Migraines and Congestion

[maggiesdaddy]

Hi!

I have been transitioning to raw over the past three weeks (from a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet) and so far it has been great. I am eating 60-70% raw and what I am eating cooked is things like potatoes and rice (I don't eat wheat or soy so no fake meats, I also don't eat anything that has been processed). During this time I have lost 20 lbs and am feeling much more energetic and happy (I struggle with depression).

My question is, what side effects may I experience while my body is detoxing from all the crap that I had eaten previously? I have had chest and nasal congestion really bad the past two days and today I have a terrible migraine. I don't want to take any medicine or go to the doctor unless this is not part of a normal detox. If it is, what can I do to clear it up? I rinsed my sinuses with my neti pot and I drink TONS of water so I am out of ideas on how to make this go away (or how to tolerate it while it plays itself out).

[DebB]

This may not be the answer you're looking for - but I used to suffer from migraines -- and when I got one, it was Rx time for sure. Mine used to be horrid and there's no way I'd tough it out if I didn't have to. But, that's just me. I wish you all the best! *Ü*

[Arky]

Might be detox or might be worth consulting your doctor. You're the one who'll have to make that decision.

However, on a general note, Bromelain (a proteolytic enzyme derived from pineapple stems) is known to be excellent for breaking down mucus in the body. Provided one is not on blood thinners, and is not allergic to tropical fruits, bromelain is generally considered to be very safe.

I suggest doing some research of your own on this.

[mcster]

depression, congestion, migraines...all symptoms of yeast overgrowth. Google "candida" and "candida symptoms".

[maggiesdaddy]

depression, congestion, migraines...all symptoms of yeast overgrowth. Google "candida" and "candida symptoms".

When I looked it up I saw something about clumps of discharge from the penis and was totally confused on why that would cause my issues (although seeing that may cause me to have depression :)

When I kept looking I found other types of candida and I think you may be right!


I did end up taking some excedrin migraine, I just couldn't handle it anymore.

Thanks everyone for the input, I really appreciate how much help everyone on this board is always polite and helpful.

[Arky]

When I kept looking I found other types of candida and I think you may be right!


Not to dispute that candida might possibly be playing a role in your symptoms, but I think it is at least valid to question why the symptoms have (as far as I can gather from your first post) only arisen since you've changed your diet. Thus, it seems, at face value, that it might simply be a cleansing reaction. I mean, if it is candida, then why did the symptoms not manifest previously..?

[maggiesdaddy]

Not to dispute that candida might possibly be playing a role in your symptoms, but I think it is at least valid to question why the symptoms have (as far as I can gather from your first post) only arisen since you've changed your diet. Thus, it seems, at face value, that it might simply be a cleansing reaction. I mean, if it is candida, then why did the symptoms not manifest previously..?

I agree. These symptoms could very well be part of the cleansing process.

I did not post this (I should have), but I suffer from severe congestion year round. I also have migraines occasionally and have had depression since I was 12 (10 years). Since switching my diet from lacto ovo vegetarian to raw whole food vegan, the congestion and the migraines have become unbearable.

[Arky]

Well...again, I'm not saying I think candida isn't a reasonable hypothesis.

But...it might alternatively be that you have less than optimal liver function. Sometimes, if the liver is unable to appropriately detoxify (or efficiently excrete via the bile) certain toxins, the body may try to simply excrete them in other ways. This can take the form of chronic excretions from some of the mucous membranes, and sometimes the body attempts to excrete toxins via the skin (the skin is the bodys largest organ of elimination).

I can speak about this from personal experience - for several decades I have lived with continual congestion of the sinuses (yes, continual). Only in recent years have I come to understand that, in my case, my liver has been struggling to function properly whilst intoxicated with Mercury.

There are many ways this can occur; Mercury just happens to be the primary culprit in my personal situation.

In your case, your body my simply attempting to divest itself of years of less-than-ideal food residues, or it may be an indicator that you could have compromised liver function, or it may be that you have candida or parasite issues, or it may be something else entirely.

On the basis of your second post here, it suggests to me that you'd be wise to do a little digging into your past health history, because it may provide some very valuable clues.

For more on this, perhaps you might consider the latter part of this other post:
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=662241#post662241


Re' potential candida issues, there's some interesting discussion in this thread: http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=63346


Also, (although I do not concur with his cleansing methodology - http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=663109#post663109), I think you'd find Andreas Moritz's book on liver/gallbladder cleansing a worthwhile general read.


As a parting question, I will just ask you:

Do you have any particular food sensitivities or chemical sensitivities?


All the best.

[Revvell]

The reason most people choose alopathic "medicine" is because it stops them from feeling. They can take a drug for this; a drug for that.

One thing I have found in over 30 years of practicing natural health and healing is, we become "worse" before we get better. Many will say they felt better before changing.

I'm guessing since you're saying "lacto" that, much of the build-up that was created from that is now exiting your body. It took YEARS to build up all that mucus yet, it wont take anywhere near as long to eliminate it. Stick with it... it all could be gone by tomorrow.

I used to have hay fever, asthma, joint pain... and since eliminating dairy and wheat especially, no more congestion; no more sneezing every morning; no more having to blow my nose all the time. Joint pain is gone.

I don't know if this will help at all yet, recently I began taking Vitamin Code multi's (for women ~ they do have them for me) and, Richard Schulze's Super food. He also has a bunch of Detox formula's which I'm thinking of doing. Going to read his book in a few and see which I want to begin with and do one a week throughout June.

Oh! Richard has often said that migraines are caused by a clogged colon. Wont it be cool to eliminate those from your life? I've had a few major headaches yet, very blessed not to have had migraines. I do NOT envy you those.

[Arky]

...Richard Schulze's Super food. He also has a bunch of Detox formula's which I'm thinking of doing. Going to read his book in a few and see which I want to begin with and do one a week throughout June.

As I'm sure you're well aware, Schulze does some of the best quality herbal formulas, you won't go wrong with them. His Superfood, though contains nutritional yeast, which, in my view, is a far from ideal food.




Oh! Richard has often said that migraines are caused by a clogged colon. Wont it be cool to eliminate those from your life? I've had a few major headaches yet, very blessed not to have had migraines. I do NOT envy you those.

Yep, and it's interesting how liver congestion can also be related to migraines (one reason why many migraine sufferers will tell you they are affected by very specific foods and drinks, such as, for example, cheese or coffee).

No coincidence, in my view, that a congested liver can lead to insufficient bile flow, and because bile is a natural stimulator of the bowel, insufficient bile flow can lead to constipation etc. in the bowel.

[speltrong]

Well, I might as well throw in my two cents... I used to suffer from migraines when I was eating a 100% vegan but not raw diet. I also consumed a lot of diet sodas. A friend of mine told me that his wife's doctor had recommended that she not consume diet sodas in order to eliminate migraines, so I decided to do the same thing. Almost immediately my migraines stopped, and the only time I have had one since then is when I inadvertently drank a propel water which is loaded with aspartame. And that was well before I ever started eating all raw. So I just thought you'd like to know in case you happen to be a diet drink lover. :-)

[Revvell]

As I'm sure you're well aware, Schulze does some of the best quality herbal formulas, you won't go wrong with them. His Superfood, though contains nutritional yeast, which, in my view, is a far from ideal food.

Uh, well, there is a base of "proprietary non-fermentable yeast" listed and since that's your view, you're entitled to it. It's made a major difference in my health so, I'm sticking to it!

And, since my teacher and his students have been taking it for years and Richard and my teacher are just about my age... it seems to be working well for all of us....

Zenkahuna is 61; his ladies are in their 40's ~ if only we could all be this healthy. As of July 15, the three of them will have been training consistently for 5 years ~ EVERY day ~ and taking Richard's formulas. They're all high raw vegans too. http://www.youtube.com/user/zenkahuna

[Raw Angel Mom]

Colon hydro therapy, it has been miraculous for me.

If you can let go the starch. They are the source of so many health problem. Speaking for myself, they made me gain weight, got me hook to cook food etc...

Do as much juicing with leafy green you can. If you can tolerate fruit, go with green smoothie.

Hang in there, it will past. Chlorella is wonderful in so many ways.

Be patient, you will do wonderful and feel great soon.

[maggiesdaddy]

Thank you again everyone for all of the input. I continue to be stunned about how well read people on this board are! There seem to be many different things that can cause my issues ... I suspect that it is due to my past life experiences and eating habits.

I will look in to everything that everyone said and try to find out what is wrong with me. I never like to do anything "on a whim", I prefer to do research and have an informed opinion before doing anything. Everyone here has truly been a wonderful help!