Dealing With Headaches

Appropriate topic for the last day of the year, eh? Well, this year I’ve had write do no less than twenty articles on the topic of colon cleansing (fifteen so far have been published — perhaps it’s for the best that the other five are floating around in an obscure patch of cyberspace). I’m a freelance writer who has to pretty much write about anything anyone will pay me to write. Perhaps that’s one reason why I get a lot of headaches and migraines. I couldn’t help but notice all of the claims made by makers of these colon cleaning products — one of which was that colon cleansing can cure migraines.

Don’t You Believe It

Since no one knows for sure what causes migraines, it is not reasonable to believe that colon cleansing can cure migraines. There is a time and a place for colon cleansing, but if you expect colon cleansing to cure migraines, you will be in for a rude shock. Colon cleansing helps your digestive system and not much else.

And PLEASE, before you do any colon cleansing or any fasting, talk to your doctor. A lot of colon cleansing programs require fasting, which can be dangerous for some people, including diabetics, those with low blood pressure and those who have to take essential daily medicines with food.

Why Colon Cleansing?

Now, I know colon cleansing has a lot of supporters, and I really don’t want to receive any more hate mail than I already get. So let me say this in support of colon cleansing. When would a colon cleanse be beneficial?

• If you have extreme constipation (pooping should not be a weekly event).
• As part of a closely monitored detoxification program for those getting off drugs, nicotene or alcohol. It makes you feel like your body has a fresh start. Psychologically, it can help people struggling to overcome temptation on occassion.
• You’ll often have to take a colon cleanse medication or some other powerful laxative before surgery, depending on your condition.
• If you are really, really, really into pooping.

The Healing Crisis

If you do any kind of detoxification or colon cleansing program — even a juice fast — you will most likely get a killer headache, as well as feeling like you have the flu. Some people’s symptoms vary. This is called a “healing crisis”, and is usually explained as your body’s response to purging toxins from itself.

However, I have not been able to find out what toxins are suppossed to be purged in order for for something like colon cleansing to cure a migraine.

The killer headache seems to be from screwing around with your usual diet. Even when you cut out foods that are bad and drinks for you, you may get a killer headache. This is more of a withdrawal response than a cleaning out response. This headache will eventually go away on it’s own…after about three days. This is similar to caffeine withdrawal migraine.

In conclusion, colon cleansing can’t cure migraines. Don’t fall for this rather wacky claim. If you have migraines, you need to go to your doctor, keep a migraine journal and treat the pain as best you can.

Hope this helps.