Chronic Migraine Resolved in Eight Months

Right-sided throbbing headache of ten years, increasing in the last two. Attacks arrived weekly, lasted a full day and confined her to a dark room.

Worse before menses, worse from sun and from missing a meal. Better from firm pressure and from lying still in the dark. Accompanied by nausea and an aversion to being spoken to.

She had been taking over-the-counter analgesics two to three times a week for four years.

Reserved and self-contained. Described a bereavement six years earlier that she had "dealt with quietly" — she weeps alone and is markedly worse for consolation, which irritates her.

Craves salt, adds it to food before tasting. Thirsty for large quantities at long intervals. Chilly, yet worse in the sun.

The silent grief, the aggravation from consolation, the salt craving and the periodicity of the headache pointed clearly to one remedy rather than to a headache prescription.

A single dose was given and the case watched without repetition.

By month three the attacks had reduced from weekly to fortnightly and were shorter. By month five she had stopped analgesics entirely. The last attack was in month eight.

At review a year on she remained free of migraine, and reported the grief felt "finished rather than buried".