Hello all..  I am just writing to document a potential finding of mine.  Please note that I am not a doctor, nor am I giving proven medical advice..  Hopefully a medical specialist reads this post and considers researching this theory.

I am 32 yrs old.  I began having cluster headaches when I was about 20.  At first they began as episodic clusters, but turned chronic when I was about 25.  I have been on different treatments including Topamax, Imitrex, Lithium, Oxygen, etc.  These medicines helped prolong time between cycles, and/or stopped them for a few months at a time. 

However, I remembered once reading about the the research being done on the positive effects of psilocybin and LSD when taken for clusters.  At the time I was in a remission from my attacks.  They eventually came back and I was back to the normal routine of all the meds.  But they did not seem to be working like they used to.  Then I read an article in the paper regarding salvia.  This is an herb that was legal and sold in typical smoke shops.  When smoked it produces unreal hallucinogenic effects for a duration of 5 minutes.  I had no access to obtain mushrooms or acid, which I WOULD DO ONLY FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THESE HELLISH HEADACHES MIGHT END BTW, so I decided to see what the salvia was all about, considering that it too was classified as a hallucinogenic. 

To make a long story short I tried it and was lost in its effects.  By no means is this a 'fun' drug to me.  I actually did not enjoy or like the effects of it.  It is nothing I have ever experienced before.  However, I kept it up and within 2 weeks I had smoked all that was purchased..  A couple weeks after that my headaches were GONE.  I stopped the meds and was CH free for close to 1 1/2 years!!!  This was the longest period I had been CH free since they had began!  For a while I thought they were gone for good. 

As you can guess I was wrong.  They FINALLY came back and back to the doctor I was.  I honestly had put the whole salvia thing in the back of my mind.  I never considered it the reason my headaches were gone during that duration of time I was free of CHs.  But after the attacks came back full force, my brother suggested I tried the salvia again.  He remembered me telling him I did it the last time. I thought about it long and hard, and gave in finally.  We went and bought some.  I did the same salvia test to myself again and BAM!!! Within 2 - 3 weeks of finishing smoking what I had got they stopped AGAIN..  I can happily say that the last time I had a cluster was September 2008!!!!!!!! 

As always I am awaiting their return each day.  I just find it very odd that during the last 3 1/2 years I have had only two attacks and both times I was CH free for the longest duration since I first started getting them. 

I find this VERY interesting, to me..  I do not suggest everyone go out and try this.  Salvia's effects are extremely strong on the body and mind.  I find it hard to believe that this stuff is sold OTC.  If some 18 year old kid and his friends went to the store, bought some, and the driver smoked it on the way home in a car... a wreck would occur - 100% FOR SURE!!!

So please be careful.  I really hope a medical professional reads this and consider the possibilities of research with salvia.  I know I am only one person, but it seems that I have found a new abortive/preventative for me.. 

Sorry this was so long.  I hope all of you remain CH free for the longest time possible!!!  I feel like I've died and gone to hell whenever I have them.  But luckily the last time was looooong ago now     When they do eventually return, I will try this method out once again though..

Take care,
tatty

The 5-HT serotonin receptor is affected by LSD, LSA and psilocybin, but not salvia.  Sorry for the bad news....

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"This makes it unlikely that another mechanism contributes independently to the compound's effects. Salvinorin A has no actions at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, the principal molecular target responsible for the actions of 'classic' hallucinogens, such as mescaline and LSD.[9]"

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Scroll down to the chemistry section to see my quote.

I certainly don't want to discourage your use of salvia.
It's a crazy high from personal experience.  Thank God it is short lived, LOL!

Check out the Clusterbuster boards with this topic.  Those folk over there know tons about this topic than me.  I'm just going off of how psychedelics work with the 5-HT receptor which is responsible for our clusters.  If there is something that works for you though, keep at it, just don't be disappointed if it no longer works.  Remember, this beast can morph at any time. 

Seriously, check out rc seeds.  They're legal and affective.

Best of luck!

Chad

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That is something I have not done - smoke salvia while in the midst of an attack..  Usually while having a visit from the horrific demon that we all know I am unable to do anything but bang my head into the wall, curl into a ball, and then repeat...