Egyptian scriptures from 1200 BCE describe painful, migraine-like headaches, so we know the disorder has afflicted people for at least three thousand years. Still, the condition continues to mystify us today.
Anne Hoffman is a reporter, a professor, and a chronic migraine sufferer. She spent the past year tracing the history of migraines, hoping to discover clues about a treatment that actually works for her. The journey took her in some interesting directions. One common theme she found? A whole lot of stigma.
CreditsHosts: Alexis Pedrick and Elisabeth Berry Drago
Senior Producer: Mariel Carr
Producer: Rigoberto Hernandez
Reporter: Anne Hoffman
Photo illustration by Jay Muhlin
Additional audio production by Dan Drago
Theme music composed by Zach Young.
"Valantis" and "Valantis Vespers" by Blue Dot Sessions, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.
Additional music courtesy of the Audio Network.
Research NotesInterviews
Matthew Crawford, Doan Fellow, Science History Institute.
Margaret Heaney, professor of neurobiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Joanna Kempner, sociologist and author of Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health.
Anne MacGregor, medical researcher and clinician.
Brian McGeeney, assistant professor of neurology, Boston University School of Medicine.
Sources
Brooklyn Museum, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art. “Hildegarde of Bingen.”
McClory, Robert. “Hildegard of Bingen: No Ordinary Saint.” National Catholic Reporter, March 24, 2012.
Meares, Hadley. “The Medieval Prophetess Who Used Her Visions to Criticize the Church.” Atlas Obscura, July 13, 2016.
PBS Frontline. “Hildegard’s Scivias.”
Songfacts. Für Hildegard Von Bingen.
Wikipedia. “Scivias.” Last modified October 23, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scivias.
Cannabidiol (CBD):
Bazelot, Michaël, Chen Tong, Ibeas Bih, Dallas Mark, Clementino Nunn, Alistair V. W.
Whalley Benjamin. “Molecular Targets of Cannabidiol in Neurological Disorders.” Neurotherapeutics 12 (2015): 699–730.
Chen, Angus. “Some of the Parts: Is Marijuana’s ‘Entourage Effect’ Scientifically Valid?” Scientific American, April 20, 2017.
Grinspoon, Peter. “Cannabidiol (CBD)—What We Know and What We Don’t.” Harvard Health Blog, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, August 24, 2018.
Science Vs. “CBD: Weed Wonder Drug?” Podcast audio, November 15, 2018..
Migraine:
Kempner, Joanna. “The Birth of the Dreaded ‘Migraine Personality.’” Migraine Again, November 30, 2017.
Neighmond, Patti. “Why Women Suffer More Migraines Than Men.” Shots: Health News from NPR, National Public Radio, April 16, 2012.
Peterlin, B. Lee, Saurabh Gupta, Thomas N. Ward, and Anne MacGregor. “Sex Matters: Evaluating Sex and Gender in Migraine and Headache Research.” Headache 51(6) (2011): 839–842.
Sharkey, Lauren. “Why Don’t We Know More about Migraines?” BBC Future, British Broadcasting Corporation, July 2, 2018.
Wikipedia. “Aretaeus of Cappadocia.” Last modified December 6, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretaeus_of_Cappadocia.
Cannabis for Migraine:
Mandal, Ananya. “Migraine History.” News-Medical, August 23, 2018.
MDede. “Are Cannabinoids and Hallucinogens Viable Treatment Options for Headache Relief?” Neurology Reviews 22(5) (2014): 22–23. Available at MDedge, Clinical Neurology News.
Archival:
Grass—The History of Marijuana. Directed by Ron Mann. Toronto: Sphinx Productions, 1999.
Hildegard of Bingen. Directed by James Runcie. London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 1994.
Reefer Madness. Directed by Louis J. Gasnier. Los Angeles: George A. Hirliman Productions, 1938.
High-Tech and Amish: Using 21st-century medicine to maintain a 300-year-old way of life.
Political Science: Out of the Lab and into the Streets
Rethinking Ink: Lasers, Tattoo Removal, and Second Chances
Making Senses: How Biohackers Are Using Artificial Perceptions to Enhance Reality
The Smell of Shame: How Deodorant Became Omnipresent in America
Fizzy Water: The Unnatural History of a Carbonated Drink
Second Skin: The Unexpected Origin of the Sports Bra
(Natural) Childbirth
Best of 2016: Insiders vs. Outsiders in Medicine
Human-Centered Therapy . . . with Robots
This Is Not Your Great-Grandfather’s Taxidermy
Babes of Science, a Guest Episode
The Ancient Chemistry Inside Your Taco
Power in the Blood: When Religion and Medicine Meet in Your Veins
Do You Need That Kidney? Rethinking the Ethics of Organ Transplants
DDT: The Britney Spears of Chemicals
Is Space the Place? Trying to Save Humanity by Mining Asteroids
Sex and Gender: What We Know and Don’t Know
Stealing Industry Secrets: Not as Easy as You Think
Genetic Engineering and Organic Farming: An Unexpected Marriage
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
The Rest Is History