Migraines Macrobiotics By Julie S Ong 2008 Julie

Conventional Definition n n 29. 5 million people in United States Pain n On one side of head n Throbbing or pounding n Aggravated by activity Nausea Sensitivity to light or sound Medical cause of migraines n Excess production of serotonin constricts blood vessels in the brain n When oxygen levels decrease in the brain, migraines occur n Anti-migraine medication acts on serotonin receptors to compete with serotonin for space on the receptor 2

Personal Experience Excruciating migraines Symptoms n n Before and after menstruation Ovulating No particular reason Three times a month n n n Tired & sleepy Dull ache at back of neck Pain on one side of head Sharp pain like a knife Dizziness Nausea 3

Pain Relieving Methods n n n Aspirin Tylenol Ibuprofen Yoga Herbs n n n Black cohosh Feverfew Birth control pills 4

Macrobiotics n n n n Macro = large Bio = life Ancient practice Being in Harmony with order of universe Views person as whole n Physical n Mental n Spiritual Which organs have problems Heals person holistically Whole foods 5

Western vs. Macrobiotic Approach Western Approach n n n High technology Cure Partial effects Material components Nutritional information Macrobiotic Approach n n n Nature is integral Heal the cause Energy, balance Change at a basic level Body created from the food we eat 6

Balance All the parts together, creating whole health n Problems flare up when we don’t feed our bodies what they naturally need n Messages n Pain n Migraines n Blockage or stagnation n Out of balance with nature n 7

Energy System n n n Asian concept of human body Energy system Organs communicate with each other n n n Nourish Control Chi = life force Meridians = channels for energy Block the energy? n n Congestion Stagnated energy 8

Whole Foods § Essential nutrients - balanced proportions § Harmonize with body’s needs § Compared to processed, refined foods and supplements § Seasonal, locally grown foods § Centering energetically § Adapt to climate and environment § Extreme foods weaken organs § Susceptible to disease 9

Organs n Liver Ensures the free and easy movement of chi n Stores and controls the blood n Regulates the menstrual flow n n Large Intestine Extract water and minerals from wastes n Remove wastes from body n 10

Regulation of Movement of Chi n Spring Rising energy n Seeds sprouting n Plants reaching, growing upward n Liver is most active n Excess liver energy can rise too quickly n Migraines in top of head n Liver meridian flows n 11

Emotions Imbalanced Liver Function Healthy Liver Function n Anger Impatience Unexpressed emotions n n Depression Long-term frustration n Endurance Patience Peaceful lifestyle and balanced emotional state 12

Healthy Liver Function Stores blood at rest n Sends blood into circulatory system n Feed nourishment to organs n Regular, pain-free menstrual cycles n Uterus is dependent on healthy liver function n 13

Malfunctioning Liver Irregular periods n PMS n Cramps n Breast pain n Migraines or headaches n 14

Extreme Foods Chocolate n Tropical foods and juices n Sugar n Alcohol n Drugs n Cause liver energy to rise too quickly n Toxins create stagnation of chi n 15

Large Intestine Energy n Autumn Leaves fall n Vegetation contracts n Descending n Condensing n Gathering n Accumulating n Controls rising liver energy n 16

Intestinal Problems Liver energy gets stuck in head instead of circulating n Chronic constipation n Lower abdominal pain n Diarrhea n Gas n Frontal migraines are related to constipation n 17

Beneficial Bacteria Responsible for nutrient absorption and manufacture n Destroyed by n Eating a refined food diet n High-stress lifestyle n Antibiotics n Intestinal parasites Yeast infections Increase in intestinal permeability 18

Extreme Foods n n n Meat White flour Caffeine Alcohol n Destroys beneficial bacteria n Depletes body of B vitamins Dairy Causes mucous congestion n Crohn’s Disease n 19

Macrobiotic Diet Whole grains and vegetables Support liver function n Rising energy foods n n Barley, oats, wheat, rye Green leafy vegetables Lightly cooked dishes Sour foods Support intestinal function n Descending energy foods n n n Brown rice, mochi Root vegetables n Kuzu n Burdock Longer cooked dishes Pungent foods Inoculate intestines with beneficial bacteria n n Miso Pickles 20

Home Remedies n Frontal or Left Side Migraines n n Rear or Right Side Migraines n n Dried daikon shiitake tea Baked umeboshi and ume pits n n Ame kuzu drink (apple juice and kuzu) Over Consumption of Greasy Oily Foods n n Ume sho kuzu drink Remove unfriendly intestinal bacteria, gas, diarrhea Ginger compress on Intestines n n n Improve circulation Relieve tension Loosen stagnation 21

Acupressure Points Gall bladder 20 n Liver 3 n Large intestine 4 n Relieves pain n Relieves constipation and congestion n n Massaging temples 22

Macrobiotic Practice n Living as one with nature n “Large life” Taking your own health into your own hands with a holistic viewpoint n Healing yourself on many different levels n Becoming attuned to which areas are affected by disease n 23

Living Your Dream Creating balance and unity in whole body n Harmonizing emotions - mind, body, spirit as one n Living a life filled with n Health n Happiness n Freedom n n According to your dream 24

If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the things I want to live for. Between those two answers you can determine the identity of any person. --Thomas Merton, “The Man in the Sycamore Tree” 25

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