Treating migraines sustainably: New book by Maria Holl offers proven exercises

Around ten percent of Germans suffer from a "storm in the head" : recurring headaches and even migraines. Maria Holl has developed her own exercise program that leads sufferers step by step back to a symptom-free life. It has proven itself for many years now.

Migraine and headache – widespread ailments

Headaches are one of the most common illnesses. In Germany, around 54 million people suffer from them, meaning that seven out of ten people have recurring problems, and one in four suffers regularly. Women and people living in cities with over 50,000 inhabitants are more frequently affected. Around 54 percent of those surveyed suffer from tension headaches, while 38 percent have migraines - that's around ten percent of all Germans. One in five children between the ages of six and eleven already complain of headaches - and one in three adolescents.

The alternative practitioner and psychotherapist Maria Holl has developed her own therapy program, which she has used to support people with these symptoms for many years. In her new book "Thunderstorm in the Head" she introduces the Maria Holl Method®, which uses a body-oriented combination of mindfulness, applied Chinese health teachings, self-massage and bioenergetic analysis to help people reduce pain step by step and lead a carefree life again.

What you need to know about headaches and migraines

There are very different types of headaches - depending on which part of the head is affected - whether it is the back of the head or forehead, eyes, temples, neck or just one half of the head. The pain can be dull, throbbing or cutting. The skull, meninges, nerves and blood vessels are irritated, but the brain itself is insensitive to pain. Medicine now knows about 180 different types of headache. The International Headache Society (IHS) distinguishes between three most common types: If the pain spreads from the neck and literally squeezes the entire head with dull pain, it is called a tension headache, which can last from half an hour to a week. Pain that is more piercing or tearing, usually in the area of ​​the eyes, is called cluster headaches. Migraines are also accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting as well as sensitivity to light, noise and smells.

While exercise can sometimes relieve pain with "normal" headaches, it can make migraines worse. Those affected lie down in a darkened room and hope that the pain will soon pass - which can happen within four hours, but can also take up to two days. Some sufferers also report temporary paralysis or tingling in the hands, arms or face, and some even experience speech problems. Since these symptoms also occur with a stroke, it is important to inform a doctor immediately.

The Maria Holl Method®

The exercise program is a synthesis of Western and Eastern relaxation and therapy methods: “The exercises of the Maria Holl Method® increase your vitality and at the same time gradually ensure that the Qi in your body can flow and circulate freely again,” promises the author.

The program consists of three elements: grounding exercises to stimulate the overall perception of the body from the top of the skull to the soles of the feet; massage techniques to gradually and permanently relieve the tension that leads to migraines and headaches; and mindfulness exercises for so-called "inner space perception". In this program, patients learn to bring the energetic state of their body into balance.

Maria Holl knows from experience that around 30 minutes of concentrated practice per day is necessary to deal with migraines. If the migraines are very severe, she advises extending the practice time over the course of a few weeks: "In the long run, you will find out for yourself how long and how often you want to practice, as your self-awareness increases and you feel more and more what is important for real well-being." In any case, the Maria Holl Method® helps to alleviate the symptoms and strengthens self-confidence in order to tackle further sensible measures to stabilize your health.

Book tip:
Maria Holl: Storm in the head. Stop migraines and headaches permanently. The Maria Holl Method®. Mankau Verlag 2019, paperback, 12 x 19 cm, 158 pages, 10.90 euros (D) / 11.30 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-496-0.

Link recommendations:
More information about the book "Thunderstorm in the head. Stop migraines and headaches permanently"
To the reading sample in PDF format
More about the author Maria Holl
To the Internet forum with Maria Holl