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
Eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid chewing gum, ice cream, iced drinks, salt and excessive sunlight.
Practice deep-breathing exercises. A lack of oxygen can cause headaches.
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.
Discover your food/chemical sensitivities via allergy testing.
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.
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.)
Carry out a cleansing enema once a week until all is normal.
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.
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.
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).
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.
To help prevent headaches, eat small meals and snack healthily between, to help stabilize wide swings in blood sugar.
Get an appropriate amount of sleep – not too little, but not too much.
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.
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.
Learn a relaxation technique through Yoga, Qi Gong or meditation. Have regular massage.
Biofeedback can be useful.
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.
Acupuncture and Shiatsu have been shown to be effective in reducing frequency of attacks.
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.
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.
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.
