Many Different Types of Headache Treatment

Headaches are an extremely common complaint, and for the most part are due to muscular tension in the head, neck, or shoulders, or to congestion of the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain and muscles. In some cases a headache may be a symptom of a more serious underlying disorder, but often headaches are caused by stress, tiredness, poor posture, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, food allergy, eye strain, sinusitis, or low blood sugar. They can also be the result of a head injury. There are many different types of headache and the degree and intensity of pain vary accordingly. It may occur in any part of the head, usually worsening towards the end of the day.

Almost 90 percent of all people seeking medical help for headaches suffer from tension-type headaches. Cluster headaches produce short, severe attacks of pain centered over one eye. They are so called because they occur in clusters, many times a day, for several months. Spontaneous remissions often take place, but the pain usually returns some months or years later.

Cluster headaches are suffered most often by males. Researchers suspect that cluster headaches may be caused by a disorder in histamine metabolism, since they are usually accompanied by allergy symptoms such as tearing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose.

CAUTION
Headaches with associated features such as double vision, projectile vomiting, weakness, paralysis, vertigo, or one-sided deafness require urgent medical attention.

Symptoms
• sensation of a tight band around the head
• a feeling of pressure at the top of the head
• bursting or throbbing sensation
• eye and neck pain
• dizziness

TREATMENT 

An Ayurvedic treatment for sinus-related headaches is the steam inhalation of coriander seeds. Put the coriander seeds into a small bowl, pour on some boiling water, drape a towel over your head and the bowl, and inhale the steam. Coriander’s active ingredient is a volatile oil. Ayurveda For headaches, heat 3 tablespoons of mustard oil, soak a cloth in the solution and apply to the forehead as required. (See page 19.) Coriander seeds, steeped for several minutes in boiling water, can be inhaled under a towel to relieve sinus-related headaches. (See page 24.) Asna vilwadi thaila is an oil, for external use, which relieves headaches.

Chinese Herbalism 
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine recommends ginger for headaches. Eat a small piece of fresh ginger root or make ginger tea from the fresh root or tea bags. If you prefer, mix a large pinch of powdered ginger into a glass of cool water and drink it, or try powdered ginger in capsules, available from health food stores. Ginseng is another favorite Chinese herbal remedy for headaches. Traditional Home and Folk Remedies A ginger foot bath may ease the pain and warm the body. Chamomile tea soothes headache symptoms. A mustard foot bath is a traditional headache remedy. A few grains of cayenne pepper, added to tea, ease a headache. Fresh garlic bulbs, eaten in a salad, will clear headaches which have a feeling of congestion. Parsley and peppermint teas will clear the head.

Herbalism
Sitting down with a relaxing cup.of mild herbal tea is often good for a tension headache. Good choices are peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, rose hip, meadowsweet, or lemon balm. Valerian root tea can also be helpful, but it may induce sleep—use it with caution. Researchers are studying the benefits of the herb feverfew for treating chronic headaches and migraines. The leaves of this plant contain a substance that relaxes the blood vessels in your brain. Studies suggest that patients who eat a few fresh feverfew leaves or take an extract of the leaves every day have fewer and less severe migraines; the herb has no unpleasant side-effects. 

Aromatherapy 
The relaxing qualities of lavender oil make it a good treatment for a tension headache. This essential oil is very gentle, so you can massage a few drops of neat oil into your temples and the base of your neck. Try mixing a drop or two of peppermint oil in a bowl of hot water and inhaling the steam, then lie down with a warm compress soaked in sweet marjoram oil on your forehead. Place a few drops of lavender oil at the base of your nostrils for almost instant pain relief. Try taking a bath with relaxing oils such as chamomile or ylang ylang to soothe and relieve pain.

Homeopathy 
Most headaches would be dealt with constitutionally, that is, the treatment would be tailored to your individual needs. Other remedies to try include:
• Ignatia, for headaches caused by emotional stress. 
• Nux vomica, for headaches caused by overindulgence or stress. 
• Cimicifuga may be useful for pain caused by nervous muscular tension in the shoulders and neck.
• Nux vomica or Pulsatilla are both useful in many cases of migraine. 
• Aconite, for a sudden headache which feels worse for cold and is characterized by a tight band around the head. 
• Apis, for stinging, stabbing or burning headaches; when the body feels tender and sore. 
• Belladonna, for throbbing, drumming headaches with a f lushed face. 
• Bryonia, for sharp, stabbing pain when the eyes are moved. 
• Hypericum, for a bursting, aching headache with a sensitive scalp. 
• Ruta, for a pressing headache caused by fatigue, and made worse by reading. 

Vitamins and Minerals 
Frequent headaches could be a signal that you are low on some important vitamins and minerals. Low levels of niacin and vitamin B6 can cause headaches, for example, and all the B vitamins are needed to help combat stress and avoid tension headaches. Protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish, beans and peas, milk, cheese, nuts, and peanut butter are all good dietary sources of both niacin and vitamin B6. The minerals calcium and magnesium work together to help prevent headaches, especially those related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Good sources of calcium are dairy products, tofu, dark green leafy vegetables such as kale or broccoli, and beans and peas. Magnesium is found in dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, bananas, wheat germ, seafood, and beans and peas. If you can’t eat some of these foods because they are headache triggers for you, taking a good daily multivitamin with minerals should provide enough of all the nutrients you need to help prevent headaches.