- For the treatment of headaches and migraines

Headaches and Migraines (aka: cephalgia) effect millions of people world wide, in fact it is the number one complaint that most doctors and family physicians hear about. Not surprisingly is the fact that treating headaches and migraines has become a multi million dollar business. Most people turn to medications and treat themselves symptomatically, sometimes spending several hundred dollars a month or worse becoming dependent on med's. (One problem with that is the fact that most medications have damaging effects when used over prolonged periods of time). We can help you discover alternative natural therapies that may help you cure yourself for good.

What is a headache or a migraine?
Pain in the head characterized by a variety of sensations; dull, achy, blinding, searing, gripping, stabbing, throbbing, pounding, etc. etc. Each individual has a unique cause of headache, thus their specific symptoms and exact locations differ accordingly.

Physicians categorize headaches as primary (non-threatening) or secondary (potentially life threatening). They are classified according to their type. The type is determined by the many factors, 1) What causes the headache or migraine, and 2) the seriousness of the pain.
Non threatening headaches (primary) can be acute or worse, chronic, despite the fact that it can ruin ones enjoyment of life, beyond that there is no terminal life threat.
Primary headaches occur without serous underlying causes. They are often labeled as one of the following:
•cluster headache
•coital headache
•sinus headache
•hormonal headache
•benign intracranial hypertension
•migraine w/ aura (Classic Migraine)
•common headaches
•migraine W/ out aura (Common Migraine)
•tension headache (most common)

The more serous headache (secondary type) is considered urgent and requires immediate medical attention or intervention. Urgent headaches may be immediately life-threatening, and should be treated promptly. Examples are;

•Post-Traumatic Headache (Concussion)
•Subarachnoid hemorrhage ("aneurysm")
•Caused by a brain tumor,
•Or bacterial or viral infection.
•Cerebral fluid seepage or low pressure headache (very uncommon)

Fortunately most headache sufferers experience primary conditions, so there is simply the matter of how to treat the pain and manage in day to day life. In most instances a mild pain reliever is effective enough to help most people.

What natural remedies are effective? Or, what to do when you do not want to depend on drugs or medications? There are many options; you need to determine what natural approaches are reasonable and effective for you.

Prevention through avoidance
There are many factors that can ‘trigger’ a headache, note, the ‘triggers’ are as unique as each individual.

Common Triggers of head pain
•Alcohol
•Sleep Deprivation
•Oxygen depletion
•Photosensitivity
•Menstruation/ Hormonal Imbalance
•Emotions and stress
•Caffeine
•Noise
•Exertion
•Poor diet (MSG, refined sugars)
•Dehydration
•TMJD
Foods that contain some specific components are also culprits, most commonly known are;
•Tyramine – found in chocolate, yogurt, sour cream, aged cheese and red wine
•Nitrites – preservative found in meats
•MSG (monosodium glutamate)
•Histamine

Some drugs /medications may also cause head pain.

As a general rule there are a few things you should do in order to minimize the frequency or severity of chronic or reoccurring head aches or migraines.
•Sleep – knowing how much sleep is enough  for you and getting that much sleep is vital
•Drink enough water (at least a few glasses a day, I recommend at least 60 oz or more
•Manage emotions, reduce or manage stress
•Exercise – balances many metabolic functions that make you feel better. Releases endorphins and reduces stress
•Breath deep and slow
•Get off the Caffeine – although in some cases caffeine may actually alleviate head pain, the chemical addiction that most people end up with actually causes more damage then it does good.
•Isolate and avoid the foods that may be contributing to your headaches (this may be accomplished by using a daily food log and dietary restriction, isolate one food product at a time, or get off all the aforementioned foods for a weeks or so and then begin gradual introduction of those foods one at a time. See how you feel through this process)


Beyond that, there are number of other natural remedies that may work very well.


Natural Holistic remedies that are effective

General Relaxing massage can be highly effective in treating an acute headache that has resulted from stress and tension.
This page was last updated: March 19, 2012
Massage Therapy in the treatment of chronic tension headaches

In his book a physician's guide to therapeutic massage Dr. John Yates, Ph.D. said…
"Tension headache is an example of a painful condition involving sustained muscle contraction in a hypertonic state. The headache is thought to be sustained by a pain-tension cycle that must be interrupted in order to bring relief. Chronic tension headaches are difficult to interrupt and are easily reinitiated because either or both of the pain and muscle contraction limbs of the pain-tension cycle are easily activated. Massage therapy is widely used in the successful treatment of chronic tension headache, as it relaxes muscle, reduces pain increases circulation and removes metabolites and resolves hyperirritable foci (trigger points) within the muscle."

Muscle spasm of the neck region and headaches
Muscle spasms and trigger points in the cervical spine and shoulder girdle are frequently over looked. We have discovered that in some instances severe or longstanding spasm of the muscles in the neck region can cause referred pain and secondary trigger points in the head, thus causing a headache.
Massage can be effective in this case as well.


Essential Oil Therapy:
There are a number of ways to use essential oil therapy. Inhalation or topical application may be effective for treating headaches.
(NOTE: Only grade A or therapeutic grade essential oil is safe to use. To learn more about essential oils click here)
Lavender: because of the sedating effect lavender oil can have on the central nervous system, it is a great choice from any symptom that is aggravated by stress.
How to use: a few drops of lavender oil can be rubbed into the temples or the neck.
A few drops of the oil on a tissue or your hands are also a good way to breathe in the aromatherapy.

Peppermint: is very energizing, cooling and opening. How to use: a few drops on a tissue is good to inhale the aromatherapy. Taking a few deep breathes intermittently for a few minutes may just do the trick. Some people will also mix a few drops of peppermint oil with grape seed (or another organic oil) and then massage it into the scalp and neck (it tingles and feels cool or hot).

Other Alternative Medicine Treatments that may address headaches and migraine
•Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy (vascular headaches – migraines, cluster headaches)
•Nutritional supplements such as a high quality daily supplement with minerals
•Deep breathing
•Biofeedback training
•Cold compress
•Acupuncture
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