This is my first post and after reading a few of the others I thought I would share with you my treatment plan.  I am in the middle of the 4th set of cluster headaches that I have had.  First one was in 2001, then 05 and 07 and now.  Was misdiagonsed in 2001 with a sinus infection.  Round of antiboitics and sutafed...obviously did nothing.  In 2005 I was perscribed a tricyclic antidepressant, which worked, but I was 3 weeks into my cycle so maybe it was just ending anyway.  2007 I finally went to a neurologist who was familiar with clusters and prescribed steriods and Imitrex. The headaches went away, but side effects were pretty bad.  This time I tried something new and it is working...no pills!  

It is a mult progned approach:  When this cycle started, I was at first in denial...I was really hoping that I wasn't going to start getting the headaches, but sure enough.  After my 1st really bad night...I took my last Imitrex that I was saving "just in case" and I made an appointment with an naturopatic doctor.  I was so sceptical because I had tried acupuncture in 2005 and it didn't work.  They gave me Migraclear, it is a product by Biogenesis, you can order it online.  It is basically a really high dose of Vitamin B2.  The also put me on an anti inflammatory diet.  That week I woke up with my normal 1am, 4am, and I had my normal 9am cluster, but they weren't as bad a normal and I was able to get them to go away with ice packs on my neck and right temple. (I get them on the right side of my head) The clusters would only last about 10 minutes max!  One week later I went back and had cranio-sacral thearpy.  The next night I only had my 4am!  The following night...cluster free!  I woke up and looked at the clock at 7am and I just couldn't believe it!!!  AWESOME!  

I would HIGHLY reccommend trying this approach.  While this cycle hasn't been pain free, it has certainly been better than all the others, and I haven't had to get costly medication with bad side effects!  

The anti inflammatory diet:  Cut out chicken and beef, full fat dairy, and eggs, sugar, overly processed oils like corn and soybean oil (stick to cold pressed oils like olive and coconut) and refined flours.  

Eat lots of: Fish, beans, nuts, fruits, and veggies, whole grains, and take 2 Tablespoons of Cod Liver Oil every day.  It is kind of gross, but I guess it is super anti-inflammatory!  Also drink a lot of water!  I know there are others that can attest that this helps with the headaches for certain.

Best of luck clusterheads.  Take control and feel better!  I am so glad that I did!  

WHAT IS IT?

Each 2 capsules of Migra-Clear™ Ultra contains:
Magnesium (glycinate)      100 mg
Zingiber officinale (Ginger)
(standardized to contain 5% gingerols)      250 mg
Petasites hybridus (Butterbur)
(30:1 extract, root 15% petasin and isopetasin)      100 mg
Tanacetum Parthenium (Feverfew) 100 mg
(standardized to contain 2% parthenolide)      100 mg
Gingko Biloba      20 mg
5 Hydroxy L-tryptophan  (5-HTP)      50 mg
Melatonin      500 mcg

I myself am on Butterbur, Melatonin, only at a lower dose of butterbur, and higher of melatonin. We on the board usually got with at least 9mg of it.

And 5-HTP is suspected of having some hormonal work, mentioned in other threads. I can totally see how this helped you.

Glad you finally got some relief.

Its a long time since I posted here.

Maybe the "anti-inflamatory diet" helps a lot. I have not had CH for a few years thankfully, but was seasonal every year for maybe the last 40 years. I found out that a strict "detox diet" at the first sign of headaches worked for me since about 2001. It consists of mainly fresh fuit and veg, nuts, fish and lots of water. Nothing much else! Maybe I hit on the anti-inflamatory properties of this diet without realising it? I still do this diet for a few weeks if I start to get any sort of headaches. The down side is the 4 or more day long full time really nasty headache which usually accompanies this diet after the first few days.

I found that if I have full blown CH this diet makes the cycle end within a week or two instead of the usual 8 weeks of hell and imitrex injections every 4-6 hours.

Hmmmmm