Alternative Therapies and Migraine

A great many people have headaches. For millions it’s a nuisance that can easily be cured by a couple of aspirin pills. For some, however, that headache becomes a nightmare. Headaches of such severity are nearly always due to migraine. Cases of migraine only increase largely due to stress of city living where noise and pollution are contributive factors. In addition, it’s recognized that particular foods and wine can bring on a migraine as well as inadequate sleep.

Conventionally, treatment with the painkillers is usually very effective especially if the patient suffers from nausea. A more successful approach is to use alternative therapy. Mild bouts of migraine can be relieved by homeopathic remedies, usually in the form of tablets which dissolve under the tongue and do not irritate the stomach.

Acupuncture produces excellent results in cases of sever migraine. Four needles applied to points of the face give rapid relief, and freedom from attacks can be achieved after as few as six treatment sessions.

 

Hypnosis is another technique which can be used. Many people misunderstand hypnosis. A hypnotic state is simply one of deep relaxation. You are still in complete control and can not be made to do anything against your will. Hypnosis is an effective cure for migraine, as it induces a trance in the patient and migraine attacks eventually disappear.

4.31. Some people live for a hundred years or even more. Many of these live in either the Mediterranean region, or in parts of rural Japan, and Russia. What do you think is their secret? a) On a piece of paper write two ideas to complete the sentence: “People who live the longest normally...”. Your ideas should explain why you think some people live to a very old age. b) Hand in your pieces of paper to the teacher. And debate the pros and cons of what you have just written. Share any stories of people who lived long lives. c) Answer the questions below.

 

 

1. Do you think you will live until a ripe old age? Why or why not?

2. What do you think about getting old?

3. What is the average age of people in your country? Can you explain why?

4. What are the aspects of being old?

5. What can old people do to pass time?

6. Are you afraid of being old? What are you afraid of?

7. What do you expect to feel like when you are old? What will you do? How do you see yourself when old?

 

4.32. Read the following citations about health and doctors. Comment on each. Which one do you like best? Why? Share your opinion with class.

 

 

 

Citations about health and doctors:

1. [Health is] the first of all liberties. (Henry F. Amiel)

2. [Health is] a man’s own observation (of) what he finds good and what he finds hurt of. (Francis Bacon)

3. [Health is] the absence of disease, and … of all those kinds of pain which are among the symptoms of disease. (Jeremy Bentham)

4. [Health is] not a condition of matter, but of mind. (Mary Baker Eddy)

5. [Health is] the first wealth. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

6. [Health is] the ground-work for all happiness. (Leigh Hunt)

7. To wish to be healthy is a part of being healthy. (Seneca)

8. [Health is] the one condition taken for granted by those who have it. (Anonymous)

9. [A doctor] is one upon whom we set our hopes when ill and our dogs when well. (Ambrose Bierce)

10. [Doctors are] nature, time, and patience. (Henry G. Bohn)

11. [Doctors are] men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing. (Voltaire)

12. [Medicine is] nothing more that the substitute of exercise or temperance. (Joseph Addison)

13. They [doctors] do not heal, but only relieve suffering temporarily, exchanging one disease for another. (Mary Baker Eddy)

14. [Medicine is] a good laugh and a long sleep. (Irish proverb)

15. [Medicine is] a collection of uncertain prescriptions, the results of which, taken collectively, are more fatal than useful to mankind. (Napoleon)

16. [Medicine] consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. (Voltaire)

17. [Medicine is] the knowledge of the loves and desires of the body, and how to satisfy them. (Plato)

WRITING

	4.33. Pick up any citation from the previous activity and write a 350-word essay using the citation as the title for the essay.
	4.34. Make up your prescription of staying healthy as long as possible. Use examples from your personal experience or form the experience of your friends and relatives.
	4.35. a) What is living stress free? Do some research on the topic by interviewing your friends and relatives and write a report on this. The questions below will help you to structure your paper. Feel free to add new questions to the list.

Living Stress Free

 

 

1. What situations do you find stressful (meeting someone for the first time, making a public speech, having much work to do, etc.)?

2. Do you work or study for long hours under stressful conditions?

3. What is the most stressful / least stressful job you can think of?

4. Which would you choose: A stressful job with very high pay or a relaxing job with considerably low pay? Why?

5. Does the place you live have a low-stress environment? What do you think “a low-stress environment” means?

6. How do you relieve stress (listening to a certain kind of music, going shopping, taking a long walk, being alone, being with other people, eating more or eating less, taking alcohol, etc.)?

7. Do you always follow the same pattern to relieve stress or do you try different things? Do you deal with stress differently than your parents do/did?

8. Are you capable of relieving your stress or do you need help?

9. What is the most stressful experience you have ever had? Did you learn anything from that experience?

10. What do you think is the greatest cause of stress for most people?

 

	b) Plan a low-stress, cheap, one-day holiday.
	4.36. What do you think of ‘sick building syndrome’? Explain what you think it is and give some written suggestions of how it can be treated.
	4.37. Compare the health systems of Russia, Great Britain and the USA. Write a short report on it and present it to class.
	4.38. Render the text in English.