Hi, I'm Steve and I have been suffering from CH for 8 years. I’m 26 years old and I am Active Duty Army serving at FT Benning, GA. The first time I was seen for my headaches was in 04. The Doc. pretty much shrugged it off and told me since I was young the headaches would eventually go away. I felt horrible about that! Eventually I self diagnosed myself with migraines and went back to a different doctor in Ft Benning. When I went I was determined that this person was going to listen to me and not act like I was just crying. They actually listened and told me that because of the frequency of the headaches they were going to prescribe me a preventative med. (Zoloft) Zoloft did not work, and since then I have had similar experiences with the doctors. Celebrex, Percocet, and any over the counter drugs are what else I have tried.  I just recently found out about CH and it was like Hallelujah! I have finally figured out what is wrong with me! Just haven’t told any doctors that I know I have CH’s.  I also never told anyone that I thought my “migraines” were worse than theirs but I always thought it. I really hope CH becomes a more familiar topic with the doctors because I am in SEVERE need of help.  One thing I can say that has help was Ginkgo Biloba. I started taking it 2 months ago.  I know it is odd, but I started taking Ginkgo Biloba for its nootropic benefits. I was having “attacks” at the time I started taking it, and they stopped within the day! I am skeptical about it, because my attacks start and stop with no notice, but I have evidence that it is working. Every time I forget to take it I get that familiar feeling on the back of my right eye and above the same eye on top of my head. It is the “calm before the storm”. I don’t get the headache that comes after because I take the Ginkgo immediately. I actually drive home from work and chew that sucker up! If anyone has any similar experience with Ginkgo Biloba let me know. BTW Ginkgo Biloba increases blood flow/oxygen to the brain by 20%.-Steve

The brain uses 20% of the bodies oxygen. Ginkgo doesn't increase it.

          Potter

Ginkgo Biloba is known for increasing blood flow to your brain, as well as thoughout the rest of your body. By up to 20%. More blood flow more oxygen. That is my guess as to why the Ginkgo seems to be working for me.

shap27 wrote on Mar 10^th, 2010 at 7:08pm:

Ginkgo Biloba is known for increasing blood flow to your brain, as well as thoughout the rest of your body. By up to 20%. More blood flow more oxygen. That is my guess as to why the Ginkgo seems to be working for me.

Link  please.

      potter

Hey Steve,

Keep telling folks your headaches are migraine for now...  Check your PM.

Take care and hang in there.

V/R, Batch

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

It is all over the net and I have found the information in sources from my online university. The problem with those is, you have to pay money to get a membership to view those sites, unless you are a student. The link above is the most legitimate source I found except the academic sources. If you don't feel like reading the whole site, scroll down to the bold letters "Boost Brain Power".

Ginkgo Fights Aging

First, it widens your blood vessels so more blood can get through. Scientists have isolated a group of compounds called "flavonoids" in ginkgo extract. These flavonoids force the blood vessels to relax, which allows them to carry more blood.

    What we really want to do is constrict that big vessel in your head.
     Do you have oxygen?

               Potter

There is also a lot of text stating constriction of blood vessels cause CH. Would you like a link for that too? Relaxing you blood vessels might be a good thing.

Also, I've done a lot of research and  have read that this "constricting that big vein in the head" may not be the cure. I believe the experts will kick around a few more ideas before they figure out what is really causing our pain. Just because I am a newbie on this site doesn't mean I have not been reading up on CH everyday. The main reason I joined this site is because I wanted to share or help with information on my experience. I wont be surprised if more suggestions of the causes of CH come in the future. This problem isn't fully understood yet and now is not the time to count anything out. There is a lot of people stating there headaches are cause by Cigarettes, alcohol, (In the brain alcohol constricts the cerebral blood vessels ( START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE. ) and other blood constricting substances. IMO why wouldn't dialation of blood vessels help? I also have reason to believe NO2 supplements have helped me in the past. Just let me know if you have similar experiences. Thanks

Hi Steve, thanks for your service!  I was undiagnosed when I was in the Navy and slowly figured out over the years what made my head hurt so bad.  I think the point of this is, if gingko takes the pain away, then you found your relief.  Caffeine for some of us, pharmacueticals for others.  We will all find our cocktail of stuff that works. 

For those that are new or their stuff doesn't work anymore than we come here to find out what is helping other people and maybe that will help us too. 

Good luck. 

--Shaggy