint oil feels cool and tingly but remove the minty smell. There has been nausea and several other symptoms, my heart is beating as it should and my blood pressure is fine, I am overweight, but I have been for a while and never had this before.

When I smell the cigarette smoke, nobody else can smell it, to them it doesn't exist at all, and I feel like I'm going mad. The constant smell was beginning to get me down, so this afternoon I went to see my GP. He tells me that all I'm experiencing is classic 'migraine' with aura symptoms, I've to take painkillers for the headaches, keep a food/symptoms diary and go back in 3 weeks time. I'm not sure I can stand 3 weeks of this smell with nothing being done, but he said that for the moment painkillers aside nothing can be done.

I think that sucks, and want to do something myself, keeping a food diary may help find the trigger if its something I'm eating. But I'd like to be able to fight this thing without keep taking painkillers. I know that feverfew is supposed to be good for migraine, but is there anything else I can try? I don't have access to fresh feverfew at the moment, so what strength capsules should I take?

If anyone else suffers from migraine (and apparently 1 in 4 women and 1 in 12 men do) what do you take, have you found any herbal combinations that have helped keep the attacks at bay, or do you have something that soothes and eases your migraine? I'm finding sitting at the PC the smell is stronger, sat quietly reading in another room and it fades to almost unsmellable (if that's a word!) however in my line of work, I need to use the PC, so any suggestions would be truly appreciated.

Debs

Hi Deb, sorry to hear you are experiencing such horrible symptoms. I do not have any herbal remedies, but maybe you could try looking into getting a protective screen for your computer. Don't know what it is called, but it cuts down on the emissions and it might help.
Also, still with computers, I remember having a job on a computer for three years, I used to get migraines, but without all the symptoms, it was especially bad when the light was uneven in the room, I was in a dark corner, but we had a door that was opened a lot for deliveries in the back, the constant going from "dark" to "light" used to trigger it off.
Maybe even lighting might help. They also say you must take breaks from the computer, even if you feel ok.
I hope someone has suggestions for you with regards to herbal remedies.
Hope this helps,
Jane

Hi Debs,
Sorry to hear about the migraines.Jane`s advice was spot on and do definietly please take it. There can be many causes for this condition,including a link with your hormonal cycle.In the first instance,as self help,I suggest either Skullcap ( scutellaria ) 30-60 drops 3 times daily,or Wood betony ( Stachys betonica ) 30-90 drops 3 times a day.

If this does not resolve the problem within a few weeks, I suggest that you consult a medical herbalist in your area.
Take Care
Linda

Thanks Jane & Linda

I am taking breaks and keeping a food diary, Simon noted that I'd been drinking fresh orange juice a lot, and I don't usually, curiously I stopped having OJ and the cigarette smell has gone away! The only way to test if it is OJ is to drink it again but I don't want to. I'm still getting the headaches and the cold tingly sensation but not as much.

Linda I'm assuming you're meaning skullcap and wood betony tincture? If so I can pick some up, when I go to town on Tuesday. I'll be able to tincture my own this year from the garden, but at the moment I still have to buy in.

I found a book on Amazon "Migraine and Headaches: Symptoms, Causes, Orthodox Treatment - And How Herbal Medicine Will Help" by Jill Wright (MNIHM), it hasn't arrived yet, but hopefully when it does it will have some useful information in it. Apparently Jill has written several other books in a series called 'Herbal Health', the one on the menopause looks interesting and I may pick that up at a later date.

Jane, I have a flat screen monitor and I don't think that they have the same harmful effect that the old style monitors do, but it is worth investigating, thanks for the tip

Debs

Hi Debs,
Hope your book arrives soon. We got a flat screen monitor ourselves, and I have noticed n the beginning I could not sit in front of the computer for long, I used to feel most peculiar, and that's when someone advised a screen.
I still don't enjoy sitting in front of it for long, I think the intensity is very bright, and even though I had tints on my glasses, I still don't feel as comfortable.
I switch the computer off now as soon as I have done what I need to, which saves on electricty as well I guess!
Jane