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Two useful tools I wanted to share for anyone here who keenly follows research on cluster headaches, migraine or anything for that matter. The first is Harzing’s Publish or Perish. It is a free citation analysis program that lets you easily search scientific literature across a range of journal sources. Link: https://harzing.com/resources/publish-or-perish The second that I am really loving at the moment is Google’s NotebookLM. It allows you to upload papers, PDFs, and links, then ask structured questions and generate summaries, comparisons and notes directly from your sources. For anyone trying to understand mechanisms, track themes across papers or just stay organised while reading, it is extremely handy. Link: https://notebooklm.google Both tools make it easier for patients who like to follow the science closely to evaluate studies and stay on top of emerging research. If anyone wants a quick explanation of how to use either tool for cluster headache-related topics, I am happy to share examples. The last tool - bonus lol, I went looking for something to match CHFathers cat picture in a recent AI post - found another Google tool. An experimental tool for visual exploration: you input images for subject, scene, style and the system remixes them into new visuals - here's what I got for my new CH Forums profile pic - I am here to stay now! https://labs.google/fx/tools/whisk

Hi all! I'm considering starting a new local/regional support group for Illinois since we have a conference every other year in Chicago. Any ideas on days/times that would be good for attendance? Would a 6pm CT or 7pm CT on a weekday work well or a weekend day/time? I'd like to be able to advertise something like the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7pm type of time so it's consistent. Open to ideas and I'll lead it until someone else feels comfortable and I will always be available for support. Just thought this might be helpful and if there are people who have an idea of another location that could use a virtual/zoom support group, let me know. We have California and Texas and both have been really amazing groups.

Yes, they work. The anti-inflammatory impact is significant. I also do not have a cluster headache. I have had a constant headache, 24/7/3365, always, even while sleeping, since 7:34 am March 16th 2009. Botox takes 2-3 points off of the pain. Qulipta takes 2-3 points off of the pain. Shrooms, get rid of 75% of the pain for me. It is not fun. S&S is critical. Knowing the strain and dose is critical. Knowing what you are doing before you do it is critical. Where to get the information, not sure, the government does not allow proper research. Not in grams, but on potency. Some have 1,000 units, some have 19,000 units, per gram. Watch every video you can.

Hey Kevin. To my knowledge there is no specific migraine busting protocol. FunTimes offered a solid reply to your earlier post on the general board and the key information regarding the process is on the following page. https://clusterbusters.org/resource/alternative-treatments/#busting You might find the Yale psilocybin migraine study useful to look at as the dose they used somewhat correlates to the Cluster Busters range, if I am correct They gave 0.143 mg/kg of pure psilocybin and when you apply a conversion factor for Psilocybe cubensis potency (roughly 0.8 percent psilocybin by dry weight with variance as to strain, when it was picked and even which part of the fruit) that works out to the same content found in about 1.5 g of dried cubensis - give or take, maybe a little less. The key difference is that the study used one single dose followed by a two-week observation period whereas cluster warriors traditionally repeat doses every five to seven days. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187874792301214X My personal thoughts - start a bit lower than the typical 1.5g dried cubensis mushroom to get accustomed to the feeling, I quite enjoy the euphoria and introspection and find it doesn’t last too long before I’m hungry and tired. For what it’s worth a quick scour of the literature found the most recent paper with title including "migraine" "psilocybin" - a case report of a single male migraineur in his 30s whom used psilocybin alongside otc pain relief at 1.2g dried as an acute treatment with greater reported efficacy than pain relief alone. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10561985/ You may find another popular treatment option used by members of the CH community worth a look-in whilst you are here, the Vitamin D3 Anti-Inflammatory Regimen. You’ll find the information here or collated by myself and Pete Batcheller over at www.vitamindregimen.com I would say that given a sensible approach and applying the protocols as per the guides, IMHO both of these patient led avenues are generally safe and worth investigating - in any event a walk down the unknown path can cause a bit of anxiety so good luck as you navigate - I remember being nervous as heck in 2015 when I started the D3 regimen against my Doctors best recommendations and yet 8 days later things took a turn for me, I cried like baby, hugged wifey and got my life back - 10 years later I think there is still a part of me that is in disbelief that it actually worked and I only wish that could be the same for everyone. Whilst I have had success with D3, I found a penchant in the hobby of mycology, I have a wonderful big laminar flow hood that takes up our spare room and all the mycological tools to grow wild and wonderful varieties from "cubes" to turkey tails and beyond - and have done so over the years with great success, it is a fascinating and wildly fulfilling hobby with lots of highs (no pun intended) and lows of the process. It isn't a fast thing either and after weeks, sometimes months of cultivation to have a fruiting body appear overnight is awesome or to awake one morning after the same period to find dreaded trichoderma has destroyed all your hard work is devastating! Still, well worth it for the journey and knowledge learned! Were there any specific questions you wanted answers to, I’m sure we will do our best to help. Best wishes to you. Cheers, Craig.

I see the kitty in your profile pic now @Craigo

Hey thanks for the help. I actually am able to have vials RX and dose myself. Also have a demand valve setup. Appreciate the links. Mike

Just as an aside to my post above, I have been using AI lately for complicated work projects with amazing results. If you haven't messed with AI yet, I'd suggest just going to ChatGPT.com and using the free version. I had pasted an image below, but it doesn't seem to show up. I asked ChatCPT to take a photo of me that I supplied and dress it up for my avatar, which you can see, This is completely trivial but an example of fun you can have. A more complex example, I asked it to give me a list of all Chicago Public Library branches located within a state legislative district (state house or state senate) where the legislator has a Hispanic surname. There are about 80 branch libraries and about that number of total state representatives, so you might imagine how long it could take to do this the old-fashioned way. With one more query, I had an answer in less than three minutes (about 90% correct). Or, if you ask about the best ways to treat CH, or the pluses and minuses of using psychedelics to treat CH, you'll get a perfectly good answer in a few seconds.

I don't encourage anyone to jump on the megadose experimentation unless you have a solid idea of what you are doing. I do megadose on what is safe. My baseline is an energy revitalization powder that contains over 35 vitamins, minerals, even the BCAA’s/Protein. I use a potassium gluconate powder to reach about 60% of the RDA, the rest is met by diet. For protein, the RDA of 0.32 per pound is grossly understated; I subscribe to 0.8 per pound, and that isn't for bodybuilding either. I intake at least 800mg of Magnesium, and I take up to 1200mg every few hours during a migraine to abort. When I could afford the IV treatment during an attack I would do that with IV of insane doses of C. Now I megadose on Magnesium and C powder (ascorbic acid) until the issue is mitigated. At my height and weight, that is 135 grams of protein. I don't use whey. When I was heavy into weightlifting in the early 2000s we all knew what that did to the kidneys, the body, and how bad it is for the body (acne is a prime indicator). Plant-based is best. I use one shake a day and the rest through diet. Diet is easy. Eggs for breakfast: no cheese, no butter, and God no, no margarine (that will kill you fast). Don't believe the pseudoscience from the 90s, I eat 4 XL eggs a day, and my total cholesterol is almost too low, 170. There is ample evidence at 160 or lower people with mental disturbances become suicidal. I consume at least a cup of cooked beans a day, and couscous or whole grain rice. I hate vegetables but stomach 1.5 servings of corn, 1 serving of peas (technically a legume), and a serving of carrots. I supplement with a Garden of Life powder that provides the other required 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, the super greens, phytonutrients, and so forth. I'm Croatian and so we don't consume meat like American’s. Well, I am 2nd generation, and I still don't. Red meat is almost nonexistent, and that deli meat, bacon, and processed meat according to Harvard is linked to a 30% increase in Colon and Pancreatic Cancer. I notice when I eat that mess an instant onset of headache occurs. All that salt, preservatives, and chemicals can't help. I eat poultry at most 6 times a month. I don't believe in Paleo, Keto, or fad diets, but my hunch is that steak and deli meat will trigger headaches and that it will lead to coronary artery disease, and eventually kill you. If that doesn't help, as in my case, then you add, only clinically proven supplements and what western medicine can help as an adjunct. I use feverfew and butterbur, with over 3000mg of nicotinic acid, 3000mcg of B12, at least 800mg of magnesium, vitamin C to the bowel (in my case that is 6 grams for breakfast, 6 for lunch, 4 for dinner, and 2 for bed). I also take a Nordic Naturals Super Omega 3 (the best quality of EPA DHA), I mega dose on D, and should disclose that my serum level is low. I should also disclose that I have stiff person syndrome and even when my B12 level is normal, I run the risk of pernicious anemia. Then, I treat the gut. H pylori are linked to migraines. I use caprylic acid, and Pearl Elite Prebiotics ( to my knowledge the only prebiotics that survives stomach acid). Since NSAIDs cause Candida overgrowth, I use white willow bark when it gets nasty/intense. I also treat the thyroid, despite a “normal TH level.” it doesn't take an Einstein to realize that the TH lab is inaccurate. I use a supplement that provides 10,000% of the daily RDA for iodine, provides selenium, and a lot of zinc. Not surprisingly, your BPH symptoms (if a middle-aged male or older improves overnight and in two weeks you can fire the urologist). Finally, there isn't a one size fits all approach, and even I have to resort to the western medical-industrial complex of doctors “it's been 15 minutes I don't care about you get out” model of medicine. I get my Psych NP to write for a calcium channel medication that can be used for self-harm/cutting prevention. Though I don't cut, with my personality disorder she can get away with this. Why do I do this? From experience, all neurologists treated me like a pharmaceutical lab rat and had zero interest in my well-being, and I have seen world-renowned neurologists. Truth is, you can fire your doctor, and doctor yourself. I found the NP’s to spend considerable more time with you, and provide exceptional care. The problem is, to my knowledge, only a handful of states (like mine) allow them to practice on their own. I now refuse to see an MD and only see NPs. It's a matter of preference, I suppose. Last, I have enclosed a baseline journal to prove that vitamin supplementation has a basis, and I encourage all I you to treat the gut (it starts there), treat the nutrient deficits, then try herbal supplements, then pharmaceuticals. I get one migraine a month. I was daily, or up to 5-day benders. And my Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain Syndrome have improved enough that I could manage with Tramadol (schedule 4); at one point I was on Fentanyl, Demerol, and OxyContin (Schedule 1). And the batshit crazy part 120 lorazepam as a protocol/front line for the stiff-person syndrome. Megadosing on magnesium until normal levels eradicated most of those issues. When I do wig out, hydroxyzine (no scheduled) resolves it. Here is the journal: Vitamin Supplementation as Possible Prophylactic Treatment against Migraine with Aura and Menstrual Migraine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4359851/pdf/BMRI2015-469529.pdf

...hi @Lizzie Hall, have heard very little on the sites i visit re psilo and migraine. could you share type, dosage, frequency, etc. would be valuable info for newbies on a strategy that worked....