ETYM French.
Acute, sometimes incapacitating headache (generally only on one side), accompanied by nausea, that recurs, often with advance symptoms such as flashing lights. No cure has been discovered, but ergotamine normally relieves the symptoms. Some sufferers learn to avoid certain foods, such as chocolate, which suggests an allergic factor.
In 1990 Hammersmith Hospital in London, England, reported successful treatment with goggles that depress beta waves in the brain (associated with stress) and stimulate alpha waves (whose effect is calming).
A severe recurring vascular headache; occur more frequently in women than men; SYN. megrim, sick headache, hemicrania.