Self-Help Solutions for Headaches

Although symptomatic relief of the pain is usually necessary, it is important to find out what is causing your headache especially if they are chronic in nature. Without determining the cause, you are using a gunshot approach as there are numerous causes of headaches as well as many treatments. To matters worse,  the treatment you choose can make things worse because if you don’t choose the right treatment,you may be masking other symptoms that need your attention.  

Take for example a vasoconstrictive type headaches  With this type of headache the blood vessels are "constricted " or narrowed, so your goal is to dilate these vessels.  However, if you take remedies that further constrict these blood vessels instead, your headache will potentially be made worse.

Although symptomatic relief of the pain is usually necessary, it is important to find out what is causing your headache especially if they are chronic in nature. Without determining the cause, you are using a gunshot approach as there are numerous causes of headaches as well as many treatments. To matters worse,  the treatment you choose can make things worse because if you don’t choose the right treatment,you may be masking other symptoms that need your attention.  

Take for example a vasoconstrictive type headaches  With this type of headache the blood vessels are "constricted " or narrowed, so your goal is to dilate these vessels.  However, if you take remedies that further constrict these blood vessels instead, your headache will potentially be made worse.

Below are some common causes of headaches although there are hundreds of causes

• Dehydration or not getting enough water
• Mineral or Electrolyte Deficiency (e.g. due to dehydration or low iron)
• Stress or Anxiety
• Lack of sleep, too much sleep or jet lag
• Eye strain or need for glasses or new prescription
• Food Additives (e.g. artificial colorings, dyes, nitrates(e.g. Found in lunch meats), sulfites, etc). Nitrates are found in lunchmeat, hotdogs, sliced meats.
• Food Allergies (aged cheese, chocolate contains phenethylamine)
• Artificial Sweeteners like Equal, Sweet n Low, Splenda
• Medications (e.g. statins and many others)
• High Blood Pressure
• Kidney Problems
• Sinus problems
• Lighting or bright light (e.g. Sunlight)
• Menstruation (Menstrual Headaches)
• Neck/spinal misalignment
• Chemicals (e.g. environmental, on the job or in the home)
• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies or protein deficiency
• Dental problems or infection
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Suddenly stopping medications, particularly medications such as painkillers, analgesics, or those containing caffeine
• Smoking or alcohol
• Trauma or injury
• Hormone imbalances, e.g. Hypothyroidism
• Change in barometric pressure or altitude

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1. Hydration—Increase your water intake. Hydration alone can get rid of many headaches so try this first! Staying hydrated will also lessen a headache recurrence. You can add colloidal minerals or ionic minerals to the water.

Avoid drinking dehydrating beverages like coffee, colas, black tea, etc.

2. Bodywork (includes massage, chiropractic, etc): tension in the neck and shoulders contributes to headaches of all kinds. Many times headaches can be relieved by massaging the shoulders neck and head. Chiropractic adjustments may be necessary and are helpful for easing headaches, too. For massage, apply oils that contain the following: wintergreen oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, lavender oil, clove oil, etc; Creams that contain capsicum can be very helpful to stimulate blood flow to the area. On neck and shoulders look for knots and massage these out.

3. Stress management: Take B-vitamins, Vitamin C and Eleuthero Root, an adaptogen.

Better diet and avoiding food allergens

4. Detoxification (e.g. Liver cleanse). Also, herbs that help to cool the liver are helpful such as dandelion and burdock. Lemon water is also helpful (squeeze fresh lemon into water).  Don't move too quickly with a liver cleanse or it can actually cause a headache.

Address emotional issues with flower remedies

5. Magnesium Deficiency: 70% of people are deficient in magnesium. Deficiency of magnesium is linked to insomnia and chronic tension. Dark leafy vegetables are high in magnesium.

Blood sugar/insulin levels: Eat regular meals (5 small meals a day OR 3 regular meals with 2 snacks)

6. Constipation: If constipation is present, this could be the cause of your headaches; enemas can clear up the headaches within minutes (and also flushes out toxins). Periodic cleanses and working on the liver can have long-lasting results.

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11 TYPES OF HEADACHES AND THEIR TREATMENTS

1. Migraine headaches

Symptoms: Approximately 30% of sufferers of migraines experience an “aura” proceeding a migraine that lasts around 60 minutes. Migraines themselves may last between 4 to 72 hours. General symptoms   of migraines are light-headedness, throbbing pain (usually on one side of head, but can be on both sides), nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light, sound and smells. Migraines are usually vascular in nature and caused by rapid fluctuations in neurotransmitters (most possibly serotonin, a relaxing neurotransmitter) or a histamine reaction that causes inflammation.

Natural Treatment for Migraines:

Increase Water Intake: Migraines can be caused simply by dehydration or a deficiency in minerals and electrolytes. Simply increasing water with electrolytes daily may help.  Adding a splash of organic lemon in the mix may help as well.

Purple Butterbur - take daily or regularly for best results

Feverfew - Feverfew can work but note that not all feverfew herb is the same. Buy one which has standardized parthenolides. Feverfew can also help with the nausea which accompanies a migraine.

Ginger: may help reduce migraine headaches and nausea. Use a 1 gm extract. Make into tea or candy but be sure to use brand which contains enough ginger.

Co -Q 10 (enzyme): mainly used to support the cardiovascular system and heart, but also works great for migraine headaches too; If you are taking statins (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, etc) it is recommended you take supplemental CoQ10 because statin drugs wipe out CoQ10 in the body's cells by blocking the pathway of CoQ10 getting into the cells. *This is also why the use of statin drugs can cause migraine headaches. When we age, the levels of CoQ10 also decreases.

Riboflavin and *Magnesium -Both are usually low in migraine sufferers, especially Riboflavin, so be sure to take this one daily.

Vitamins B6, B12, Folic acid: These are usually low in those who suffer from migraines or frequent headaches.

Nux Vomica, a homeopathic remedy can be very helpful and easy to take.

Natural Anti-inflammatories: May help relieve the pain and inflammation associated with migraines.

Curcumin: Reduces inflammation

Boswellia: used for arthritis, coughs, asthma, colitis, sores, and snakebites. Boswellia is a potent inhibitor of inflammatory compounds, particularly of the 5–LOX pathway. It is cytotoxic (meaning it promotes cell death in cancer cells), without harming healthy cells. The active compounds of boswellia are boswellic acids. Think of Boswellia as getting the benefits of steroids without the adverse effects.

DLPA (DL-Phenylalanine): this is an amino acid which has analgesic effects

Nattokinase: this is an enzyme made from fermented Natto (a type of soybean). It enhances circulation, including the micro-circulation and helps to break up clots.

Witch hazel or Peppermint essential oil: Can be applied to the temples and forehead (between the eyes) which are both acupressure points - Helps to “pull out heat”.

Probiotics (or friendly bacteria) have been shown to help some who suffer from migraines.

2. Menstrual Headaches

Usually caused by estrogen dropping off in the beginning of the menstrual cycle

Treatment: Take CoQ10 and DIM (diindolylmethane) daily Take Purple Butterbur before onset to prevent a menstrual headache Note: DIM contains diindolylmethane, a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale. Unlike other plant nutrients such as soy isoflavones, diindolylmethane has unique hormonal benefits. It supports the activity of enzymes that improve estrogen metabolism. Scientific research shows diindolylmethane increases the level of favorable estrogens (2-hydroxy-estrogen) while reducing the level of less favorable estrogens (16-hydroxyestrogen).

3. Tension-Caused Headaches (these make up 90% of headaches):

This is the most common type of headache is and usually caused by muscular tension which puts stress on the nerves in the head. It can be triggered by stress, fatigue, depression or misalignment of the spine.

Treatment: Increase your hydration. Most tension headaches can be relieved simply by increasing water intake, massaging the head and shoulder areas and taking herbal nervines. Bodywork (massage, chiropractic care) and stress management will be helpful Relaxing nervines such as Scullcap, Valerian, or Vervain

4. Cluster Headaches:

Symptoms are intensely painful, feeling like a jabbing knife-like pain behind or near one eye. The pain may be so intense they some have called them "suicide headaches". Approximately 90% of sufferers are males with only a small amount of females getting these type headaches. The pain can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, but could last up to several weeks in some. Cluster Headaches usually are seasonal, occurring in the spring and fall.

Treatment: Eliminate alcohol, smoking, cold, or hot air blowing across the face Certain foods and substances that dilate blood vessels can trigger these headaches. Try eliminating caffeine and sulfites to see if these are the cause. Sulfites are found in foods like instant soups, gravies, condiments, frostings, etc.

5. Trauma Headaches

These headaches are caused by injury to the head and may occur months after the injury happened-May mimic migraine or tension headaches. Can occur daily & are resistant to treatment.

Treatment: Best therapies are bodywork such as chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, etc. Medical evaluation is necessary

6. Allergy / Sensitivity Caused Headaches

These may be classified as migraine, cluster or sinus headaches because of the symptoms they produce, but are caused by allergies or chemical sensitivities.

Treatment: Eliminate offending substances such as MSG, ice cream, hot dogs, alcohol, aspartame, and carbon monoxide fumes. Once the offending substance is found and removed these headaches are resolved rapidly. Low blood sugar can also trigger these headaches.

7. TMJ / Dental headaches

Symptoms involve facial pain in the jaw or mouth region. Usually caused by misalignment of jaw bone and results in muscle tension. Dental and mouth problems, jaw clenching, teeth grinding and emotional stress play a role in these headaches. The jaw typically makes a popping, clicking or cracking sound when eating or there is pain after eating or yawning.

Treatment: Chiropractic adjustments, Dental evaluation (see a dentist), Stress management

8. Eyestrain Headaches

Symptoms produce a mild headache felt primarily in forehead and face and behind the eyes. These headaches are muscular contraction headaches like tension headaches, but the cause is long periods of focused work, such as working on a computer, not wearing glasses or other causes of eyestrain.

Treatment: Corrective lenses or new pair of glasses Relaxing the eyes periodically when working.

9. Rebound Headaches

These type of headaches usually occur when someone discontinues painkillers or analgesics or withdraws from caffeine or takes a holiday from stress. They are characterized by dull throbbing on both sides of head. The body becomes used to a particular substance and when it doesn't have it, there is a rebound effect. Caffeine contracts blood vessels so withdrawal causes vasodilation. (reason excederin has caffeine in it). Painkillers reduce the body’s natural production of pain killer so you get rebound headache pain.

Treatment: Liver cleanse (detoxification of medications or caffeine); Avoidance of the offending substance.

10. Exertion-Caused Headaches

Symptoms involve a brief throbbing head pain experienced during or following intense physical activity.

Treatment: These are vascular-related headaches and usually easy to relieve by simple lifestyle changes (e.g. better diet and relaxation). My be caused by dehydration resulting from sweating (due to loss of electrolytes after exercise) so drinking plenty of water and getting electrolytes replaced in the body can help as well.

11. Sinus Headaches

Symptoms are usually caused by a sinus infection.

Treatment: Fenugreek and Thyme are great for these type of headaches.

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IS HEADACHE VASODILATIVE OR  VASOCONSTRICTIVE?

1. Vasodilative Headaches

Symptoms: throbbing, pounding, an exploding feeling. 

There is too much blood rushing to the head because energy is increased in the head area. The ears tend to turn red, and maybe the eyes as well. The eyes may be sensitive to light. You will have the urge to hold your head. These types of headaches are usually liver-related (stress or toxicity) or due to allergies.

Treatment:

Application of cold

Feverfew

Purple butterbur

Hops

Wild lettuce

Digestive bitters

Check for any allergies and work on detoxifying the liver. This type headache usually benefits from a liver cleanse.

2. Vasoconstrictive Headaches

Symptoms: sensation of pressure like the head is being squeezed by a belt or vice grip due to blood flow to the head being constricted.

Treatment:

Application of heat

Drink lots of water

Gingko

Periwinkle

Willow bark

Black cohosh

Lavender oil

Lobelia

Skullcap

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It’s important to find the ‘underlying’ cause of the headaches so that you can fix the problem permanently and not have to resort to medications a a regular basis.

1. NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories):  Advil, Ibuprofen, and other NSAIDS are bad for the liver, but worse for the heart because they reduce kidney function and this puts excessive strain on the heart and blood pressure; this slight increase in blood pressure puts you at increased risk of stroke by about 50% (e.g. ibuprofen, Advil, naprosin/naproxin sodium). These meds are accountable for 16,500 drug deaths per year—most of which involved gastrointestinal bleeding and others which involved heart attack and stroke.

2. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is incredibly toxic to the liver. Tylenol use is the #1 cause of acute liver failure in America; It is also the #1 drug overdose seen in emergency rooms with resultant severe liver toxicity. Even Tylenol in smaller amounts can be toxic.

3. Aleve (naproxen sodium) is just as bad as the above meds. It causes gastric ulcerations and is responsible for deaths as well.

4. Benadryl - reduces histamine – Benadryl is okay IF you have increased histamine, but not good if you take it when your histamine levels are normal, because then you will abnormally lower it.

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