Potassium dichromate is one of the most common culprits in causing chromium dermatitis. Chromium is highly likely to induce sensitization leading to dermatitis, especially of the hand and fore-arms, which is chronic and difficult to treat. As with other CrVI products, potassium dichromate is carcinogenic and should be handled with gloves and appropriate health and safety protection. However, Potassium dichromate is one of the key ingredients in the migraine over-the-counter medication called Headon.

Head On Migraine Active Ingredients

Ingredient 1: Blue Iris. Poisonous. Causes skin irritation

Ingredient 2: Potassium Dichromate. Poisonous. Causes Chromium Dermatitis.

Ingredient 3: White Bryony. Strange herb.

Not listed but actually effective ingredient 4: Menthol

Entrez Pubmed lists not a single article on any of these with keywords 'migraine' or 'headache.' So, no actual science behind this stuff.

Headon Ingredient Potassium dichromate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Have you all heard of this new OTC called HeadOn? It's a product that we're supposed to be able to apply to the skin that will help our seratonin levels back to normal during a migraine attack. Very interesting. I have no idea whether something can actually be absorbed well enough through the skin to make a change like that... but it's very intriguing isn't it? Here's the info from their website at http://www.headon.com. The product is available at retail stores (listed on their site). I found a couple versions at my local Osco Drug (about $7.95 for a tube that should provide 100 applications), but they didn't have the migraine version, so I haven't actually tried it. Any of you tried it yet?

Saw this on boingboing. I'm gonna try some.

ed: Okay, got some.

I saw boingboing.net making fun of the TV ad for this stuff while having a migraine. So I went to Walgreens at 3am and got the extra strength, and migraine formula. I applied each liberally. It tingles. I put too much on, and it really hurt. So I wiped some off. Then... 10 minutes later the tingle replaced the headache. My head feels numb, so the migraine is much better.

Same principle as icy hot. I don't know that this is anything other than icy hot crossed with chapstick, but even if thats all it is... its great. A nice tool to have in headache control. The tube says homeopathic medicine, which means "claims about method of action total speculation," IMHO.

But I don't care. I feel better. Icy hot in a tube is great. Go Headon!

Headon: Please send free samples and I will pimp your product. Drop me a line for my address.

Sometimes I go completely bald, and this stuff has me wanting to shave my head completely just to coat every inch of it in Head On whenever I get a headache.

Kelli's Migraine Daily: HeadOn(tm) Migraine

Jan. 27 For the more than 20 million Americans who suffer from migraine headaches, the debilitating pain can cause missed workdays and lost social opportunities. But many may be surprised to learn that experts now fear migraines may also cause something far worse — brain damage.

Son of a bitch, my poor brain.

Do Migraines Lead to Brain Damage? : ABC News

Yousef Mohammad demonstrating the TMS migraine zapper on himself. Credit: Yousef Mohammad/OSU

Whoah.

Man Zapping his Brain with Electromagnetic Field to Prevent Impending Migraine

In a recent study, researchers tested a device called a transcranial magnetic stimulator, or TMS for short, on a small group of 43 migraine sufferers.

The TMS generates a strong, one millisecond magnetic pulse that interrupts the symptoms leading up to a migraine, called the "aura" phase. Many migraine sufferers report zigzagging lines or bright flashes of light in their vision during this phase, as well as spreading blind spots and tingling sensations in their arms and legs.

EMP those damned migraines before they start.

New Device Zaps Migraines - Yahoo! News

Oct. 18, 2002 -- It may sound fishy, but researchers say taking a daily fish-oil supplement may boost the effectiveness -- or even replace -- antidepressants for treating depression in some people.

In a new study, people who added a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids to their regular antidepressant treatment had significant improvement in symptoms, including anxiety, sleeping problems, sadness, decreased sexual desire, and suicidal tendencies.

Although there are many effective treatments for depression, most only work in a limited number of patients or have significant side effects that prompt users to stop taking them. That's inspired researchers to look for new ways to treat the mental illness or increase the effectiveness of existing treatments.

1 gram works, 2 doesn't, 4 works great? Clearly some randomness in there, so this isn't confirmed, but still interesting.

Fish Oil Eases Depression

It is well accepted that post dural puncture headaches (PDPHA) are a risk of spinal anesthesia or analgesia as well as other procedures in which the dura is punctured. The problem of these potential headaches in our current practice of anesthesiology continues to be a concern. The redesign of needles to minimize the risk of headache has certainly improved the likelihood of uncomplicated spinal anesthesia. The redesign has resulted in the availability of smaller gauge needles as well as needles with different shape tips including pencil point needles. The engineering goal has been to create a puncture which disrupts the structure of the dura as little as possible and allows this minimal puncture to heal spontaneously. When prevention fails we must treat the complication. There are various conservative therapies. The use of caffeine both orally and intravenously has become more popular also with substantial success. The invasive therapy of epidural blood patches generally follows failed conservative treatment.

I had one of these today. After being layed up in bed for weeks eating pain pills like candy, I was cured in 5 minutes. God bless the blood patch. They found a good vein, tapped just outside of the spinal dura (OW!), tapped the vein for 15ccs of blood, then quickly squirted it into my back.

The pressure gave me a terrible headache for 5 minutes. Then my headaches, which were bothering me all morning and have made me unable to anything but lie around for more than two weeks, went away completely. Cured in 5 minutes.

This procedure is the bomb. Sounded crazy when I first heard of it, but it makes sense: the blood clots just outside the spinal dura, which in a spinal headache is leaking from a hole made during a spinal tap, and the hole is quickly patched.

Amen modern medicine.

Advanced Pain Care - Continuing Medical Education(2)

Dr. Wayne Dyer: Inspiration - Your Ultimate Calling
(Pictured: Dr. Wayne Dyer)
Dr. Wayne Dyer: Inspiration - Your Ultimate Calling

In a new special based on his upcoming book, New York Times best-selling author Dr. Wayne Dyer, returns to PBS to share six remarkable and visionary steps for living an inspired life. According to Dr. Dyer, everyone was born for a reason; in this special, he helps viewers understand and acknowledge what that purpose is. He provides specific examples of ways to recognize each person?s ultimate calling, and shows viewers how to start living an inspired life today.

http://www.drwaynedyer.com/

I caught this guy on PBS giving his talk. I've been dealing with motivational issues in business lately... trying to motivate others. And I found this talk just spoke to me. What a really positive guy. Like a new age guru or preacher man thats not full of shit.

He's a motivational speaker that stresses self-knowledge and acting in tune with your self in achieving motivation. Basically: if you really listen to you and beat your ego, then moving in the right direction will be effortless. It will be the path of least resistance. This stuff is the dharma with a modern edge.

If you have TiVO, you might want to record this guy's show. Its frequently on, on the weekends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dyer

GPB - TV - GPB Television: Highlights: Dr. Wayne Dyer: Inspiration - Your Ultimate Calling

What is a spinal headache?

Spinal headaches are a type of headache that occurs when the pressure in the skull becomes low, usually from a loss of the spinal fluid that surrounds the brain and the nerves in the spine. The headache that results from a loss of spinal fluid is unique in that the headache is much worse when standing, and almost resolves by simply lying down.

The headache can be accompanied by many other symptoms, including neck stiffness, pressure in the back of the head, nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity, decrease in hearing, and pain down the arm. In some cases, the headache pain is so severe the patient can not stay upright.

Spinal Taps are not your friend.

Spinal Headaches

I have seen patients (not mine, of course) suffering from spinal headache after surgery or spinal tap. Their pain is excruciating. Even the strongest pain killers like morphine cannot alleviate their pain. Of course, I feel that it is far better to avoid the physiological mechanism which CAUSES the spinal headache in the first place.

The physical phenomenon which causes spinal headache is very simple: In an spinal tap or spinal anesthesia, when the needle pierces the inner tube ("dura") in the spine which contains the spinal cord itself, the spinal fluid in which the spinal cord is bathed can leak out (sort of like a leak in a garden hose). However, unlike a garden hose, there is not an infinite supply of spinal fluid, so the pressure of the fluid inside the dura drops as the fluid leaks out. The next part is key: There is a membrane at the base of the skull which separates the spinal fluid from the fluid in which the brain floats. Normally, the fluid pressures are balanced, and there is no problem. But, if spinal fluid leaks out through a needle hole, the pressures become imbalanced, and the cushioning effect of the fluid disappears and tension is applied directly to these nerves. The degree of pressure imbalance determines the degree of the headache. This part of the understanding of spinal headache is widely understood and undisputed.

I don't know if this works or not, but apparently I have one of these for more than a week now, so if it works then this man is a genius.

Spinal Headache Prevention