Friends -
I'm back again. I'm a chuster headache sufferer for last 16 years. Last time, it was between Nov 3rd week 2007 - Feb 9th 2008. A painful 2.5 months. I had one emergency visit to hospital, tried 2 types of triptans. But nothing helped.

During my last cycle, from my diary I noticed, on the days I ate OKRA (cooked), next day, pain was milder. From my diary: I have taken lot of okra towards end of the cycle and the pain had been lot milder.

And now it promtly came back after 18 months remission. It started on July 7th 2009. This is what I did this time, 2 days before the cycle to start, I started eating raw OKRA (uncooked).

The pain started and first 3 days pain was bearable (v.v.mild). And I'm eating 5 OKRA before bed and 5 OKRA first thing in the morning. From 4th - 6th days, I just had shadows (a vague presence of it). And after 1st week, I did not feel any pain.

And daily, the monster would come at the same time, but would not do anything, as if, he is denied entry everyday.

Yesterday, I skipped my 5 OKRA before bed and as I write this, I feel he is lightly/gently screwing a nerve above my left eye & itching my back of my head, but I'm not in pain. It is just a disturbance.

I don't know if OKRA is the one helping me or cycle did not get a proper start, but certainly I feel a change after I started eating this. Meaning,I had pain for first 3 days and it vanished after that. It is 3 weeks up since it started on 7th July and I have not cried a single day or put finger in my mouth to pull the things out or banged my head on the wall.

Per Wikipedia, OKRA is rich in magnesium and vitamin B9. If anyone tries this (eating raw okra- before bed and first in morning), please let me know the results. I'm not a physician and I'm not prescribing any medicine. I'm just sharing details about a vegetable which I think is helping me.

I will post back If the pain comes back as usual, in coming days, proving this diet was all waste. If that happens, all I have to assume is the cycle had a deplayed start. But for now, I'm doing good with OKRA for past 3 weeks in this cycle.

Have a good day.

Thanks,
Prabu

At first glance, that seems to be a uniquely ridiculous idea.

At second glance, maybe there is something to it.

Okra extract can be as effective as rosiglitazone for treating diabetes - it improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar.

But what is interesting to me is HOW it improves insulin sensitivity - it improves the function of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase system.  The inositol-kinase system acts a secondary messenger for serotonin regulation, and seems to be particularly tied into the serotonin-2 receptors.

People with metabolic syndrome or diabetes might benefit from okra - not sure how much would be needed to affect clusters, but you gotta eat.  

Okra, insulin sensitivity and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase deficiency associated with anxiety, low taurine, GABA and serotonin levels:
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I'm curious - why do you always capitalize OKRA?

Come on, Brew.... It's an acronym for Oxygen, Kudzu, Rivea-corymbosa, Amerge. Works well for me too.

But seriously, since I like okra maybe I'll just have to eat more - might be something to it.

Marc

Hm...Do they make supplements of that stuff Monty? Getting food down is a pain in the ass for me right now.


Brew wrote on Jul 28^th, 2009 at 12:34am:

I'm curious - why do you always capitalize OKRA?

Because, okra diet doesn't draw enough attention. It just doesn't grab you. OKRA diet seems more exciting, mysterious, and dare I say sexy.

Plus, you HAVE to click it...if only to make sure that it isn't an acronym for some other diet. Like the Only Kiwi Raisin Apple diet.

Pixie-elf wrote on Jul 31^st, 2009 at 10:40pm:

Because, okra diet doesn't draw enough attention. It just doesn't grab you. OKRA diet seems more exciting, mysterious, and dare I say sexy. Plus, you HAVE to click it...if only to make sure that it isn't an acronym for some other diet. Like the Only Kiwi Raisin Apple diet.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

You people are not right..... ::)

Joe ;D

I'm glad something is working for you.

thanks, Monty, for the research.

Charlotte

Ooooh. What does it taste like? Any good recipes?  :)