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Natural, fast relief from chronic headaches.

The biological or physical cause of  headaches is a genetically based deficiency of  the brain chemical serotonin.  This deficiency alters the physiology of the  blood vessels,  pain receptors, and other elements in the brain to produce a headache.

This single cause produces a variety of headaches.  The two most common are migraines and tension headaches.   There are many headache triggers, from food to stress to hormones to weather changes,  but you probably have to be genetically predisposed to chronic headaches for the triggers to affect you time and time again.

What do people typically do to stop the pain?  Reach for a pain killer, of course.  And these medications work, at least for a while.

Unfortunately, chronic headache sufferers can quickly develop a tolerance to painkillers,  causing them to need more medications to stop the pain. Eventually, it gets to a point where not taking medications can trigger headaches,  as the body attempts to withdraw from the drug. This phenomenon, called rebound headaches,  affects millions of chronic headache sufferers.

Yes, there are many prescription and over-the-counter medications that, when used sensibly, can help control chronic headaches. However, alternative remedies are often better choices, or they can be combined with medications so you need less painkiller.

The treatment of chronic headache may not be successful with medication alone.  The headache sufferer needs to include a variety of other strategies, such as proper diet,  nutritional supplements,  stress management,  and many other factors.

In fact, after visiting your doctor to rule out a serious cause for your headaches such as a tumor or infection, there are many ways to achieve immediate headache relief that may be more effective than drugs.  Start with the cold comfort of ice.

ICE:  A Headache Sufferer’s Best Friend

Many people will find that during acute episodes,  ice is the best form of pain relief.  Ice cuts pain by reducing swollen blood vessels that are pressing on nerves, by overriding pain messages to the brain,  and by lowering metabolism,  which reduces muscle contraction.

A reusable ice pack,  wrapped ice or even a bag of frozen food will work.  Cover the ice or cold object with a paper towel or a thin layer of cloth to protect your skin.  Then place the ice on the painful area,  but only for 20 minutes at a time to reduce the chance of skin damage.  The sooner you apply ice after the headache starts,  the faster and more thorough the pain relief.

ACUPRESSURE: Hand-to-Hand Pain Relief

Pressing the acupressure point in the thick,  meaty part of the web between your thumb and forefinger can help relieve headache pain. Using your opposite hand,  feel for the tender area in the web and press and rub them,  squeezing with your on the back of your hand and one or more fingers hooked under your palm.  Apply pressure with a rhythmic, pumping action.

AROMATHERAPY: As Effective as Ibuprofen

Rubbing peppermint oil on your temples at the start of a tension headache can relieve pain just as effectively as taking ibuprofen,  the popular over-the-counter pain reliever.  Dilute one drop of peppermint essential oil in one to two drops of almond oil to your head,  or add three drops to a warm bath. Other essential oils,  such as lavender or Roman chamomile,  can also help relieve tension headache, sprinkle one drop of the oil of your choice onto a tissue and inhale deeply. Or take a bath in warm water to which you’ve added five to six drops of oil.

VITAMIN B6

Vitamin B6 may help stabilize the brain’s serotonin levels,  preventing headaches,  it is recommended that 50 milligrams a day for chronic headache sufferers.

FEVERFEW:  Similar to Aspirin

The herb Feverfew may help reduce the frequency of migraines.  It contains compounds called Sesquiterpene  Lactones, which may have anti-inflammatory properties similar to aspirin’s.

GINGER: Perfect for “Vata” Headaches

Your mind races,  you start a lot of new things but never finish,  you have irregular habits,  and you need a lot of change in your life.  If that  description fits you,  try the “grounding”  herb ginger for your headaches.  Put one teaspoon of grated fresh ginger in a 16 to 24 ounce Thermos of hot water and sip throughout the day.  This remedy comes from Ayurveda,  the ancient system of natural healing from India.

ALOE:  Great for ” Pitta”  headaches

Do you try to get a lot done in a short period?  Are you irritable and critical?  Have insomnia?  Tend to suffer from heartburn and skin rashes?

Try  “cooling”  aloe juice for your headache.  Take 2 tablespoons twice a day.

FIBRE AND WATER:  No Constipation,  No Headache

A high percentage of people with migraines are constipated and that improving their regularity helps reduce their headaches.  Eat 5 or 6 servings of fruits, vegetables or grains plus nuts,  seeds,  and plenty of water.

Mind-Body Healing Makes Stress less of a Headache

While stress is not the cause of chronic headaches,  it can trigger episodes.  And mind-body techniques,  such as breathing,  meditation,  visualization, yoga can help defuse stress and prevent headaches.

Relief for Menstrual Headaches

The right vitamins and minerals can ease headaches linked to your menstrual cycle.  Here’s what is recommended.

VITAMIN E:  Take it before your Period.

MAGNESIUM:  Is a deficiency causing your migraine.

CALCIUM: Another natural medicine for menstrual migraines.

RIBOFLAVIN: Fewer migraines.

TRIGGER FOODS:  DISCOVER THE HEADACHE CAUSERS.

Foods that contain a chemical called Tyramine are strongly linked to chronic headaches in many people.   The only sure way to discover which of the following foods is giving headaches is to eliminate all of them and then return one  food at a time to your diet,  noting if it gives you a headache.

• Smoked and cured meats.
• Herring, caviar, and smoked fish.
• Vinegar.
• Pickled and fermented foods.
• Aged cheese such as Cheddar,  Brie, and Gruyere.
• Products high in yeasts,  including doughnuts,  breads especially hot,  fresh bread.
• Chocolate.
• Sugar and all products made with processed sugar or corn syrup.
• Citrus fruits in large quantities.
• Figs.
• Sour cream and yoghurt.
• Caffeine.
• Alcoholic beverages,  especially red wine.

Roberto Garcia (Health & Fitness Specialist) 
http://www.newhealthandfitnessdvds.co.uk

Specialist provider of Health and Fitness information and products including Fitness DVDs, Health & Fitness Books and Specialist Health & Fitness Supplements.

Tags: Chronic headache, Menstrual headaches, Migraines, stress, Tension headaches

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 10:03 pm and is filed under Medical. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.