Prevent Cluster Headaches

To Prevent Cluster Headaches:

• Avoid alcohol (even a little can trigger an attack).
• Avoid smoking or breathing secondhand smoke.
• Reduce or relieve stress.
• Use relaxation techniques, including biofeedback.
• Avoid excessive cold or heat, if possible.
• Avoid bright or flickering lights; wear sunglasses outdoors.

Treat Migraine or Tension Headaches

To Treat Migraine or Tension Headaches

• Use relaxation techniques.
• Apply an ice pack to your head or neck.
• Try other cold and hot therapies.
• Take a nap.
• Get a massage.
• Avoid bright and flickering lights; wear sunglasses outdoors.
• Try homeopathic or herbal therapy.
• Consider acupressure, acupuncture, or Korean hand therapy.
• Try magnets.
• Use TENS.

Prevent Migraine or Tension Headaches

To Prevent Migraine or Tension Headaches

• Reduce and/or relieve stress.
• Use relaxation techniques, including biofeedback.
• Avoid food triggers.
• Abstain from alcohol.
• Stop smoking.
• Eat regularly to maintain blood sugar levels.
• Taper off on caffeine intake.
• Adopt a regular sleep schedule; don’t get too little or too much sleep.
• Stay away from cigarette smoke, perfume, and other odors.
• If your headaches are hormonally related, consider taking vitamin B and magnesium supplements.
• Limit your time on the computer.
• Avoid bright and flickering lights; wear sunglasses outdoors.
• Exercise regularly.
• Cleanse the colon.
• Prevent motion sickness by riding in the front seat of the car and stopping frequently.
• Take recommended supplements.
• Improve your posture; consider chiropractic.
• Use an air ionizer if weather changes bring on your migraines.

Aromas for Headaches and Migraines

The following list identifies the essential oils commonly used to treat headaches, their special qualities, and their yin or yang predisposition.

• Cardamom - A yang scent with a sweet and spicy aroma, cardamom helps relieve headaches and strengthen the entire body.

• Chamomile - The flowers of the English (also called Roman) chamomile plant have a gentle sedative action that relaxes the body and is useful for relieving tension headaches, irritability, depression, and anxiety. Chamomile also relaxes the smooth muscles of the intestine, making it a good remedy for migraine-related nausea. A cup of chamomile tea before bedtime can help lull you to sleep, but the aroma is also very effective in a warm bath. Chamomile is a yin aroma.

• Lavender - Well-known for its ability to encourage relaxation, ease muscle spasms, relieve pain, lift depression, and tone the nervous system, lavender (a yang aroma) is a popular remedy for headaches
and migraines, as well as the anxiety and insomnia that often accompany them.

• Marjoram - As popular with chefs as it is with aromatherapists, this savory yang scent is used to relieve tension headaches, migraine headaches, and the resultant insomnia.

• Peppermint - A yang aroma, peppermint is able to relieve pain, prevent muscle spasms that can contribute to tension headaches, and strengthen the nervous system.

• Rose - An antidepressant with sedative and general tonic properties, rose is a yin aroma used for PMS headaches and insomnia.

• Rosemary -An early favorite of European herbalists, this yang aroma is useful for treating hangover headaches, improving circulation, and strengthening blood vessels.

Aromas For Migraines

Many of the aromas used for general headache relief are also used to treat migraines; these include chamomile, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, and rosemary. But the following aroma may be even more
effective:

• Basil - This savory yang aroma helps restore balance to the nervous system, which is a vital part of combating the stress that accompanies migraines. Basil also strengthens the mind, clarifies thought, and banishes intellectual fatigue. Caution: pregnant women should not use basil.

• Eucalyptus - Taken from one of the world’s tallest trees, eucalyptus (a yin aroma) is a painkiller useful for treating migraines or sinus headaches, especially when used in conjunction with peppermint.

• Melissa - A lemon-scented yang aroma, melissa works against migraines both directly and indirectly by combating the tension that can bring them on, as well as the nausea and depression that can accompany them.

Be cautious in using aromatherapy for migraines. Use aromatherapy only at the onset of the attack. Odors inhaled later may increase severity of the migraine and bring on nausea. 

 

Bach’s Remedies for Headaches

Working intuitively, Dr. Bach identified some thirty different flowers that he believed had healing effects. While he did not outline any setin stone prescriptions for various diseases, the flowers that may be helpful for headaches include the following:

• Centaury - For those who find it hard to say no to others, even when they know others take advantage of them. Centaury helps you find and follow your own path in life.
• Cherry plum - For those who worry that they are not able to govern their thoughts and actions, or those who say and do things that offend their own moral codes. Cherry plum helps you to find and trust your deep inner wisdom.
• Holly - For those who feel unloved or are plagued by envy. Holly helps you develop the ability to love and feel loved. 
• Hornbeam -For those who think that it’s just too hard to get through a typical day. Hornbean helps you become more lively mentally and develop more enthusiasm.
• Mimulus -For those who have a fear of heights, disease, or death. Mimulus helps you overcome your fear and be patient with others who also fear.
• White chestnut -For those whose minds are plagued by unnecessary and unwanted worries. White chestnut encourages you to govern your thoughts.

Other helpful Bach remedies include gentian, oak, red chestnut, pine, scleranthus, vine, and water violet. You can also try the Rescue Remedy, which is a combination of several flower essences, including rock rose, cherry plum, clematis, impatiens, and star-of-Bethlehem. It’s used for emergency situations, shock, and stress and can help stabilize the emotions.

While you can use more than one remedy at a time, guard against taking so many that their actions become confused. Five or six at once is usually plenty. If your problem is deep-rooted, you may have to take the remedies for a while (say, a couple of months) before you see results.

The Homeopathic Approach to Headaches

The following list identifies some of the remedies commonly prescribed for headaches, and the kinds of headaches they may be used to treat. The common name is first, followed by its Latin name in  parentheses:

• Anacardium (Anarcardium)—For a tearing headache related to strong mental effort. The pain strikes the forehead and the back of the head, and the patient is irritable or angry.
• Belladonna (Belladonna)—For a throbbing headache that is made worse by movement, noise, or light. It hurts more on the right side then the left, and the face is red.
• Bryonia (Bryonia alba)—For a headache that generally hurts more in the morning and immediately sends waves of pain through the head with the slightest movement.
• Gelsemium (Gelsemium)—For headache patients who are listless and tired, and who suffer from a dull pain. The pain is worse in the early hours of the day but eases some after urinating.
• Ipecac (Ipecacuanha)—For headaches triggered by arthritis of the neck, accompanied by upset stomach and vomiting.
• Silica (Silicea)—For a headache related to mental exhaustion. The pain moves from the back of the head to the right eye and is worsened by noise or movement.

There are also remedies specifically geared to migraines, including the following remedies:

• Cimicifuga (Cimicifuga racemosa)—For a migraine that comes from long-term study or worry, with pain that seems to be pressing out against the inside of the skull.
• Scullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia)—For a migraine that makes you feel restless, producing a dull pain in the front of the head and a reddening of the face.

Acupuncture for Headaches

According to acupuncturists, as many as five hundred points on the body are connected to nerve receptors. When extremely thin stainless steel needles (some no thicker than a hair) are eased into some of these areas (acupoints), the nerve cells are stimulated and pain decreases. Although Western science can’t explain why it might work, acupuncture is thought to trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s “feel good” hormones that fight pain and depression. Studies have found that acupuncture also stimulates the immune and circulatory systems.

When you first visit an acupuncturist, you may be surprised at the amount of time he or she spends interviewing you. Naturally, you’ll be asked about your symptoms, your medical history, and your pain, but you’ll also be quizzed about your diet, sleeping habits, bowel habits, and emotional state. The acupuncturist will probably examine your tongue, fingernails, eyes, and skin; may listen to your speaking voice, bowel sounds, and breathing; and will take your pulse. The idea is to find out the source of the imbalance in your body that’s leading to your headaches.

During an acupuncture session, you’ll loosen your clothes, lie down on a padded table, and receive one or more of the following treatments:

• Insertion of acupuncture needles: Very thin acupuncture needles are slid into the designated acupoints and left in place for twenty to forty minutes. The needles may seem to be in places that are mighty far from your head, but energy pathways extend through out the body, and blockages in your leg may be causing your head
  pain. Be patient.
• Insertion of acupuncture needles and application of a low level electrical current: The acupuncturist inserts the needles, then attaches them via tiny wires to a machine that delivers a low-grade dose of electricity. When the machine is turned on, the needles exude a slight vibration for a somewhat more intense stimulation of the nerves. It shouldn’t hurt or even feel annoying, and the machine can be adjusted to increase or decrease the intensity of the current.
• Burning of herbs (moxibustion): An herb called mugwort (or moxa in Chinese) is burned over the acupuncture points to stimulate them. The herb, in pill form, is attached to a piece of cardboard that is placed on the acupoint. As the pill burns gently and slowly on top of the cardboard, the acupoint is stimulated by the heat.
• Cupping: Little glass cups are warmed and placed on top of the acupuncture points, and as they cool, they create a suction-cup effect that stimulates the area.

If you decide to try acupuncture, be aware that you may need five or six sessions before the treatment “takes” and you see results. But once you experience pain relief, it may last for days, weeks, or even months. For best results, get regular acupuncture treatments once or twice a week for at least two months. Then, if you feel it’s working, you may want to cut back to once a week or once every other week.

Acupressure for Headaches

The most obvious place to begin your exploration of acupressure is in the office of a certified practitioner of acupressure or acupuncture. But, other skilled health professionals also practice acupressure, including most massage therapists and some physical therapists. Eventually you can learn to perform acupressure on yourself, but it’s best to begin with a professional.

During a session, you’ll lie on a padded table or a mat on the floor, and the acupressurist will use fingers, thumbs, elbows, and palms to apply pressure to various acupoints. But acupressure involves more than just pressure. Rolling, kneading, vibrating, and rotating motions are also used, and the process may involve the use of wooden rollers, balls, pointers, or other tools. All of these methods are designed to break up energy blockages and restore the flow of qi. So if qi blockages are the cause of your headaches, acupressure should help reduce your pain.

There’s nothing like a session with a skilled professional, but once you’ve had some sessions with an expert, you can learn to self-treat. The basic principles are simple:

• Apply pressure smoothly and gradually. Don’t bear down as if you’re trying to drive a nail into the acupoint, and don’t jab. Exert a firm, steady pressure.
• Press with enough force to produce a “good hurt,” a twinge that tells you something is happening, but not real pain.
• Maintain the pressure while making a circular motion on the point for 1 to 3 minutes, then release.
• Breathe deeply and rhythmically during the sessions.

Headaches can arise from blockages in many different areas, including the liver, stomach, gallbladder, or bladder meridians. You’ll need to see a professional to find out where your blockages occur and which acupoints to press. But there are several general acupoints that are used to relieve headaches:

• The soft, fleshy area between the base of the thumb and the bottom of the index finger -Some people report that this area becomes tender when they’re in the throes of a headache, so don’t be surprised if you feel pain there when you start pressing.
• The area between the eyes where the top of nose meets the forehead -Pressing on both sides of the bridge of the nose may help with a headache that strikes in the front of the head or the sinuses.
• The notch of the collarbone (the U-shaped indentation at the base of the front of your neck) -Press on the “inside” (bottom) of the bone.
• Midway between the outside of the eye and the ear -Pressing on the bone in that area can help ease headaches that strike on the side of the head.
• Right above the ear -Pressing above one ear can ease headaches that strike on that side of the head only.
• In the tender point in your shoulder (trapezoid) muscles - You’ll know it when you find the area (yeeouch!). This is helpful for headaches that strike in the back of the head.
• The point between the big toe and the second toe, about an inch back from the base of the toes - This is a good spot to press for migraines.

You can perform acupressure on yourself when your headaches begin, or do it every day to help prevent them. If you feel significant pain during acupressure, stop and find out why. It shouldn’t hurt that much. By the way, you may feel pain somewhere else while you’re pressing on one spot. This referred pain suggests that you have a related problem in the second area, which may also need treatment.