Natural headache relief

  Email this article to a friend

Headaches are a symptom – not a disease. They often indicate poor dietary habits,  stress, tension in back, neck and shoulders, sinus, constipation, poor respiration and circulation, lifestyle and environmental pollution.  Cluster headaches are more frequent over a longer period of time.  Migraine headaches are more severe, sometimes involving nausea, vomiting, and changes in vision which may become worse with exposure to light.

Pressure in the temples and forehead usually indicate that there are stomach problems.  Throbbing pain often indicates congestion in the liver, spleen and digestive tract.  Migraine headaches are often caused by excess starches and sugars and can also be triggered by allergies and may be relieved by identifying and avoiding foods that are causing the problem.

Autointoxication headaches are the most common and it is believed they originate from the stomach usually as the result of overeating, especially junk food and poor food combination, resulting in fermentation in the intestines and stomach which causes gases to enter the blood and cause irritation on the nerves and brain.

Some people who suffer from migraines also react to salt, and eliminating salt is helpful for some of these people. Lactose-intolerant individuals may benefit from avoiding milk, cheese and ice cream. In addition, some migraine sufferers are unable to break down tyramine which is a food chemical that dilates blood vessels.  Foods containing tyramine are aged cheeses, pickled herring, sausages, beef and chicken, sauerkraut, vanilla, chocolate, yeast, beer, ale and red wine.  Other foods that may trigger migraine are nitrates (found in hotdogs, bacon, ham, salami, corned beef and lunch meats),  MSG, as well as sugar and starches which are often the cause of migraine headaches .

Tryptophan, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods, is converted to serotonin, a substance that might worsen some migraines. As a result, low-protein diets can be beneficial in reducing migraine attacks. Some doctors have found reactions to smoking and birth control pills to be additional contributing factors in migraines.

Because food allergies can exacerbate their symptoms, you can perform an effective do-it-yourself test that will help you identify food sources of allergies. “The Pulse Test” was developed by immunologist Dr Arthur Coca who states in his book the necessary steps to provide proof that certain foods are actually the cause of allergies.   The steps are easy:  Determine your average pulse rate for one minute.  Check your pulse rate again after eating and digesting a suspected allergic food.  If your pulse rises 20 plus beats higher than your average, you are probably allergic to the food.  By simply avoiding that food you could relieve many of the symptoms associated with allergies.  

Nutritional supplements that may be helpful:

Magnesium is a fast-acting and highly effective mineral treatment for migraine relief.  Migraine patients also appear to have lower levels of magnesium and intravenous magnesium can relieve some migraines in a matter of minutes. Most of the benefit of supplemental magnesium seems to be with younger women.

Vitamin D has been useful in treating migraines. Natural sources of vitamin D is found in Fish oil which can be helpful helps because of its effects in modifying prostaglandins, hormone-like substances made by the body.

Researchers using high (400 mg per day) amounts of vitamin B2 found beneficial results in most of the migraine sufferers. Vitamin B-complex is necessary for maintaining the biochemical balance of all B vitamins when supplementing with any single B Vitamin individually.

The cause of migraine headaches is sometimes related to abnormal serotonin function in blood vessels, and 5-HTP may help correct this abnormality it contains hydroxytryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, an important brain neurotransmiter that produces pain-relieving effects. 

Preliminary research also suggests that supplements of SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) are helpful in the treatment of migraine headaches because it is involved in important biochemical reactions especially in the manufacture of neurotransmitter in the brain..

Herbs that may be helpful: Long-term treatment and prevention of migraines is feverfew  which inhibits both hyperaggregation of platelets and the release of serotonin and some inflammatory mediators. Studies have shown that continuous use of feverfew leads to a reduction in the severity, duration, and frequency of migraine headaches but results may not be evident for 4-6 weeks.

One case report suggested success using ginger for migraines when nausea  accompanies the headache.

Ginkgo biloba extract may also help because it reduces the formation of a substance known as platelet-activating factor, which may contribute to migraines.

LIV-J is an herbal blend used to clean the toxics in the liver which is the possible cause of migraine headaches.

Homeopathics that may be helpful:  Migraquel  is a homeopathic blend that can be taken for the relief of pain and other symptoms associated with throbbing, debilitating cluster headaches

email zherbalist@naturalviewpoint.com with questions or comments

Copyright © 2007 naturalviewpoint