Description

Headaches are something we all experience at one time or another and are ranked as the number one health complaint. They affect 90% of the public on average and can last anywhere from a few hours others to weekly or monthly painful bouts. Frequent headaches should be investigated as this is likely a sign of a larger problem. It is important to treat the root cause of a problem and headaches often provide a valuable clue.

Types of Headaches

There are three types of headaches: tension, cluster, and migraine.

Tension headaches are caused by sustained pressure, or traction, on the muscles and nerves of the head or neck. They tend not to worsen with physical activity, involve both sides of the head, and are not throbbing or nauseating. 90% of headaches are tension headaches.

Cluster headaches are more severe and tend to be recurring. Also referred to as vascular headaches, they originate from disturbances of blood vessels in the brain. They are accompanied by throbbing pain often localized on one side of the head. They tend to occur more in men, worsen with physical activity and cause nausea or light sensitivity.

Migraines are also vascular headaches and arise from problems with blood vessels. 6% of headaches are migraines and the majority of migraine sufferers are women. See Migraines for more information.

One type of headache can often trigger another and isolating a specific type often proves difficult. You can also suffer from symptoms from more than one type of headache -- a "mixed" headache.

Where's It Coming From?

Your brain does not contain sensory nerves, though this organ is a giant mass of nervous tissue. The feeling of pain originates from irritation of external structures, such as the meningeal lining encapsulating the brain and spinal cord. Other physical sources include the sinuses, blood vessels, nerves, and scalp.
 

Symptoms and Signs:

As the name implies, pain is experienced in one or more locations of the head. The pain takes many forms including dull, numbing, pulsing, shooting, throbbing, worse when stationary, worse by movement.

Other symptoms include nausea and sensitivity to light.
 

Causes:

Headaches can be caused by stress and anxiety, allergies, constipation, coffee, alcohol, and sugar consumption, eyestrain, hunger, sinus pressure, muscle tension, hormonal imbalances, head trauma, menstruation, nutritional deficiencies, fever, drugs and tobacco, pollution, perfume, or aftershave.

Another common cause is food allergies. Many people are sensitive to the daily foods they consume and may not be aware of an allergy. Common food allergies include wheat and wheat gluten, dairy, soybeans, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulfites, nuts, red wine, chocolate, and alcohol. Commercially prepared foods often contain a number of these foods in a number of preparations. For example, soybeans are processed into tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP), "veggie burgers", miso, soya flour, soya protein powder, soybean oil, soy sauce, and soya lecithin. Be sure to check labels carefully.

Other possible causes include fluctuating blood sugar levels, anemia, arthritis, bowel problems, tooth-grinding, hypertension, sinusitis, spinal misalignment, vitamin B deficiency, too much or too little sleep, diseases of the eye, nose, and throat, and tumours of the brain and surround areas. Mixed headaches can result from viral or bacterial meningitis, hypoglycemia, hormonal imbalances, hypothyroidism, and vitamin A overdose.

In addition, weather patterns, and the resulting changes in atmospheric pressure, often induce pressure headaches in people. Low pressure storm systems are the most common cause. The lowered atmospheric pressure affects the fluid inside joints. This fluid expands, stiffening joints, aggravating nerves, and causing muscles to tense up in response. Resulting headaches typically occur the day before or the day it rains. Unfortunately, you cannot escape atmospheric pressure changes. The best approach is to eliminate any other possible headache triggers. Excess exposure to the hot sun of summer or the freezing, biting winds of winter can also result in more than just sunburn or frostbite respectively.
 

What to Expect:

Many find it increasingly difficult to function as a headache sets in. Irritability and mood swings can accompany headaches. Combat tension and their triggers with relaxation.

Some people experience nausea from some headaches, particularly those resulting from a hangover.
 

Remedies

Do not rely on over-the-counter painkillers over the long-term. These interfere with your body's natural ability to deal with pain and will make your headaches worse over time. If you use over-the-counter painkiller more than four times a week, see your naturopath or other health practitioner for alternatives.
 

Aromatherapy

Rub a small amount of peppermint oil onto your forehead, temples, and any other affected areas. Do this every 15 to 30 minutes until you feel relief. Also try wintergreen or eucalyptus oil in combination -- they have synergistic effects. Avoid broken skin and eye contact.

Lavender can also be used in this manner. In addition, add a few drops to a hot bath. Lavender oil calms and can relieve stress and pain.
 

Foods

Red cherries contain anthocyanins, a natural pigment that helps prevent tension headaches. Eat 20 per day.
 

Herbs

The capsaicin in cayenne peppers tends to stop cluster headaches. Try adding some to a meal.

Ginger activates natural painkillers in the brain (opiates). It also reduces the level of certain prostaglandins, which can cause inflammation. Ginger also reduces swelling and relieves nausea. Drink one or two cups of ginger tea every hour. Either use a prepared tea or grate 1oz. fresh ginger into one cup of hot water. If supplementing, take 500 to 1000mg every 3 to 4 hours on an empty stomach. Do not exceed 6,000mg as this may cause stomach upset.

Garlic, Lavender, Rosemary, Scullcap, and Wood Betony can also help deal with headaches. Consult with your herbalist, naturopath, or other health practitioner.

Massage Oil for Headaches

Helps relax tense muscles at the back of the neck, a common cause
of headaches. Good for shoulders and back also.

Ingredients: (use recently dried herbs for best results)
  4 tblsp. Chopped lavender buds
2 tblsp. Marjoram flowers and leaves, chopped
2 tblsp. Clary sage flowers and leaves
1 cup almond oil
Dark bottle

1. Place dry herbs in a glass jar and pour almond oil over. Cover tightly and shake well.
2. Place in a warm location, out of direct sunlight. Leave for 2 weeks, shaking daily.
3. Strain and place in dark bottle. Cap tightly and store in a cool, dark place.
4. Use as required.

Homeopathy

Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy.

Bryonia: Pain in the front of the head that is made worse by motion.

Gelsemium: Pain in the back of the head and physical and emotional fatigue and apathy.

Nux Vomica: Headaches occur after over-eating or heavy alcohol or coffee consumption, recreational or pharmaceutical drug use.

Pulsatilla: Sinus-related headache.
 

Lifestyle

The emotional and mental tension associated with anxiety and stress can easily trigger headaches. It is important to deal with the source of such situations to help ease headaches and several other physical, emotional, and mental ailments associated with high levels of stress and increased anxiety.

Try to avoid situations that continue to aggravate your senses. Peace and solitude may be preferable to the drone of the television and background noise. Step away from paper and computer work, if possible. Above all, try to find a quiet spot to retreat to. This approach works for most cases. Meditation is worth exploring as well.

If you suspect a food allergy, try eliminating one food at a time from your diet for several days to two weeks and track the results. After all suspect foods have been eliminated, reintroduce them slowly, one at a time. Note which foods you react to and remove them from your diet. See the dedicated section on Food Allergies for more information.

To deal with fluctuating blood sugar levels, eat smaller meals throughout the day. Include more protein at each meal and less starchy and sugary carbohydrates.

Too much or too little sleep can result in a headache. Try to maintain a consistent sleep cycle.

Sit up straight. A poor posture can aggravate the spine and pinch nerves, which can cause a headache. Yoga and chiropractic can be used to treat both your posture and your headache.

Avoid alcohol consumption late at night. This can trigger headaches directly, or affect sleep patterns.
 

Minerals

Magnesium relaxes muscles and blood vessels. It is quite effective in dealing with migraines or headaches caused by premenstrual syndrome. This helps relieve both vascular and tension headaches. Take 1000mg daily. Use a chelated for better absorption. Magnesium glycinate or asparate are ideal choices.
 

Therapies, Healing Aids, and More

Chiropractic care can cure poor posture and re-align your back bone, reducing the possibility of pinched nerves as well.

Yoga is often an effective method of attaining a relaxed, peaceful state. It often works well for those with headaches.
 

Actions and Remedy Listings
 
 

Anxiety Reduction	Avoid Stimulants	Bryonia
Cayenne	Chiropractic	Eucalyptus
Feverfew	Food Allergy Testing	Garlic
Gelsemium	Ginger	Lavender
Magnesium	Meditation	Nux Vomica
Peppermint	Proper Sleep Cycle	Pulsatilla
Red Cherries	Rosemary	Scullcap
Quiet and Solitude	Stress Reduction	Wintergreen
Wood Betony	Yoga

 
For More Information ...

American Council on Headache Education (ACHE)

International Headache Society

 
See also Migraine.

 
See also Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorder, Constipation, Drug Addiction, Food Allergies, Hypertension, Hypoglycemia, Hypothyroidism, Muscle and Joint Sprains and Strains, Smoking Dependency, and Stress.