Integrative Medicine For Mind, Body And Health

"When All You Have Is A Hammer, Everything Looks Like A Nail."

- Dr Shyam Bhat

We learn more and more about less and less, until we know everything about nothing" Consider the following case.

Ms A has had recurring headaches for several years. They seem to come and go on their own accord. She has been to a doctor who diagnosed her with migraines and tension headaches, and prescribed pain killers, and specific medications for migraines. They helped for a while but her headaches returned. Then on the recommendation of a friend, she consulted a homeopath who gave her Arnica and nux vomica - they seemed to help for a month, but then her headaches returned as bad as they ever were.

She saw Ayurvedic physician who recommended meditation, a satvic diet, and shirodara. This helped her quite a bit for a while, and her headaches reduced in intensity for about a month, but then they returned as bad as ever.

Around this time, she began to notice that she would wake up feeling tired every morning. Her fatigue affected her work, and she began taking time off from work.

At this point, she was taking three different medications for her headache (Topiramate, Aspirin, and Ketorolac). She noticed a decrease in her overall appetite, although this was accompanied with an increased craving for sweets. She didn't sleep well, and her energy levels were low.

When she went back to her doctor, he noted down her symptoms, "headaches, insomnia, anxiety, poor appetite, fatigue. "I think you should see a psychiatrist," he said, noting down the emotional symptoms.

"I am depressed because of my headaches, otherwise I would be fine. Get rid of my headaches and my mood will be fine. I don't need to see a psychiatrist. Refer me to a better neurologist," she said.

What is the real issue here? Does she have a physical disorder - Migraine? Or a mental disorder - Anxiety?