New here :)

[Joekinnear]

Hello, im joe im 26 from england, been a cluster headache sufferer since i was 21 so its coming up to 6 years now, and was only diagnosed in january this year.

Im here to ask people about natural treatments, if you have tried any do they work.? If so what are the best to try.?

Cheers 

[CHfather]

Folks here are all about that, Joe.  You can start by reading the overview of the ClusterBusters method here -- https://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1290127865 -- and then reading the other pertinent files in the "ClusterBuster Files" section of this board (the files that are numbered), including "Playing Well with Others" and the "Warnings."   Ask questions -- you'll get answers.

Another "natural" approach (by which I'm assuming you mean non-pharmaceutical) is the vitamin D3-based regimen that has helped a whole lot of people.  Read about it here: https://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1314134804.  Some people have also found good results with licorice root (https://www.clusterheadaches.com/cb/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1298659068).  There's also kudzu root, which you'll have to ask about if you're particularly interested (no file that I know of).

I suppose you'd have to consider oxygen "natural," too.  Do you have oxygen (your doctor should have prescribed it)?   Most folks here will tell you it's the #1 abortive that anyone with CH must have.

Are you drinking an energy drink or energy shot, or a strong cup of coffee, at the first sign of an attack?  That can help abort an attack, or reduce its severity.

There's more, but I'll leave it at that for now, and we'll look forward to hearing more from you!   

[MoxieGirl]

Hi Joe,

I'll give you the standard greeting we give most new people here. Welcome to the site, what CHFater said, and sorry you have to be here. I think that pretty much covers it.

I've been chronic since my clusters started in Jan 2007. Some years they were better with almost a clear cycle of 2 weeks of attacks, then 2-3 weeks break. 2011 was hell, I was getting up to 5 a day every 2-3 days.

At the end of 2011 I started 'busting' with mushrooms and RC Seeds, and broke that Hellish cycle. I still get attacks, but rarely bad ones, and rarely more than 3 in a day. But I have cluster free gaps often measured in weeks!

Also, the post traumatic stress attacks are a thing of the past, as well as about 95% of my migraines.

So, does it work? No doubt about it for me. But that doesn't mean to say it is a miracle cure and will make it all go away right away. The cluster demon is a tough beast to kill.

MG (also living in England)

[Bejeeber]

Hello Joe,

What they said.  8-)

do they work.? If so what are the best to try.? 

Busting (with substances such as Psilocybin or Rivea Corymbosa) absolutely works and can be said to be the most effective long term preventive option currently out there bar none. From my own case and what I've observed our fellow headbangers report over the years, I think it's safe to say episodic CH'ers tend to have the highest success rate with it.

In fact it is generally SUPER EFFECTIVE for episodics, with the knocking out of entire cycles being commonplace.

It often takes more effort (meaning more busts) for an episodic who is right in the midst of a high cycle, or for a chronic. The chronics have it the roughest dammit, and while some get beautifully longggg extended remissions via busting, others here such as Moxy, Ricardo, et al haven't had that level of success so far. :'(

My money is on you finding much better results with the natural treatments than with what the docs have on tap. That's an easy bet.