Splitting: The Inside Story on Headaches

A leading British neurobiologist has puzzled over the mysteries of headache for many years. The result of her work is a fascinating and accessible book about the eternal medical problem - and even with some practical advice. There is nothing new about headaches. Since time immemorial, people have suffered in its grip. Heated debates about how to avoid or get rid of a headache were simmering as early as medieval Persia, where castor oil was considered the most reliable remedy. Fortunately, we are now much more advanced on the subject. Because of his headaches, Darwin became a veritable hermit, but this enabled him to spend more time at home pondering the origin of species. It is unlikely that modern man agrees to see his headache as a good thing, but it can indeed tell us a lot. How do we know what it's talking about? What is the meaning of our pain? Neuroscientist Amanda Allison talks about both sinus pain and migraines, and whether we should just take painkillers and ignore the causes of what's going on. "Pain in Your Head" separates facts from speculation, teaches you how to control your condition and helps you develop habits that will protect you from this ailment.