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Headaches and Migraine
Most people experience headaches at least occasionally, whilst some
suffer frequently. Approximately a quarter of all people will suffer
from migraine at some time in their lives. Very often they start in
childhood, or by the age of 20 to 35, and disappear as we get older.
Despite much research, it is still not absolutely known which of several
possible mechanisms is responsible for causing migraine. Even with the
technically advanced use of specialized tests, there is still some debate.
There are thought to be several main factors that can trigger a migraine,
however.
Stress chemicals such as adrenaline and catecholamines
Stress chemicals
cause the release of a chemical called serotonin from specialized blood
cells called platelets. This chemical causes blood vessels to constrict,
resulting in a reduced oxygen flow to parts of the brain. A rebound
defence reflex occurs that causes an increase in blood flow, causing
pressure on the nerves and also a release of a substance that triggers
pain, known as substance P.
Food and other allergens,
including pollutants
Food intolerance
and other toxins may trigger a stress chemical response as described
above. A specific group of proteins known as amines that are found in
alcohol, chocolate and cheese can all trigger attacks by directly causing
vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels). The list of foods that
have been found in many trials to cause problems is very long but isolating
your food ‘triggers’ is necessary.
Structural
Any problem that
can affect cranial blood flow may be relevant and malposition of the
cranial bones, especially the jaw joint (known as the temporomandibular
joint), is common. Check with your dentist or cranial osteopath.
Hormonal imbalances
Hormonal changes
found in a normal female cycle, or imbalances, can trigger headache
or migraine.
Headaches can also be caused by
constipation and intestinal disturbances. Putrefactive processes
develop gases which enter the liver through the portal vein and, from
there, find their way into the bloodstream. Headaches frequently result
because the nerve and brain cells are affected by the poisons circulating
in the blood. Abdominal troubles and diseases can also trigger headaches.
Overwork tends to erode one’s nervous energy or cause muscular tension
and this may start a headache too. Headache experts estimate that about
90 percent of all headaches are tension headaches and 6 percent are
migraines. Tension headaches, as the name implies, are causes by muscular
tension.
High or low blood pressure can trigger headaches.
Other causes include tiredness,
weather changes and eye ‘strain’.
Trauma to the head, perhaps from the past, needs to be investigated.
Check with a cranial osteopath.
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar, hunger) is a common cause of headache.
Withdrawal symptoms from tobacco or coffee can precipitate a headache
within a few hours of the last ‘fix’.
Exposure to irritants such as pollution, perfume or after-shaves.
Sinus pressure and inflammation can be the culprit.
Anaemia needs to be ruled out, as does tooth-grinding, toxic overdoses
of vitamin A, vitamin B deficiency, and diseases of the eye, nose and
throat.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid chewing
gum, ice cream, iced drinks, salt and excessive sunlight.
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Practice deep-breathing exercises. A
lack of oxygen can cause headaches.
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Try eliminating foods containing tyramine
and the amino acid phenylalanine. Then reintroduce one food at a
time and see which ones produce headaches. Phenylalanine is found
in aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), monosodium glutamate (MSG), and
nitrites (preservatives found in hot dogs and luncheon meats and
bacon and ham). Foods that contain tyramine include alcoholic beverages,
bananas, cheese, chicken, chocolate, citrus fruits, cold cuts, herring,
onions, peanut butter, pork, smoked fish, sour cream, vinegar, wine
and fresh-baked yeast products. Tyramine causes the blood pressure
to rise, resulting in a dull headache.
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Discover your food/chemical sensitivities
via allergy testing.
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Always seek and treat the cause of the
headache, not the symptom. Long-term use of aspirin and other painkillers
can make chronic headaches worse by interfering with the brain’s
natural ability to fight headaches.
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Eat a high fibre diet and include extra
fibre in the form of supplements. (Note: Always take supplemental
fibre separately from other supplements and medications.)
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Carry out a cleansing enema once a week
until all is normal.
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When a headache strikes, take a cleansing
enema. This removes the toxins that cause many headaches. If not
eliminated, toxins can be absorbed into the bloodstream and circulated
throughout the body.
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Experiment with hot compresses (heating
pad, hot water bottle, or hot towel) to relax neck and shoulder
muscles, which can cause muscle contraction headaches when they
are too tight.
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Or see if you prefer a cold compress
(leave a damp face cloth in the freezer for 10 minutes or use a
cold gel-pack).
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For headaches caused by sinus congestion,
try self-massage. By applying pressure to specific areas of the
head, you can open up the sinuses and ease tension. Rub the area
surrounding the bones just above and below the eyes, and massage
the cheeks directly in line with these points. Lean your head forward
slightly to facilitate sinus drainage. Applying heat to the sinuses,
either with compresses or with steam inhalation, can also be beneficial.
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To help prevent headaches, eat small
meals and snack healthily between, to help stabilize wide swings
in blood sugar.
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Get an appropriate amount of sleep –
not too little, but not too much.
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If you suffer from headaches while taking
birth control pills, talk to your Doctor about switching to a low-oestrogen
formulation or going off the pills for a while. Oral contraceptives
can cause a vitamin B6 deficiency that results in headaches and
migraines. Women who suffer from migraines may benefit from using
progesterone cream topically.
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If any of the following
symptoms accompany the headache, consult your Doctor: blurred vision,
confusion or loss of speech, fever and stiffness in the neck, sensitivity
to light, pressure behind the eyes that is relieved by vomiting,
a pounding heartbeat, visual colour changes, and feeling as though
your head will explode. Seek immediate medical attention if you
experience a sudden, severe headache like a “thunderclap”, or if
you experience a headache after a head injury, even a minor fall
or bump. Chronic headache pain that worsens after coughing, exertion,
straining, or sudden movement is also reason to seek medical attention.
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Learn a relaxation technique through
Yoga, Qi Gong or meditation. Have regular massage.
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Biofeedback can be useful.
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Consider cranial osteopathy to correct
any malalignment of the cranial and neck bones. Also mention your
headaches to your dentist – your jaw may be out of alignment.
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Acupuncture and Shiatsu have been shown
to be effective in reducing frequency of attacks.
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Homoeopathic remedies for migraine should
be chosen based on the symptoms, but pay special attention to the
following remedies that could be tried, one at a time, at potency
6 every half-hour in the ‘aura’ stage or every 10 minutes if a migraine
starts: Thuja and Spigalia for left-sided onset; Sanguinaria, Thus
tox. and Iris for right-sided onset. Better still, consult a homoeopath
or a good homoeopathic manual.
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Herbs which can relieve headache pain
include feverfew, goldenseal, lavender, rosemary, mint, marshmallow,
thyme, fenugreek, burdock root, brigham, lobelia and skullcap.
Caution: Do not use
feverfew during pregnancy. Do not take goldenseal internally on
a daily basis for more than one week at a time, do not use it during
pregnancy, and use it with caution if you are allergic to ragweed.
Do not take lobelia internally on an ongoing basis.
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Essential oils of chamomile, lavender,
peppermint, cypress, frankincense, sandalwood, rose, lemon, eucalyptus,
basil, marjoram, and melissa can all be useful in different headache/migraine
situations. Find an oil that suits you, and mix 2-4 drops with a
carrier oil such as grapeseed oil or almond oil.
Supplements
Often, a combination of supplements may
help in alleviating this condition. You may wish to consult a nutritional
therapist for personal advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating
symptoms are shown below:
(please
also read this important notice concerning supplement medical claims)
Also consider:
1 xQuercetin with Bromelain 3 times a day.
Regulate inflammatory response in case of allergy. (BioCare).
Recommended Books
health book - Food Solutions: Headaches and Migraines
health book - Migraine Handbook, The
health book - Stress Protection Plan, The
see also:
allergies and food intolerance
cookbooks
Supplements that can help this condition
(Click on one to view)
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