When nothing else works, pray. Sounds all too familiar, doesn't it? Looks like people have been doing just that since the ancient times.
Hemicranon, Greek term for migraine, literally means "half-of-the-head". Greeks believed that the pains were caused by a Migraine Demon , Antaura (or Andavra). Antaura would come out of the sea and proceed to make a bit of ruccuss. Artemis, goddess of forests and hills, was in charge of preventing Antaura from entering the sufferer's head (if asked nicely, that is). That makes her the oldest Migraine Preventive in the recorded history.
As for Antaura, there are some allegations that she is "The Mermaid and the Devil's Grandmother" . On the other hand, it's more likely that she simply "was" too noisy and smelled like fish, none of which is pleasant for migraine people.
Since no one has prayed to Artemis in some millennia, there are also more "modern" records that indicate that the Big J. would also do in a pinch. He apparently "got" migraines - his opening question was - "Where are you going, O headache and migraine and pain in the skull and in the eyes and inflammation and tears and leukoma and dizziness?"
No recent recorded "canonized" prayers for migraine are to be found, however. What, everybody felt better for the last thousand years or so? Does anybody know of some prayers? Feel free to share with the others if you do and hit that "comments" link.
Until we find some, take these two kittens and call your doctor in the morning.
Monday
Migraine Demon, Antaura
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2 comments:
Thanks for the giggle - you are a gem indeed! Aptly named. I will gladly take those two kittens if they will play in my bed and attack my feet while I lay here sick! Wiccans sometimes pray to Artemis - how is their relative migraine rate? hmmm... research project here? But maybe the thing is to sacrifice to Antaura to avert her wrath? Would she accept an offering of the analgesics I am allergic to anyway?
Mermaids would take fish as a sacrifice, I'd think... Fish oil pills should do in a pinch.
Hey, that's an idea, I'll try it next time.
Forgot about wiccans, gotta look into it; thanks for reminding me, Megan.
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